Success Stories
How Joanne's Self-Defense Training was a Powerful Factor in These Strategic, Empowering Choices
Every person is different. We cannot predict your own unique benefits from self-defense classes. But here are some outcomes experienced by women who have participated in Joanne Factor's programs.
Beth: Telling a stranger to back off.
What happened: Beth was waiting for the bus on a late November afternoon. A stranger approached, asking the time. He moved closer and closer, even after she answered. In the past, Beth would have averted her eyes and tried to make herself into a small ball.
What Beth did: Beth remembered to breathe. And to breathe she had to keep her back straight and her head up. Beth found herself making eye contact with the man, taking a step back, and calmly stating that he had to back off.
Outcome: To Beth's surprise, the stranger backed off. There was no confrontation. When the bus arrived, he did not get on. It was the kind of non-event everyone hopes to have.
Amy: Listening to her inner voice.
After a decade of unsatisfying jobs, Amy returned to college. She was still working part-time and caring for her two young children, so she found herself at the campus library at odd times, often when few people were around.
What happened: As she walked to her car in the parking lot, she saw a young man heading quickly towards her. He called out, asking for a ride to the other end of the lot so he could catch a bus.
What Amy did: She trusted her intuition, which told her not to let him get close.
He ignored her when she refused, persisting in his approach. She described what happened next: "I heard Joanne's voice, as if she was at my shoulder, telling me to watch his distance, use any barriers, enforce those boundaries. I have the right to define my boundaries, not him." Amy got to her car just before he did, and as he reached for her, she opened the driver door and slammed it into him. Amy followed that with a strike to the throat while yelling at him to stop now.
Outcome: The man, stunned, staggered back. Amy drove off, and reported the incident to campus security.
Over two years later, Amy credits this incident as a turning point in her self-confidence. Frankly. she had until then been skeptical about whether she was really learning useful self-defense, and was amazed that she was able to quickly and effectively execute her learned skills. As an unexpected benefit, trusting her instincts has given her an air of self-assurance and poise, which she believes led to a more promising career than she had imagined when she went back to school.
Judy: Finding her voice.
What happened: Judy got along with all of her coworkers at her downtown office, except one. Max often directed sexual comments at her, but what bothered her most was how he'd come up behind her and rub her back. Judy tried to rationalize that it really didn't mean anything and she didn't want to make a big deal out of nothing. She also recognized that trying to justify not speaking up and setting boundaries when she was uncomfortable meant she was intimidated and it was affecting her work.
What Judy did: After some coaching on verbal boundary setting, she felt prepared. When Max next tried to rub her back, she told him to stop. "I don't like that, it's not professional, do not touch me." Taken aback, he said he didn't realize how she felt. "Now you know, and please stop." She also brought it up to the Human Resources department. The behavior stopped, and Max has been civil.
Outcome: Judy felt like a mountain was taken off her. She was able to say what she needed to say to take care of herself. And she knew that, if necessary, she could--and would--do it again.
Denise: Confronting an intruder in the workplace.
Denise worked in a medical research lab requiring access to germ-free environments. All scientists and technicians were required to enter through locked locker rooms, shower and don special clothing. They were required to shower again before changing back to street clothes.
What happened: Denise was almost ready to go home one Saturday afternoon. As she was just drying her hair, a man entered the women's locker room. Denise knew most employees but she did not recognize this man.
Denise's Learned Responses: Making eye contact, she bombarded him with questions: who are you, who do you work for, how did you get the combination, why are you here, who’s your supervisor. Her voice took on the style and tone of command. And she stepped forward, rather than cowering into the corner.
Outcome: The man turned red, began moving to the door, and stuttered that he really didn’t mean anything. He just wanted to see if the women’s locker room looked like the men’s!
Denise remembered her lessons. She refused to be distracted. She kept up her questions until the man turned and ran.
Carolyn: Breaking a nightmare cycle.
Before the class: Carolyn had years of recurring nightmares. A small weasel-like animal would jump on her and start biting her all over. She wouldn’t be able to get it off. None of the people around seemed to notice, let alone help.
After the fourth week of class, Carolyn's dreams changed. She broke the animal’s neck.
Edna: Recovering from trauma.
History: Edna had been raped several times in her life, beginning her childhood. She took refuge in drinking. Finally, she entered rehab and was ready to start an independent, healthy life -- except for one problem.
She was terrified of living alone. She had recurring nightmares about assault, jumped at any unexpected sound, and felt all eyes were sizing her up as she boarded a bus. She took a dozen pills a day for anxiety, isomnia and depression.
Decision: Edna's therapist suggested Joanne's self-defense class. Edna learned she had alternatives.
Outcomes: Twelve weeks later, Edna reported she had stopped taking medications (with the approval of her therapist), was sleeping well without nightmares. She was taking her first steps toward (finally!) living an independent, healthy life.
Now that you've seen how we can help women like yourself, review our services to see if we can help.
How Joanne's Self-Defense Training was a Powerful Factor in These Strategic, Empowering Choices
Every person is different. We cannot predict your own unique benefits from self-defense classes. But here are some outcomes experienced by women who have participated in Joanne Factor's programs.
Beth: Telling a stranger to back off.
What happened: Beth was waiting for the bus on a late November afternoon. A stranger approached, asking the time. He moved closer and closer, even after she answered. In the past, Beth would have averted her eyes and tried to make herself into a small ball.
What Beth did: Beth remembered to breathe. And to breathe she had to keep her back straight and her head up. Beth found herself making eye contact with the man, taking a step back, and calmly stating that he had to back off.
Outcome: To Beth's surprise, the stranger backed off. There was no confrontation. When the bus arrived, he did not get on. It was the kind of non-event everyone hopes to have.
Amy: Listening to her inner voice.
After a decade of unsatisfying jobs, Amy returned to college. She was still working part-time and caring for her two young children, so she found herself at the campus library at odd times, often when few people were around.
What happened: As she walked to her car in the parking lot, she saw a young man heading quickly towards her. He called out, asking for a ride to the other end of the lot so he could catch a bus.
What Amy did: She trusted her intuition, which told her not to let him get close.
He ignored her when she refused, persisting in his approach. She described what happened next: "I heard Joanne's voice, as if she was at my shoulder, telling me to watch his distance, use any barriers, enforce those boundaries. I have the right to define my boundaries, not him." Amy got to her car just before he did, and as he reached for her, she opened the driver door and slammed it into him. Amy followed that with a strike to the throat while yelling at him to stop now.
Outcome: The man, stunned, staggered back. Amy drove off, and reported the incident to campus security.
Over two years later, Amy credits this incident as a turning point in her self-confidence. Frankly. she had until then been skeptical about whether she was really learning useful self-defense, and was amazed that she was able to quickly and effectively execute her learned skills. As an unexpected benefit, trusting her instincts has given her an air of self-assurance and poise, which she believes led to a more promising career than she had imagined when she went back to school.
Judy: Finding her voice.
What happened: Judy got along with all of her coworkers at her downtown office, except one. Max often directed sexual comments at her, but what bothered her most was how he'd come up behind her and rub her back. Judy tried to rationalize that it really didn't mean anything and she didn't want to make a big deal out of nothing. She also recognized that trying to justify not speaking up and setting boundaries when she was uncomfortable meant she was intimidated and it was affecting her work.
What Judy did: After some coaching on verbal boundary setting, she felt prepared. When Max next tried to rub her back, she told him to stop. "I don't like that, it's not professional, do not touch me." Taken aback, he said he didn't realize how she felt. "Now you know, and please stop." She also brought it up to the Human Resources department. The behavior stopped, and Max has been civil.
Outcome: Judy felt like a mountain was taken off her. She was able to say what she needed to say to take care of herself. And she knew that, if necessary, she could--and would--do it again.
Denise: Confronting an intruder in the workplace.
Denise worked in a medical research lab requiring access to germ-free environments. All scientists and technicians were required to enter through locked locker rooms, shower and don special clothing. They were required to shower again before changing back to street clothes.
What happened: Denise was almost ready to go home one Saturday afternoon. As she was just drying her hair, a man entered the women's locker room. Denise knew most employees but she did not recognize this man.
Denise's Learned Responses: Making eye contact, she bombarded him with questions: who are you, who do you work for, how did you get the combination, why are you here, who’s your supervisor. Her voice took on the style and tone of command. And she stepped forward, rather than cowering into the corner.
Outcome: The man turned red, began moving to the door, and stuttered that he really didn’t mean anything. He just wanted to see if the women’s locker room looked like the men’s!
Denise remembered her lessons. She refused to be distracted. She kept up her questions until the man turned and ran.
Carolyn: Breaking a nightmare cycle.
Before the class: Carolyn had years of recurring nightmares. A small weasel-like animal would jump on her and start biting her all over. She wouldn’t be able to get it off. None of the people around seemed to notice, let alone help.
After the fourth week of class, Carolyn's dreams changed. She broke the animal’s neck.
Edna: Recovering from trauma.
History: Edna had been raped several times in her life, beginning her childhood. She took refuge in drinking. Finally, she entered rehab and was ready to start an independent, healthy life -- except for one problem.
She was terrified of living alone. She had recurring nightmares about assault, jumped at any unexpected sound, and felt all eyes were sizing her up as she boarded a bus. She took a dozen pills a day for anxiety, isomnia and depression.
Decision: Edna's therapist suggested Joanne's self-defense class. Edna learned she had alternatives.
Outcomes: Twelve weeks later, Edna reported she had stopped taking medications (with the approval of her therapist), was sleeping well without nightmares. She was taking her first steps toward (finally!) living an independent, healthy life.
Now that you've seen how we can help women like yourself, review our services to see if we can help.