SELF-DEFENSE 101

ABOUT THIS CLASS

COVID-19 UPDATE: All classes are now online. Virtual, live trainings. Much of the physical skill practice will be reduced. What will be augmented and enriched are boundary-setting, de-escalation, bystander intervention, verbal role-plays, and self-care. We will open live face-to-face classes when it is safe to do so, and we will offer special physical skills practicum sessions for those who complete Self-Defense 101 online.

Research shows that women who successfully defended themselves quickly recognized threatening situations and enforced their boundaries, if necessary by physical means. In this six-week course you will learn to recognize assailant ploys and manipulations and how to thwart them. Practice releases from common grabs and decisive strikes to vital targets. Use your voice and body language with impact. Recognize the signs that will let you defuse, de-escalate or evade before a physical assault ever happens. Assess your risks, and plan around them. Understand the connections between awareness, threats, and our media environment. The six sessions give you time between classes to practice your moves and become more comfortable with them.

This is a progressive skill-building course. You will learn the most basic elements early on, and practice them in later drills. The first sessions will focus more on physical skills: strikes to vulnerable targets, releases from grabs, body language, and using your voice. Later sessions will put your new skills in various contexts, look more at setting boundaries, and different verbal strategies to control uncomfortable situations. Finally, you will learn to recognize domestic violence, and how to get help if you (or someone you know) are in an abusive relationship.

There will be review in each class. There is also some extra enrichment activities (some call it “homework”). What you get out of your time in class will be greatly enhanced by just a small amount of time spent practicing between classes.

Two students who just completed first six-week online course said:

Even though our class was over Zoom, the meetings with Joanne were really informative and important. I now can use my voice and body language to get out of situations I do not want to be in. I am confident because I now have plans, a “blueprint'” which will help me de-escalate potentially violent situations, set boundaries with family, friends and strangers, and help people who are in those situations.
I really enjoyed this class. Thanks to Joanne, I now feel more confident in myself.

And

This course was long-overdue in my life. It was an investment in my mental health, something that goes hand in hand with self-defense but oftentimes gets overlooked. Setting personal boundaries (even with friends) is my new learned strategy to communicate strength and confidence. Knowing that I have the skill to detect red flags is empowering.

Come prepared to challenge yourself – emPOWERment doesn’t get more fun!

Class Schedule

Seattle Central College:

Six Monday evenings, July 6 – Aug 10, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Location: ONLINE via Zoom
Cost: $189
Register online

Strategic Living Online:

Six Tuesday evenings, Sept 15 – Oct 20, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Location: ONLINE via Zoom
Cost: $175
Register online

Bellevue College:

Six Saturday afternoons, Oct 10 – Nov 14, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Location: ONLINE via Zoom (or possibly a hybrid class, partly online partly at the College’s North Campus)
Cost: $199
Register online

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WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:

Self Defense 101 – testimonial 1

“Joanne was knowledgeable, calm, respectful, and very impressive. I would definitely recommend this course. It was a great balance of physical practice and non-physical knowledge.”

Self Defense 101 – testimonial 2

“I liked the camaraderie between the women in class with each other and with the teacher. I liked Joanne’s realistic portrayals of situations and honesty in answering questions.”

Self Defense 101 – testimonial 3

“In addition to strong psychosocial skills, Joanne is an effective teacher providing us with a variety of techniques to use in a range of situations.”

Self Defense 101 – testimonial 4

“Our sessions were very well organized so that there was a balance of physical activity, listening, and discussion, with a good mix of intellectual and emotional content.”

Self Defense 101 – testimonial 5

“Joanne’s approach to teaching self-defense is positive, and focused on our choices and increasing abilities.”

Of surveyed college women, about 91% of rape and sexual assault victims knew their attacker prior to the assault.

Fisher, Bonnie S., Francis T. Cullen, and Michael G. Turner. “The Sexual Victimization of College Women.” Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, 2000.