Thousand Waves has been designing and implementing practical and effective self-defense programs since 1985. Participants learn mental, physical, and social skills that will help them move through the world with less fear and more confidence. We use the Five Fingers of Self-Defense (Think, Yell, Run, Fight, and Tell) to teach people how to accurately assess their risk and respond to violence before it escalates, while also teaching physical techniques to defend against direct physical and sexual assault. Classes are a mix of group discussion, role-plays, and physical drills and activities. Our goal is to reduce both the prevalence and the harm of violence.