Reimagining Women's Self-Defense: Protective Offense - Paperback

by Tèja Vanwicklen (Author), Rory Miller (Foreword by)

Reimagining Women's Self-Defense is where self-defense meets common sense, where self-awareness, situational awareness, strategy, and problem solving intersect.

Two-thousand-years ago, when the martial arts were evolving, women's empowerment and freedom of movement weren't high on the agenda. Yet women are still learning ancient self-defense concepts originally designed by and for men.

Reimagining Women's Self-Defense is a daring reexamination of protective training for instructors, safety professionals, and seasoned martial artists looking to broaden their understanding of self-defense for women and vulnerable populations. The book discusses how to break down the criminal process; recognize tells and tricks of emotionally abusive people and violent criminals; and respond early if engaged by multiple assailants. It considers weapons-how they are used and how to use them-and covers important legal ramifications of protecting yourself physically. You will learn to vet a litany of self-defense techniques taking into account size, strength, skills, and lifestyle; include specific considerations of parenthood in your self-defense practice; and heal intelligently after a violent assault. Finally, you will come away with teaching tools and resources to help you pass the knowledge on to your students and loved ones.

Tèegrave;ja VanWicklen navigates the unpredictable terrain of predators and their unsuspecting targets in the presence of perplexing, unanswered questions:

• What is self-defense really?


• Are some techniques better than others?


• Should I rely on pepper spray?


• What if my kids are with me when I'm attacked?

Reimagining Women's Self-Defense rebrands self-defense as protective offense, addressing the shortcomings of a purely defensive mindset during a violent encounter and including others the "self" in "self-defense" leaves out. Protective offense is context-based and personal. It empowers women to discover their own answers and even their own questions.

Among other things expect to learn to:

• Break down the process of violent crime


• Stay off the criminal radar


• Recognize signs, tells, and tricks of emotionally abusive people and violent criminals


• Respond as early as possible to a confrontation by multiple attackers


• Understand how weapons are used and what your options are if confronted by one


• Learn ways to navigate confusion and shock


• Vet a litany of self-defense techniques taking into account size, strength, skills, and lifestyle


• Know which physical techniques to count on in a fight for your life and which NOT to


• Grasp some of the most important legal ramifications of physically protecting yourself against violence


• Heal intelligently after a violent encounter


• Include specific considerations of parenthood in your self-defense practice


• Evaluate self-defense courses and instructors so you can make educated decisions for your family


• Come away with teaching tools and resources to help you pass the knowledge on to your students and loved ones


• Help engage and encourage others to reimagine women's self-defense training so it benefits us all