Frequently Asked Questions

You don’t have to be an athlete to learn how to defend yourself. Our program is designed to adapt to every age and ability and provide each student with the opportunity to learn. Each individual is unique and students should be able to discuss their own needs.

Yes, self defence training can increase your options and help prepare your responses to slow down, de-escalate, or interrupt an attack. Like any tool, the more you know about it, the more informed you are to make a decision and to use it.

No. There are no guarantees when it comes to self-protection. However, self defence training can increase your choices/options and your preparedness.

No. Our course offers enough concepts and skills to help you develop self-protection strategies that you can continue to build upon. Self defence is not martial arts training – it does not require years of study to perfect.

The question to answer first is what does “hurt worse” mean? Rape survivors speak eloquently about emotional scars lasting long after physical scars heal. Studies show a physical self defence response does not increase the level of physical injury, and sometimes decreases the likelihood. Also, women and men going along with the attacker have sometimes been brutally injured anyway. The point of using self defence is to de-escalate a situation and get away as soon as possible. Knowing some physical techniques increases the range of possible self defence options, but the decision to choose a physical option must remain with the person in the situation.

Any device is useless to you unless you understand how to use it and have it in your hand ready to use at the time of the attempted assault. There is nothing “guaranteed” about any of these devices. None are fool proof. None of them can be counted on to work against all possible attackers (no matter what the labelling may say). Realize that anything you can use against an attacker can also be taken away and used against you. While some of these devices have sometimes helped people escape to safety, it is important to be aware of these devices’ limitations and liabilities.

A good course covers critical thinking about self defence strategies, assertiveness, powerful communication skills, and easy-to-remember physical techniques. The instructor respects and responds to your fears and concerns. Instruction is based on the belief that people can act competently, decisively, and take action for their own protection. Essentially, a good course is based on intelligence and not muscle. It offers tools for enabling a person to connect with her or his own strength and power.