Reimagining Women's Self-Defense

There is much more women can do to protect themselves from the rougher side of life—other than kicking and punching

Protective Offense (the focus of this book) is where self-defense meets common sense, where self-awareness, situational awareness, strategy, and problem solving coincide. Protective Offense is a new paradigm of empowerment for women who want to revel in the chess game of life, dismantle anxiety, see conflict as opportunity, and raise engaged, resilient children who won’t become victims (or criminals).

Protective Offense is the culmination of thirty years of study in the martial arts and self-defense. It is a contribution to the overall project of equality, safety, and dynamic living for women and families. Fighting is only one tenth of self-defense, but it hoards ninety percent of the spotlight. There is so much more women can do to protect themselves.


Expect to learn how to:

• Break down the process of violent crime
• Stay off the criminal radar
• Connect intimately to your intuition so you can it use without guilt
• Recognize the signs of emotionally abusive people
• Recognize some of the tells and tricks of violent criminals
• Respond as early as possible to a confrontation by multiple attackers
• Understand how weapons are used and what you can do if confronted by one
• Maintain your cool and navigate confusion and shock under duress
• Know which physical techniques to count on in a fight for your life
• Know which physical techniques NOT to count on in a fight for your life
• Grasp some of the most important legal ramifications of physically protecting yourself against violence
• Include specific considerations of parenthood in your self-defense practice
• Model an aware and proactive mindset for children
• Evaluate self-defense courses and instructors so you can make educated decisions
• Think about how to raise children who will never present themselves as unsuspecting victims, or victimize others, and who will act conscientiously if they see something happening
• Help to engage and encourage others to reshape women’s self-defense training

As a generalization we could say women are more connected to their own mortality. Women are more aware of danger in everyday life than men are. Regardless of the reasons—our biological connection to life, that we are smaller, physically weaker, generally have less social or political power than our male counterparts, or that we are often responsible for others—we just worry about safety more often than the average guy. Ask a man how often he thinks about safety or worries about going out alone. Then ask a woman the very same questions.

Self-defense for women is not and should not be taught the same as self-defense for men.