Resources
Planning is the Key
You are constantly making choices that affect your security. Choosing under pressure is difficult. Considering your risks and options beforehand will give you greater clarity and a path for action. Think about the various facets of your life, and where you can anticipate risk or uncertainty. To help, look at this safety plan (clicking here will download a PDF file). As you fill it in, recognize how much you already know. Examine where you wish to fill gaps in your skills. Assessing Risk is an outline of how to recognize potentially threatening situations. Do you want to project your presence -- read the Personal P.O.W.E.R. Principles.
Local Resources
King County Sexual Assault Resource Center website has a lot of information, including educational material, for both adults and children.
Communities Against Rape and Abuse
NW Network of Bi, Trans, Lesbian and Gay Survivors of Abuse
Violence Against Women online resources and Bureau of Justice Statistics for reports on violence and interventions. For a recent survey conducted by Group Health on the prevalence of domestic violence in Seattle, click here.
The King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Eastside Domestic Violence Program and Domestic Abuse Women's Network websites have extensive information about domestic violence, shelters, safety, and counseling services. Merril Cousin of the King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence has put together an excellent overview document of the various domestic violence and sexual assault services available in King County.
Survey conducted by Group Health on the prevalence of domestic violence.
Report on Bias Crimes and incidents in Seattle 2000-2005.
The Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall, WA makes this list because they offer programs that include awareness training. While they focus on nature and wilderness skills, the awareness practice they offer is applicable to your safety. They offer this free pamphlet as a sample of their teaching material.
Obsidian Security Group offers business security audits (a review of the facility's physical space, as well as policies and procedures), and home safety assessments.
Northwest Family Life provides counseling, advocacy and support to those in communities of faith dealing with domestic violence. A New Yarn is a non-profit knitting shop supporting the work of Northwest Family Life.
Seattle/Puget Sound Self-Defense Contacts
The Feminist Karate Union (where Strategic Living founder Joanne Factor trains) began in 1971 as a self-defense class, and transformed into a karate school. All its teachers are well grounded in practical and effective self defense as well as the art of karate. 206-325-3878.
Home Alive has been providing self-defense classes for over a decade. Excellent instructors committed to social change.
Debbie Leung in Olympia, WA is one of the original teachers of our generation, as well as author of Self Defense: The Womanly Art of Self-Care Intuition and Choice
Nhumey Tropp is an excellent, knowledgeable teacher who offers custom programs for groups. Likewise, Michelle McVadon at Seven Star Women's Kung Fu; Seven Star's beginners' program is offered quarterly and is geared towards self-defense. Fifth River Poekoelan frequently offers a Three Hours of Power class for women and teen girls.
f.e.m.m.eSAFETY offers programs to help women maximize their personal safety with practical strategies focused on the avoidance of crime
Laura Potash has been teaching self-defense for about three decades. Her current focus is self defense for federal agencies, and can be contacted at Common Sense Self Defense.
Leslie Fleming is an engaging instructor. She worked with Q Patrol and is now offering classes on her own. She can be reached by email.
The International District/Chinatown Community Center often holds self-defense classes for ladies, taught by Allen Chinn. Phone 206-233-0042 for information and registration.
Self-Defense Across the U.S.
The National Coalition Against Sexual Assault's Ad-hoc Committee on Self-Defense came up with these guidelines for assessing a self-defense instructor and class.
Thousand Waves Martial Arts and Self-Defense in Chicago, IL. Two recent articles from their newsletter, one on non-violence and self defense and the other on self defense and activism, articulate the spirit of active non-violence.
Breaking Free in Eugene, OR
Center of Anti-Violence Education/Brooklyn Women's Martial Arts in Brooklyn, NY
Feminist Eclectic Martial Arts (FEMA) in Minneapolis, MN
EveryWoman's Self Defense/Sun Dragon Martial Arts in Austin, TX
Valley Women's Martial Arts in Easthampton, MA
Hand-to-Hand Kajukenbo in Oakland, CA
Mona Lisa's Sword, a professional self-defense instructors' training organization, also has certified instructors across the country. Email them for a class near you.
The National Women's Martial Arts Federation follows a rigorous program for certifying self-defense instructors. Those who become certified need to show proficiency in understanding and teaching about a wide range of violence. This site has a list of the best women's self-defense instructors.
The National Coalition Against Sexual Assult has a useful guide for assessing self-defense programs.
Girls Fight Back! based in New Jersey, also has an extensive resource list. The Safety Chick site has "living smart" tips.
Women's Anti-Violence Education in Philadelphia
Kicks Martial Arts for Women, run by Laura Kamienski, in Lewisburg PA. She's co-authored a book that is unabashedly forthright in describing issues and obstacles for women in self-defense training as well as in the martial arts.
Wen-do Self-Defense for Women offers classes primarily in Toronto and Vancouver, Canada
Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women
Martial Arts Listings is a comprehensive and well-categorized listing of martial arts-related websites.
More Information
So you think you know about safety and risks? Test yourself with this Tic-Tac-Toe game.
(Notes: on some PCs and browsers you may get an "error could not find API" message; if you click on the play button a couple of times, you should get into the game. Requires Flash plug-in.)
An informative (and fun!) website about how your brain processes fear from McGill University.
Violence Against Women online resources and Bureau of Justice Statistics for reports on violence and interventions.
Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network
Center for Disease Control information on sexual assault and it's effects.
Rethinking Rape: A Site for Resistance and Activism was a graduate student's project at the University of San Diego in 2000, and has lots of good reading in an academic voice about, and suggestions for taking action against, violence against women.
End Sexual Violence Oregon provides lots of education, downloads and a newsletter about violence studies and prevention.
Focus on Children's Safety
King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, ACT for Kids in Spokane, Yello Dyno, Stop It Now!, and Darkness 2 Light all have educational material and other resource links. ACT and Yello Dyno also offer educational materials and curriculum for parents and educators on boundary setting skills appropriate for various age groups.
Internet safety: visit NetSmartz for education and games for kids of all ages.