Women's Self Defense Classes Boston.
Teaching Dennis Hisardut (Survival Ju-Jitsu)
Our Women’s Self Defense and Self Protection program is a specially designed modular course that addresses
the safety concerns of women who work and live in today’s society e.g. women who may live on their own, commute
to work, have independent lives etc and are socially active. Our course(s) and programs do not prescribe any
rules about what and what not to do but instead teach and educate women to the way violent and dangerous
situations develop and how to recognize the pre-indicators that identify if a situation holds a potential
risk. We also teach women how to adjust or adopt certain habits and behaviors so that they don’t facilitate
potential assaults in the first-place.
Rather than repeat tired pieces of advice such as “don’t walk down dark alleys”, “don’t let strangers into your home” etc, which everyone has heard before (including the predatory individuals you are trying to protect yourself from) we look to explain the various dynamics and components of violent situations in order that you can better understand them. With this knowledge you can become empowered to make effective risk assessments of various situations and formulate the necessary solutions for yourself e.g. there may actually be the time when “walking down a dark alley” is your best and safest strategy.
We teach how situational components may affect or alter your decisions and how you might choose various solutions
to violence e.g. whether you are at home or in a public place, whether you are accompanied by friends or children,
whether you know your potential assailant or not.
Our women’s self defense program (Women are also welcome to attend our regular adult classes) is broken down into five distinct components/classes. These lessons can be taken at anytime and in any order, so they are easy enough to arrange into your schedule. Also you are free to repeat any module as often as you like within a 12 month period (effectively you are getting 1 years worth of training). The cost of the program for the year is $125.
To see the dates when each of these modules runs, please click here.
Women's Self Defense Boston - Lesson/Module 1
Self-Protection Component
This introduces the idea and concept that there is a timeline of violence; that assaults against individuals rarely happen out of the blue and that there are pre-indicators in situations that can be used to identify violent assaults before they occur- also what the goal of women’s self-defense actually is. The idea that there are things, activities and behaviors which individuals do which puts them on a predator’s radar are also discussed. Also introduced is the “Denial & Deliberation” loop, which reflects the natural thought process that individuals go through when faced with dangerous situations.
Self-Defense Component
Basic Stances – interview/de-escalation stance, fighting stance etc , how to position yourself relative to an aggressive individual; naturalistic blocking; disengagement and escapes from basic grabs etc.
Women's Self Defense Boston - Lesson/Module 2
Self-Protection Component
In this lesson the way our fear emotion works is introduced and how we can use it to ensure our personal safety – this is looked at in the context of situational awareness (SA). We discuss the creation of effective “models of violence” and how the realities of a sexual assault or rape may differ considerably to what we may currently think or believe and the four different types of assault/attack. We discuss stalking and stalkers and the indicators that may predict if a partner etc is likely to engage in such an activity should the relationship end.
Self-Defense Component
The different types of CS Spray e.g. pepper spray, mace etc as well as the different ways they can be used are introduced along with actual training using inert sprays; solutions to attacks from the rear including bear-hugs and strangulations are studied.
Women's Self Defense Boston - Lesson/Module 3
Self-Protection Component
In this module we look at the difference between spontaneous and pre-meditated attacks and the role that de-escalation can play as a possible solution (also when it is not appropriate). How to make decisions when under stress i.e. Naturalistic Decision Making (NDM) and how to control/manage fear and adrenaline.
Self-Defense Component
Escapes from basic holds and controls are studied e.g. side-headlocks, front headlocks, chokes, bear-hugs etc; how to deal with being picked/lifted up etc.
Women's Self Defense Boston - Lesson/Module 4
Self Protection Component
In this module we look primarily at mugging scenarios and bag snatches. We look at how to deal with knife threats (not attacks) and how to survive a street robbery. The five situational components that are at play in any violent situation are studies and how these pertain in particular to street muggings. Various pre-strategies to prevent and deal with these types of situation are discussed as well as using “triggers” to force/prompt us to act. The 4 D’s of dealing with an assault are discussed.
Self-Defense Component
Basic & effective striking: how to use various body parts to inflict serious damage on to another individual; this includes various open handed strikes, elbow, knee and low kicks.
Women's Self Defense Boston - Lesson/Module 5
Self Protection Component
The idea of the “Survival Personality” is discussed. This is the personality type which differentiates those people that survive extreme situations from those that don’t. We look at these particular characteristics and how to develop them in your own life. This involves how to effectively set boundaries that respects who you are as an individual and how to develop a fighting persona should you ever have to physically defend yourself from a violent assault.
Self-Defense Component
Ground Survival skills are introduced (we prefer the use of the word “survival” to fighting as we feel it more adequately describes what is trying to be achieved). This includes how to go to ground safely, how to get up from the ground safely and how to prevent an attacker dominating you should you be taken there.
Women's Self Defense Courses
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"This was one of the best seminars I’ve ever attended. My expectations were that I’d just learn some techniques that I could use to defend myself with should I ever be attacked. I was not expecting a full education into the mind of the rapist, criminal or violent person I might be dealing with. "
Claire H, Boston
"It wasn’t the techniques I came away with which were the most valuable things I learnt but all the safety advice. I will never remotely unlock my car again and I don’t think I’m alone on this! "
Danielle R, Everett
"There is a real and dire need for young women to start learning about these things and with the schools failing in their responsibility to have classes about female personal safety I am so glad I found your program. Learning self defense is one thing but understanding what things can be done to prevent an assault in the first place is so much more important. "
Angela B, Swampscott
"As a single woman living away from home for the first time I knew I needed some advice just so I could feel safe. The training I received in just 2 hours was more than good advice it was a systematic approach on how to stay safe. "
Susan R, Medford
"After attending you free seminar I am inspired to go back to university and take up my psychology books again! Simply fascinating and undeniably practical. I don’t know where you received your academic training but that’s the place I want to go. "
Jane D, Boston
"This course has given me the confidence and the assurance to start living my life again. I was assaulted over 15 years ago and this was the first time I really started to understand what had happened and why I have lived my life feeling the way I do. I know the course was not intended to be therapy but that was largely what it was for me. "