This Is What Women’s Self-Defense Looks Like
It’s not just about protection. It’s about living a bigger life.
TL;DR
- Self-defense classes for women teach assertiveness, boundary-setting, and the power of saying "no."
- Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD) integrates nonphysical strategies with physical techniques to prevent and respond to threats.
- ESD aims to subvert gendered behaviors and cultural messaging that inhibit women from asserting their boundaries.
- Studies show ESD training leads to a significant reduction in sexual assault victimization and an increase in self-efficacy.
- The training helps women overcome internalized empathy that can make them hesitant to defend themselves.
- Key physical techniques include palm-heel strikes, knee strikes to the groin, and stomps to the head.
- ESD differs from mainstream self-defense by being empowerment-based rather than stranger-focused or fear-based.