Empowerment Self-Defense

The terms self-defense and martial arts are often used interchangeably, but they are different. Traditional martial arts, such as the Seido karate taught at Thousand Waves, are – as the name implies – primarily art forms that aim to make their practitioners stronger, calmer, and ultimately more gentle and compassionate.

On the other hand, self-defense is a term used to describe a set of beliefs, attitudes, and verbal and physical skills contributing to an individual’s ability to stay safe in dangerous situations. Self-defense’s physical techniques derive from various martial arts, including karate. Still, the curriculum of a self-defense course will also include other topics concerning the patterns and motivations of violent offenders.

For groups of 10 or more, please click here for information about private programs.

Empowerment Self-Defense Workshops

Open to all genders, adults and teens 12 and up.

This overview of self-defense introduces participants to the Five Finger model (Think, Yell, Run, Fight, Tell) and options to respond to violence from intimates, acquaintances, and strangers.

Specific areas of focus include:

• Awareness and mindset strategies that increase safety
• Assertive verbal and nonverbal communication strategies
• Positioning strategies to maximize safety in a variety of situations
• Easy-to-learn physical techniques designed to be effective against larger and stronger assailants
• Healing strategies to regain a sense of safety in the aftermath of violence

Kids’ Self-Defense Workshops

Through interactive and fun exercises, kids learn to use the Five Fingers to increase their safety and how to identify and enlist the help of safe adults. Because young people have specific developmental needs, abilities, and attention spans, we offer separate workshops for 6 & 7 year-olds and 8-11 year-olds.

Specific areas of focus include:

• Safety rules and listening to “funny feelings.”
• Using your voice to speak up for yourself and others
• How to get away from bad situations, from bullies to dangerous grownups
• Easy-to-learn physical techniques that even small people can use to protect themselves in an emergency
• Talking to trustworthy adults to get help

Parents and guardians are encouraged to stay and watch workshops but may also drop off students at the beginning and pick them up at the end.

12-Hour Empowerment Self-Defense Courses

These in-depth courses are 12 hours and are offered in various formats, all consisting of multiple sessions of 3 or 4 hours each. In each session, students can practice physical, awareness, verbal, and social skills that will enhance their safety in various situations, both with strangers and people they know.

Specific topics include:

• Peaceful conflict resolution
• Dealing with harassment
• Recognizing red flags in intimate relationships
• Defending yourself against a physical or sexual assault
• Facing an armed assailant
• Releases from grabs
• Fighting from the ground
• Intervening safely when others are the target of violence