Martial Arts Boston - Women's Self-Defense
Free Women's Self-Defense Program in Boston
Our martial arts school has been offering a free women’s self-defense program for Boston and Massachusetts residents since 2010. Effective Women’s Self-defense training is more than just learning how to fight. It’s about recognizing potential threats, staying aware of surroundings (and those in them), and learning how to identify and avoid threats as well as reacting and responding effectively to protect yourself. Our women’s self-defense programs in Boston focuses on equipping participants with tools to enhance their awareness and learn practical skills and techniques to escape holds, defend against attacks, and neutralize threats, whether standing or on the ground etc. If you are interested in learning when our next in-person, free class is, please use the button below (this will take you to our dedicated women’s self-defense Boston site, which will open in a new tab).
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Our women’s self-defense program/classes cover four areas of personal safety and self-defense and uses a blended learning approach to teach them i.e., a mix of online classes/resources and in-person classes. The four areas are:
- 1. Preventing Rape & Sexual Assault
- 2. The Use of OC/Pepper & Defensive Sprays
- 3. The Early Identification of Potentially Abusive Partners
- 4. Dealing with Stalkers and Stalking
Preventing Rape & Sexual Assault in Boston & Massachusetts
Sexual predators usually target those they know, and have access to, rather than strangers. This means that protecting ourselves against rape and sexual assault, means dealing with people that we know. Unfortunately, sexual assailants don’t fit a particular profile, and/or look a certain way etc. This means that we can’t instinctively identify those that mean us harm but instead have to look at the processes and methods they use to gain access to us. This can involve boundary testing to see whether a “no” means “no” or is something that can easily be overturned etc. It can also involve recognizing when we engage in acts of self-deception, such as denying or discounting threats or danger signals etc. Our module looks at how we can learn to identify and predict sexual violence not by looking at the individuals but by recognizing the methods used etc.
OC/Pepper Spray Training in Boston and Massachusetts
Pepper spray is one of the most popular non-lethal self-defense tools available today. Compact, affordable, and effective, it provides a reliable means of personal protection. However, using pepper spray safely and effectively requires proper training. Learning how to deploy this tool under stress can make the difference between successfully defending yourself and an ineffective response during an emergency. Our program provides an understanding of the different types of pepper spray (streams, foggers/cones, and gels/foam), and the environments that they are best suited for, along with how to practically deploy them e.g., practicing aiming, deploying, and controlling the spray under simulated conditions, using inert canisters for safety. We also teach how to combine pepper spray use with basic self-defense moves, such as escaping wrist grabs and creating space etc.
Identifying Potentially Abusive Partners in Boston & Massachusetts
Being able to recognize the signs of a potentially abusive partner early in a relationship is critical/essential to personal safety and emotional well-being. Abusive relationships often begin with subtle behaviors, that don’t necessarily appear abusive but may escalate over time. By understanding common warning signs, individuals can make informed decisions about their relationships and either end the relationship, intervene to set boundaries and/or seek help if needed etc. The signals of control, jealousy, intensity and a disrespect for boundaries etc., can initially be misinterpreted as signs of commitment and intense love/desire. Having somebody who wants to spend every waking minute with us can at first seem flattering and romantic etc., however when the underlying reasons and motives for doing so involve a need for power and control fueled/powered by a sense of insecurity, the attention given to us can be seen as less positive/beneficial. By being able to recognize the early warning signs that potential abusers give, it’s possible to exit a relationship before they’ve committed so much that they can’t afford to let go etc.
Dealing with Stalkers and Stalking
Stalking is a deeply intrusive and often dangerous behavior that some individuals engage in after the end of an intimate relationship. Known as post-relationship stalking, this behavior can involve a wide range of actions, from persistent contact, direct and indirect threats, surveillance, along with other forms of harassment. Stalking campaigns of this kind are typically fueled by a mix of a desire to regain control, inflict punishment, or maintain a connection that those targeted/victimized have sought/wanted to sever etc. Often those engaged in stalking campaigns don’t have a singular goal that they are trying to achieve, and often get lost in the process of becoming addicted to it, losing sight of the reason why they originally engaged in it. Stalking is powered by those victimized interacting with their abuser in ways that they’re often not aware of. In this module we teach individuals how to avoid and/or manage these potential interactions etc.
Please use the button below, to find out when our next in-person women's self-defense seminar is.
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