Bring us to you

Defend Yourself offers workshops and classes of any length, from an hour-long workshop to a year-round class. All of our programs cover:

Prevention and awareness: steps you can take to prevent or avoid an attack or abuse.
Assertiveness and verbal self-defense: using words and body language to stop obnoxious or intrusive behavior and to keep a situation from escalating.
Physical self-defense: practical techniques to end a physical attack and get to safety.

All of our classes are tailored to the life situations and needs of the participants. We present age-appropriate material for students age 3 and up! Everyone can join in—no matter how out of shape you are, or what physical limitations you have, you can do things to protect and stand up for yourself.

All Defend Yourself programs are interactive: We involve participants in brainstorming, role-playing, and exercises. Our approach is positive, empowering, and upbeat: We don't focus on how scary it is that violence and abuse happen, but rather on options we all have and ways we can take care of ourselves.

Even in a short workshop, people learn concrete skills they can use. The longer the class time, the more we cover different situations, respond to the risks in students' lives, practice to make the techniques second nature (so you will have them when you need them), and deal with complex, real-life situations.

Here are some examples of classes and what they cover:

Power Lunch (2 hours)

one of the most popular formats, a Power Lunch can take place at any time of day and includes:

how to avoid being a target,
simple verbal skills for setting limits,
basic physical techniques for when escape is not an option.

FUNdamentals of Self-defense (4 hours)

Covers everything in the 2-hour workshop, plus:

application of more complex verbal strategies,
physical responses for front and rear attack, as well as how to defend when on the ground (as opposed to standing).

Safer and More Confident (12 hours)

Covers everything in a 4-hour workshop. Students also:

learn techniques to escape pins on the ground, even when pinned by a much larger attacker,
practice complex, real-life verbal situations
work on healing from past harassment, abuse, or assault.

Defend Yourself around town

These are some of the places Defend Yourself has held classes and workshops this year. If you want to organize a workshop for your school, community group, workplace, or whatever, call Lauren at 301-608-3708 or e-mail us.

Workplaces

Discovery Communications
J. Craig Venter Institute (formerly TIGR)
National Automobile Dealers Assn.
Smithsonian Institution
DC Central Kitchen
Curves gym

Community service and faith groups

Children’s Hospital/Boys’ Club, Girls’ Club
Girl Scout troops (lots!)
D.C. Rape Crisis Center

Schools

American University Law and Government Program
Carlos Rosario International School
SISTERS/Family Support Center: E. Brooke Lee MS, Kennedy HS, Montgomery Village MS, Parkland MS, Twinbrook Community Center, Watkins Mill HS
Sandy Spring Friends School, high school and middle school
Sherwood High School
George Washington Univ. physician assistant program
North Bethesda Middle School, after-school program
Takoma Park Recreation Department, after-school program



		find a class bring us to you » girlspeak about us f.a.q. what people say newsletter resources contact us site map		Bring us to you Bring Defend Yourself to your group Find out about classes Defend Yourself has scheduled Sign up for our e-mail newsletter Where we’ve been Learn about GIRLSPEAK Find out more about our classes Defend Yourself offers workshops and classes of any length, from an hour-long workshop to a year-round class. All of our programs cover: Prevention and awareness: steps you can take to prevent or avoid an attack or abuse. Assertiveness and verbal self-defense: using words and body language to stop obnoxious or intrusive behavior and to keep a situation from escalating. Physical self-defense: practical techniques to end a physical attack and get to safety. All of our classes are tailored to the life situations and needs of the participants. We present age-appropriate material for students age 3 and up! Everyone can join in—no matter how out of shape you are, or what physical limitations you have, you can do things to protect and stand up for yourself. All Defend Yourself programs are interactive: We involve participants in brainstorming, role-playing, and exercises. Our approach is positive, empowering, and upbeat: We don't focus on how scary it is that violence and abuse happen, but rather on options we all have and ways we can take care of ourselves. Even in a short workshop, people learn concrete skills they can use. The longer the class time, the more we cover different situations, respond to the risks in students' lives, practice to make the techniques second nature (so you will have them when you need them), and deal with complex, real-life situations. Here are some examples of classes and what they cover: Power Lunch (2 hours) one of the most popular formats, a Power Lunch can take place at any time of day and includes: how to avoid being a target, simple verbal skills for setting limits, basic physical techniques for when escape is not an option. FUNdamentals of Self-defense (4 hours) Covers everything in the 2-hour workshop, plus: application of more complex verbal strategies, physical responses for front and rear attack, as well as how to defend when on the ground (as opposed to standing). Safer and More Confident (12 hours) Covers everything in a 4-hour workshop. Students also: learn techniques to escape pins on the ground, even when pinned by a much larger attacker, practice complex, real-life verbal situations work on healing from past harassment, abuse, or assault. Defend Yourself around town These are some of the places Defend Yourself has held classes and workshops this year. If you want to organize a workshop for your school, community group, workplace, or whatever, call Lauren at 301-608-3708 or e-mail us. Workplaces Discovery Communications J. Craig Venter Institute (formerly TIGR) National Automobile Dealers Assn. Smithsonian Institution DC Central Kitchen Curves gym Community service and faith groups Children’s Hospital/Boys’ Club, Girls’ Club Girl Scout troops (lots!) D.C. Rape Crisis Center Schools American University Law and Government Program Carlos Rosario International School SISTERS/Family Support Center: E. Brooke Lee MS, Kennedy HS, Montgomery Village MS, Parkland MS, Twinbrook Community Center, Watkins Mill HS Sandy Spring Friends School, high school and middle school Sherwood High School George Washington Univ. physician assistant program North Bethesda Middle School, after-school program Takoma Park Recreation Department, after-school program

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