The #metoo movement has awakened women to acknowledging that it is time for women to take their power back.
In a demonstration of what women go through to keep themselves safe Dr. Jackson Katz describes an exercise he has his audiences participate in.
"I draw a line down the middle of a chalkboard, sketching a male symbol on one side and a female symbol on the other.
Then I ask just the men: What steps do you guys take, on a daily basis, to prevent yourselves from being sexually assaulted? At first there is a kind of awkward silence as the men try to figure out if they've been asked a trick question. The silence gives way to a smattering of nervous laughter. Occasionally, a young a guy will raise his hand and say, 'I stay out of prison.' This is typically followed by another moment of laughter, before someone finally raises his hand and soberly states, 'Nothing. I don't think about it.'
Then I ask the women the same question. What steps do you take on a daily basis to prevent yourselves from being sexually assaulted? Women throughout the audience immediately start raising their hands. As the men sit in stunned silence, the women recount safety precautions they take as part of their daily routine.
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Hold my keys as a potential weapon.
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Look in the back seat of the car before getting in.
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Carry a cell phone.
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Don't go jogging at night.
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Lock all the windows when I sleep, even on hot summer nights.
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Be careful not to drink too much.
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Don't put my drink down and come back to it; make sure I see it being poured.
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Own a big dog.
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Carry Mace or pepper spray.
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Have an unlisted phone number.
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Have a man's voice on my answering machine.
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Park in well-lit areas.
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Don't use parking garages.
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Don't get on elevators with only one man, or with a group of men.
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Vary my route home from work.
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Watch what I wear.
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Don't use highway rest areas.
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Use a home alarm system.
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Don't wear headphones when jogging.
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Avoid forests or wooded areas, even in the daytime.
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Don't take a first-floor apartment. G
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Go out in groups.
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Own a firearm.
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Meet men on first dates in public places.
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Make sure to have a car or cab fare.
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Don't make eye contact with men on the street.
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Make assertive eye contact with men on the street.
This is a shocking reality.
Almost every girl, no matter their size, sexual orientation or belief system, is taught from the cradle that violence against their sex is systemic in almost every culture and country.
Violent crime including physical and sexual assualt, domestic violence and verbal and emotional abuse happens to millions of women every year and many lose their lives due to it whether directly or indirectly.
All of the violations described leave scars that can take a lifetime to heal, if they ever do.
Many women experience shame, self-loathing and an instinct to lock this traumatic experience away, thinking that they are to blame or somehow responsible.
The first thing to understand when learning self-defense is that you are NEVER responsible. The only one responsible is the one who violated your right to safety and freedom from pain, fear and guilt.
The #metoo movement is giving women the power and inspiration to understand they can take their own lives and safety into their hands. They can take back control internally and externally and become their own heroes.
Finding the Tiger Within!
This two day course on women's safety, self-healing and self-defense is designed to help you take back your power, body mind and spirit.
We know that when it comes to our own safety we can't rely on others to make sure bad things don't happen. We must be responsible for our own safety, and yet many women shy away from the idea of defending themselves. Yet if asked what if it was your child? They universally transform into Protective Tigresses.
We want to give you the skills and tools to have that same level of fierce protective power for yourself. You are worth it!
This course teaches you:
*to look at how safe you are now in your habits and routines
*to look closely at your surroundings and assess the faults and weaknesses
*to look at your attitude about yourself and other women
*to recognize danger signs in others and in your environment
*to use the tools at hand to become an escape artist
*how to handle confrontations and de-escalate
*what to do if you are attacked
*what to do in domestic violence situations
*transform your attitudes about yourself
*who can help
Don't trust your safety to instant and unrealistic training. There are many self-defense classes that can give women a dangerous and nonsensical sense of false security. Kicks and going "toe to toe" with an attacker is foolish at best and usually taught by men who have trained as fighters and martial artists without having any real experience with how it is for women.
This course gives you practical physical training with a martial arts instructor with over 40 years experience in various fighting styles.
It has been consulted by women who have survived assault and are #metoo experiencers, but who have also learned these techniques for their own safety and who have experience dealing with life as women.
Let us help you to make yourself, your sister, your mother, your daughter and even your grandmother safer in home, on the street, in vehicles, on public transport, in elevators and when confronted with an attack.
Your safety is up to you!
Instructors:
Brad Schultz, with over 40 years experience in Aikido, Karate, kick boxing, and Tai Chi, has distilled the elements of these disciplines into a unique physical defense system that can be learned by anyone of any age or size.
Classes can be taught on site, in private homes or at our facility in St. Albert.
This course is taught over one day, usually 10:00 am to 5:00 pm but it is flexible. Classes include sharing experience, private or group support time and physical defense training as well as resource training and learning to support others.
We also offer follow up sessions.
We can accommodate up to 20 people in a group.
This course has been presented to:
Petrocan staff
Edmonton Nurses Assoc.
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