Women’s Personal Safety Workshop

Women’s Personal Safety Workshop

February 28, 2012 from 5:30pm to 7pm

Glastonbury Health Center
Street: 1175 Hebron Avenue
City/Town: Glastonbury CT

Bearingstar Insurance Presents Women’s Personal Safety Defense Workshops

This program is specifically designed for women ages 13 and up.

In 90 minutes you’ll learn some of the most effective techniques women can use to defend against a realistic assault. This is not the old worn-out advice you already know like “kick him in the groin” or “carry your keys and walk aggressively.” Rather, women learn how to use their most powerful weapons against a male attacker.

If you are in this area, you may want to attend!

Visualize Success!

A disadvantage for some women is their doubt about being able to successfully defend themselves. It is imperative that we visualize success in dangerous situations. When you are in a safe environment, take some time to create a realistic situation in your mind in which you need to escape. Make sure you visualize yourself strong and successful. You must resist as if your life depends on it, it very well might. The more we practice with our minds and bodies doing what we need to do, the better our chances in a real situation. And remember, your daily, verbal homework… I am Beautiful! I am Confident and Strong! I am Worth Protecting!

What Do I Have?

If ever in a threatening situation always ask yourself, “What Do I Have?”

This leads to: What do I have on my own body: hands, teeth, legs, head, etc.
What do I have access to in terms of targets on his body: weak spots: his eyes, throat, groin, etc.
What do I have as a weapon: a chair, a pen, a cell phone, pepper spray or any kind of spray, keys, gun, etc.
What do I have in terms of attitude: Survivor, personal responsibility.
What do I have as escape routes: doors, windows, hallways, etc.

So remember: you have a whole aresnal at your disposal. The most important being your mind set.

Mind Over Muscle

I love this quote by Susan B Anthony, “I declare to you that a woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand.”.
In women’s self defense, we use knowledge to our advantage and capitalize on his weaknesses. His size or muscle strength do not guarantee a successful attack. We are not fighting or sparring. We are surviving! This is our mind over his muscle. Out smart him and strike defensively where he is most vulnerable.

Known Attackers

89% of women who were raped or experienced an attempted rape knew their attacker. 64% of all sexual assaults occurred in the target’s or attacker’s home. Since most people interact with their acquaintances in common facilities; where they live, work, socialize, study, shop, etc., it is no surprise these attacks occur in those locations. While it is true we should be aware and cautious of dark streets and strangers, our biggest threats are from those we already know. Smartsafe training teaches you how to handle credible threats.

Recognizing Dangerous Situations

Typically a potential attacker will put his target through a testing period. He will be assessing the circumstances and his chance of completing his plans. This will include conversation and/or an attempt to dominate the target. It is during this period that women should key in on their intuition and the attackers behavior. The situation may be becoming violent or abusive.

Choose a confident demeanor and body language, use assertive communication, refuse to be controlled.

Recognizing Potential Attackers

Realize attackers are typically acquaintances. When we meet or actually know someone, we have an impression of them. It will range from nice person, someone I can learn from, watch out, creep, and a sense of discomfort. Trust your instincts! A negative impression is a warning from your intuition. Trust it! That person may attempt to disrespect you, abuse or worse yet, assault you.

“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.”
~Harvey Fienstein

5 More Easy Tips

5 More Easy Tips

1. Victim’s thrown into car trunks should kick out the tail lights, stick an arm out
and start waving like crazy, hopefully waving a red or white cloth. This can save lives.
2. When in a parking lot/garage, be aware. Look around you, under your car, inside your car at the passenger side and back floor.
3. Is there a van next to your driver’s door? Enter from the passenger side.
4. Be aware of anyone sitting in the passenger side of a car next to your driver’s side, door when you are approaching your car. Either enter from passenger side or go back for security to escort you to your car.
5. If you hear noise outside your home, DO NOT go out to investigate. Call the police to check it out. You stay in the house!!

Keep Up The Awareness!

5 Easy to Remember Tips

1. Your elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough, use it!
2. If a robber demands your purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Throw it away from you.
RUN LIKE CRAZY IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
3. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, working, etc., and sitting to balance their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON’T! A predator could be watching you. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE!
4. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head, DON’T DRIVE OFF! DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead, gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Preferably drawing attention from witnesses. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. Cars are replaceable, you aren’t!
5. If a predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN!
The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then,
it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably in a zig -zag pattern!

Symptoms of Domestic Violence

There is no way to tell for sure if someone is experiencing domestic violence. Those who are battered, and those who abuse, come in all genders, shapes, sizes, colors, economic classes, sexual orientations and personality types. Victims are not always passive with low self-esteem, and batterers are not always violent or hateful to their partner in front of others. Most people experiencing relationship violence do not tell others what goes on at home. So how do you tell? Look for the symptoms. Here are a few.

Emotional Abuse:

•Putting you down
•Making you feel bad about yourself
•Calling you names
•Implying that you are crazy
•Playing mind games
•Using guilt as a weapon of control
•Using humiliation

Using Privilege:

•Treating you like a servant
•Making all decisions for the family or couple
•Acting like an owner or master
•Being the one to define and enforce roles
•Expecting you to obey like a child

There are many more. We will cover them in our next blog. You can also visit www.aardvarc.org for them and sooo much more info on Domestic Violence.

You are beautiful! You are worth protecting! You have value! You are strong!
Be smart about your safety!!! : )