Self-Defense 101 — Week 5
Overview
There are only four sections below:
- Recap — a review of what we covered in class
- Reading — extra material, NOT in your handout package.
- Video – Brene Brown taking apart your Trust Account.
- To Do — this is your lifelong homework. Please do it.
- QUIZ – You know what the quiz is like by now.
Recap
Today was mostly a non-physical day, where we looked at violence committed by those closer to us. Often it’s an intimate partner, but it can also be a teacher, a boss, a coach, a co-worker or fellow student.
Pay special attention to that “trust account” in your head. Remember that uncomfortable moments can give you a lot of information about a person — if you know what to say and how to say it.
Reading
We did not discuss stalking, yet every year a few million of us are stalked, often by someone we know, sometimes by a total stranger. Stalking is a crime in all 50 states, as well as a federal offense. But from what I’ve heard from past students, it is hard to get law enforcement to intervene. Here are two fact sheets about stalking. Click on the images to download the PDF.
Video
Does self-defense work against zombies? Thousand Waves in Chicago teaches the Five Fingers approach to self-defense, illustrates how it would work against a guy who just won’t take no for an answer, then how the same approach works against the undead.
Pay attention to the progression. When does Courtney use which verbal or body language skills, and when does she use physical skills? Your “final exam” will be based on this.
Or you can watch this directly on YouTube.
To Do
Practice and Teach. You can still practice. Teaching deepens your understanding of the skills, so keep that up also.
Observe. Continue to hone your intuition. That is your best tool for detecting when someone means you harm. This is a lifetime project.