Amy Cuddy: Power Poses from PopTech on Vimeo.

I’ve been teaching some of this for a while, and it’s good to see this as a resource. AND it can also influence how we are seen as self-defense teachers. Even though Cuddy’s work is more about business, it is easy to translate into a self-defense and personal safety context.

From the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (in Western Washington), we have the first publication discussing how to talk with your child about sexual assault. Still highly relevant today, and He Told Me Not to Tell is now available as a free downloadable PDF:

http://www.kcsarc.org/content/he-told-me-not-tell

If you want more from KCSARC (including shorter brochures/handouts), then check out this page of PDFs:  http://www.kcsarc.org/content/publications-for-parents-and-caregivers

American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine’s current issue is on the impact of violence on daily life. And, for a short time, you can download/read the articles for free. Great academic resource!

http://ajl.sagepub.com/content/5/5.toc

And, on a less academic note, does confronting men on sexist comments really make them nicer? You decide: http://jezebel.com/5837624/study-says-confronting-men-about-sexism-makes-them-nicer

Happy reading!

Wendi Dragonfire is 60 years old and has been training since 1971. A 9th degree Black Belt in Shuri-Ryu Karate and a 2nd degree Black Belt in Modern Arnis, Dragonfire is a direct student of the late Robert A. Trias and the late Professor Remy A. Presas. Her goal has always been, and continues to be, making the martial arts and self-defense accessible to everyone, especially to those who have been marginalized. To that end, Dragonfire, an organizer of local, national and international events, provides accessibility to all practitioners regardless of abilities. Combining the energy work of martial arts with that of Healing Touch has helped Dragonfire to be a better, more compassionate, and more proficient teacher and practitioner.

Dragonfire, a founder of NWMAF, has received many awards and been inducted into several Halls of Fame; however, her proudest award moment was when she became an NWMAF “Award of Excellence” recipient at Special Training 2001. Her proudest moments consist of seeing the women around her ‘becoming’…

Dragonfire spent 4.5 weeks teaching in Israel in February and March of 2011. Students included staff members at El Halev, Tai Chi students in Tel Aviv and Kfar Saba, 8 groups of seniors, GLBT youth who had been kicked out of their families, illegal Filipino immigrants, ex-prostitutes and oh so many more.

Dragonfire loves to teach and invites you all to join her…

Her sessions will include the following, with a selection of SDIC session descriptions listed.  See you all in New York in July!  Inquire about discounted membership rates and camp fees for first time attendees, and spread the word with our website link, camp brochure, and flyer!

 “The Power of Engagement:  Bluffing, Humor, and Distraction,” with Wendi Dragonfire

Explore early intervention strategies. Learn to honor your own awareness and take initiative to reduce tension right away. Use humor and distraction to engage or make a connection as a way to interrupt and deescalate potential conflicts. Tune in to catch cues along the way and learn how exaggeration can help you get past embarrassment as you take charge of your own reactions. Practice saying what you see, using your power to name and frame what is happening in the moment, and honing your ability to set limits. Conscious awareness allows you to change the dynamics of situations in which you feel threatened.

“Adapting Self-Defense,” with Wendi Dragonfire

Learn to adapt self-defense techniques to make them more accessible regardless of age or physicality. Practice how to use your bluff, how to engage, how to use the tools at your disposal to stay safe. Use stereotypes to your advantage in abusive situations. Come with your questions and ideas ready to share information and resources.

“Flow Drills 1: Simple and Effective Flow Drills,” with Wendi Dragonfire

“Defenses Against Random Attacks,” with Wendi Dragonfire

“Kata – Thinking Outside the Box,” with Wendi Dragonfire

“Flow Drills 2: Elbow Flow Drill,” with Wendi Dragonfire

“Sparring for Fun,” with Wendi Dragonfire

“Defenses Against Knife Attacks,” with Wendi Dragonfire

Molly continues training and teaching and has exhibited and taught at a number of national martial arts events, including AikiExpo, PAWMA, and NWMAF Special Training Camps. In 2008, Lee and Jake Sinclair filmed Molly teaching self-defense for use by the I’m Worth Defending program in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. In 2009, Molly was a guest speaker and presenter at the American Hippotherapy Conference in Atlanta. On July 23, 2010, Molly was honored with the EP Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award for extraordinary achievements, perseverance, and dedication to the special-needs community.

“Moment by Moment: The Healing Journey of Molly Hale” won a Film-Makers Choice (Best Art) award (view at cultureunplugged.com/play/1319). This year she is team-teaching in a warm-water pool environment, coaching movement, relaxation, balance, breathing, stretching, and practicing AikiAqua.  Visit Molly’s website, and read more about Molly’s ST and SDIC sessions, below.  Go to our NWMAF website to register for camp today!

“Take a Seat 1,” with Molly Hale.

“Take a Seat 2,” with Molly Hale.

Practice from a seated position and explore motion, intention, awareness and action. Most humans sit, but most martial artists train from standing, a few from seiza. What responses to an attack are available to a seated person? Molly has practiced Aikido for twenty years, nine of those years from a wheelchair, and is discovering effective movements for seated individuals. Suitable for anyone willing to come and sit awhile. An aid to any teacher who encounters potential students using wheelchair mobility or any student in a wheelchair. Session 1 and 2 complement each other, but you can attend either or both sessions.

“AikaAqua,” with Molly Hale.

We will practice holding base while in a water medium. The benefits to one’s Aikido or other martial practice are extraordinary in terms of feeling and finding one’s center in a seemingly weightless medium, and examining your motions and body positioning at a slowed down rate. The buoyancy and resistance of water support gaining new insights into connection and breathing.

“The Art of No Defense,” with Molly Hale.

Many years ago an incorrect address found me at a Model Mugging course. Acting from a place of ”no coincidences,” I signed up for the program, learning self-defense techniques and moving through the shadows of my own rape encounters. I felt empowered and a deep sense of responsibility when it became clear that I could take a human life. “Looking for openings” in any attack continued to resonate.

27 years training in Aikido, plus becoming quadriplegic, kept bringing it home to me that the “openings” I was looking for were within me. How do we care for ourselves from a place of Center? How do we move in the world physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually in balance and receptivity? How do we be aware of conditions within and around us, assess a situation, and act with compassion?

The founder of Aikido, said “The Art of Peace begins with you. Work on yourself and your appointed task in the Art of Peace. Everyone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that can be trained in some manner, a suitable path to follow. You are here for no other purpose than to realize your inner divinity and manifest your innate enlightenment. Foster peace in your own life and then apply the Art to all that you encounter.”

In this workshop, we will explore, through talking and physical practices, how to honor our respective martial art and self-defense practices, while engaging an idea of No Defense. “Your spirit is the true shield.”

Sonya Richardson has been training in the martial arts since 1990. She received her 3rd degree Black Belt in Kajukenbo, the Gaylord Method, under Professor Coleen Gragen and was promoted to 5th degree Black Belt by her current teacher, Professor Barbara Bones. Sonya is Executive Director and Head Instructor of Kajukenbo Programs at Hand to Hand Kajukenbo Self Defense Center in Oakland, California. She also holds a Sandan in Kenpo Karate under Professor Gloria Boldizar. Sonya is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, having practiced for over 20 years.  Sonya’s teaching experiences include multiple offerings for AWMAI, NWMAF, and PAWMA national camps, as well as out-of-state and local seminars for community martial arts schools and the Kajukenbo Association of America. She is particularly honored to have served as one of two instructors for SDIC’s pilot Community Self-Defense Class last year. Sonya is delighted to attend and teach again at SDIC. She salutes and is grateful for the consistent leadership efforts of camp organizers.

“Integrating Movement into Your Self-Defense Class,” with Sonya Richardson

Self-defense and martial arts instructors use warm-ups for all ages and audiences. Movement and action-based ice-breakers serve as an effective method for students to become aware of their surroundings, introduce self-defense essentials, and explore an array of body-mind strengths. In addition, movement drills performed with partners or in a group among class participants help expedite development of trust and camaraderie — truly beneficial in creating a comfortable setting and optimal learning environment. In this class we will practice movement exercises as offered by the instructor as well as brainstorm new ones with one another.  We can use this conference class both to learn new material and share valued knowledge and experience we have with others.  Wear comfortable clothing.  The exertion level will be determined by each participant, but likely will be minimal.  This class is accessible to participants of all physical abilities.

1. Ask your staff, customers, vendors, and partners — who already know you and like you — to “Like” your Facebook page first.
2. Ask a lot of questions. You’ll get valuable feedback, plus you’ll be more likely to appear in your fans’ newsfeeds.
3. Share lots of photos, and ask your fans to share photos. Facebook’s Photos remain the most viral feature of its platform.
4. Find the resources to respond to your fans questions and inquiries.
5. If you have a physical location, use Place Pages and Deals to drive traffic through your doors.
6. Know your audience well, and when you make a mistake, quickly own up, do right by your audience and fix the problem.
7. Integrate Facebook outside of your Fan Page, on your website, in as many places as you can. Create more compelling opportunities for people to buy your product based on their friends’ Likes.
8. Find synergy with other organizations and entities, and then work together to promote each other’s Facebook pages so that everyone benefits.

Better yet, just read the article: http://mashable.com/2011/05/24/successful-brands-facebook/#. That way you’ll see which brand provided which lesson (from the Brooklyn Muesum to Oreo to Restaurants.com).

Thanks to Lauren Taylor of Defend Yourself for finding this article!

Feedback was every bit as enthusiastic after Erin’s return appearances: “She is Great!” “Excellent, practical information – extremely well organized and presented with a lot of energy. I liked that it was presented as a paradigm rather than just a lot of bullet points.” “Outstanding! This class alone was well worth the trip!” “Great information – up-to-date, current, fresh. Love your energy, Erin!” “Very informative! Direct and clear and inspirational.”

We are honored to welcome speaker, author, and social entrepreneur Erin Weed to SDIC-ST 2011 to present a series of Saturday workshops on Business and Marketing. See below for more information about Erin and these offerings, and go to our website to register for SDIC-ST 2011 today! Register soon to take advantage of May pricing!

Have higher business aspirations? Want to make a greater impact with your work? You won’t want to miss this!

Erin Weed‘s sorority sister was murdered at Eastern Illinois University in 2001. Just 23 years old at the time, this tragedy lead her to abandon a career in TV broadcasting and study all aspects of women’s safety and self-defense. After training with some of the best violence prevention experts in the world, Erin created Girls Fight Back, a campaign to empower young women through safety and self-defense education. She and her international team of speakers have reached close to a million women since 2001, and Erin authored a book titled Girls Fight Back! The College Girl’s Guide to Protecting Herself. Erin has been featured in media including: CNN, The CBS Early Show, Ladies Home Journal, The New York Times, Glamour, The Washington Post and Marie Claire. She was given the Hometown Hero award by John Walsh (Founder of America’s Most Wanted) and named Best Female Performer 2009 by Campus Activities Magazine. Erin works as a consultant to companies and non-profits wanting to make a social impact, and is currently writing her second book about social entrepreneurship.

“Business Boot Camp,” with Erin Weed    (double session)

Are you a self-defense instructor and want to start holding classes, but don’t know where to begin when it comes to marketing, finance, media exposure or other business issues? Would you like to teach women’s self defense as a side job, or as a full-time career? Or are you already working in this field professionally, and want to kick things up to the next level? This special double session workshop will cover the basics of business, public relations and community outreach as it applies specifically to the world of women’s self defense. By first identifying the “ecosystem” in which we exist, each participant will walk away with a customized plan to create and maintain a brand, implement effective marketing techniques, utilize the media, and prepare for financial issues that face professionals teaching women about safety.

Erin Weed is a speaker, author, social entrepreneur and founder of Girls Fight Back! Since 2001, Erin and her team of international speakers have reached one million women with the message of peace and girl power. She is also the founder/CEO of Evoso, an agency that provides business consulting and social change campaigns for non-profits, corporations and universities across the globe. She has been featured in media including: CNN, The New York Times and The Washington Post. More information about Erin can be found at http://erinweed.com.

“Fireside Chat,” with Erin Weed

Good intentions may spark a women’s self-defense business, but they won’t keep the fire going… you gotta have a plan! We discussed some business and marketing success principles during this morning’s “Business Boot Camp.” Now join Erin Weed for a follow up discussion and question and answer session. Come ready to learn from others and share your successes in the business of teaching women to become their own best protectors.

Sounds like a great chance to learn some new ways to teach verbal skills—and this woman can do it over the phone! I haven’t taken this workshop (I plan to tomorrow), but I did take an in-person, experiential workshop with her on “Asking For What You Want,” and it was excellent! So why not grab a little professional development? Maybe I’ll “see” you there. –Lauren

Ann Burke has acted with courage and persistence to turn her family’s personal tragedy into an opportunity to insure that our children, school personnel, and families in the public school system are educated about the realities of teen dating violence.  We are honored that she will be sharing her work with us in July at SDIC-ST 2011, and that our self-defense teachers, parents, and martial artists will have an opportunity to attend her sessions and learn more about how to recognize and respond to the signs of relationship violence.  We’ll also have an opportunity to hear how she has successfully worked to pass Dating Violence Legislation. 

Ann Burke is a registered nurse with a Master’s Degree in Health Education. She has worked for the past 24 years as a school nurse-teacher and, more recently, as a middle school health teacher in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. After the 2005 murder of her 23 year old daughter, Lindsay, a victim of dating violence, she founded the Lindsay Ann Burke Memorial Fund whose mission is to support the prevention of dating / domestic violence through education. She provides free workshops to health teachers in Rhode Island and donates free curriculum materials to their schools. In addition, she offers free dating violence workshops to school staff and parents. The fund also sponsors a yearly teen dating violence poster contest for Rhode Island high school students and has created a professionally-made training DVD. Ann also created a website  specifically for health teachers to use as a resource tool.

To honor Lindsay’s life, Ann has chosen to speak out and help others become educated about teen dating abuse. She firmly believes that schools have a responsibility to give students the knowledge and tools to recognize the signs of dating abuse in order to help themselves and others, and to have policies in place to protect all students. Ann worked for passage of the Lindsay Ann Burke Act, which passed in 2007.  This law requires all schools in Rhode Island to teach about dating violence through a comprehensive health education program from grades 7 through 12. It also requires training of school staff, creation of a dating violence policy, and recommends parent trainings.

After presenting to the National Association of Attorneys General and the National Foundation of Women Legislators, both organizations passed resolutions supporting Lindsay’s law and dating violence education in all states. In July, 2009, the state of Nebraska passed the Lindsay Ann Burke Act and in December, 2009, the state of Ohio passed the Tina Croucher Act, based on Lindsay’s law. Presently, there are several other states including the state of Pennsylvania either actively pursuing similar legislation or working towards that end.

Ann and her husband also co-founded the Love Is Not Abuse Coalition, along with the Liz Claiborne Corporation. Ann works with all of these organizations to help enact similar laws in other states. On June 10, 2009 Ann testified before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Patrick Leahy, during their hearing on “The Continued Importance of the Violence Against Women Act.”  She testified as to the importance of prevention of dating / domestic violence through education and specifically urged Congress to fully fund the STEP (Supporting Teens Through Education and Protection) program. This program, part of VAWA, would provide money for training school personnel, developing policies, and supporting victims.

Please see Ann’s workshop descriptions, below, and register at NWMAF’s website for SDIC-ST 2011 today!

“Dating Violence: What Every Person Needs to Know,” with Ann Burke

Did you know that one in three teens experiences some kind of abuse in their relationships? Did you ever wonder why victims of relationship violence stay with their abusive partners?  Learn information you need to know about this major health problem, from statistics to how to help a victim.  Crucial information, such as the cycle of abuse, effects on the victim, how to help, and why teens are so vulnerable, are all included.  The best way to protect yourself and others is through prevention, and prevention starts with knowing all the facts.  Join us for a frank discussion of dating violence.

“Dating Violence: Making a Difference Through Education and Legislation,” with Ann Burke

Lindsay Ann Burke, a victim of dating violence, was brutally tortured and murdered in 2005.  As a victim, Lindsay paid the ultimate price.  But Lindsay’s family was also victimized, and had to learn how to live with the tremendous loss and effects of trauma.  Ann Burke shares her story of survival, her personal fight for legislation requiring dating violence education in schools, and how everyone can educate teens and parents through the use of basic curriculum materials.

Raven Koch became acquainted with self-defense at an International Women’s Day celebration in Eugene, Oregon, in the late 1990’s. She fell in love with the practice in a class on the subject at the University of Oregon. The teacher was Nadia Telsey, the community was fierce and powerful, and the experience was life-changing. In 2000, Raven began work at the local sexual violence crisis center as the coordinator of their self-defense program, and began her own journey as an instructor. Over the next 11 years and counting, she has dabbled in a handful of martial arts, including karate and Tae Kwon Do, attended NWMAF’s Special Training and Mona Lisa’s Sword training, and taught lots and lots of people how to palm-heel strike as well as the importance of self-love. She has worked with formerly incarcerated women, homeless LGBT youth, survivors of child abuse, people with mental illness, and many other marginalized populations. Over the last few years, she has been an instructor with the Center for Anti-Violence Education (CAE) in Brooklyn, New York, and has had the honor of bringing CAE’s excellent self-defense curriculum into diverse settings within the five boroughs and beyond, including shelters, hospitals, and public schools.

In addition to self-defense, Raven also declares deep abiding passions for gourmet vegetarian cooking, witchcraft, and healing arts of all kinds, but especially acupuncture and the ocean.

Please see Raven’s workshop descriptions, below, and go to the NWMAF website to register for SDIC-ST 2011 today! Print out an SDIC-ST brochure or flyer to share with your friends, colleagues, and martial arts sisters! We can’t wait to see you in July!

“Transforming Denial into Awareness and Intuition,” with Raven Koch

Have you ever had a “funny feeling” about someone, and then talked yourself out of it? Have you ever handled an emergency? Some of the same skills we use in handling everyday difficulties apply in self-defense situations, but we may have additional barriers to self-care when it comes to acting on our gut feelings. In this session we will examine our willingness to recognize trouble, trust our intuition, and take action! This class is based on Nadia Telsey’s workbook, “Self-Defense from the Inside Out, A Women’s Workbook for Developing Self-Esteem and Assertiveness Skills for Safety (Breaking Free, 1994).”

“Transforming Self-Blame into Anger,” with Raven Koch

Anger is often viewed as a bad thing – and it can be destructive – however, we can harness this emotion as a powerful tool for change. Anger can help mobilize us through fear and into action, on behalf of ourselves and our communities. In this session we will examine how we assign responsibility to ourselves and others and how anger can be a potent tool of self-care. This class is based on Nadia Telsey’s workbook, “Self-Defense from the Inside Out, A Women’s Workbook for Developing Self-Esteem and Assertiveness Skills for Safety (Breaking Free, 1994).”