As women who explore the outdoors, personal safety is one of our top concerns.
While studies show that the benefits of time outdoors far outweigh the potential risks – and that these risks are very small – we are bombarded by media stories that make us feel as though creepers are crouched behind every beech & boulder waiting to drag us to our demise.
We also carry our own life experiences to the trails – some of which can make us feel vulnerable & uncertain in our own bodies. Not to mention wary of the people we encounter along the way.
Compounded with the concern expressed by family & friends – or even strangers we meet on the trail – many of us shepherd an enduring uneasiness as we venture out on our own.
If we do so at all.
The folly of most “Women’s Self-Defense”
In an effort to arm ourselves should we ever face a random attack, many women have sought self-defense classes promising tactics that will disable our perpetrator & allow us to make a swift getaway.
Without fail, you can count on variations of the groin kick, the foot stomp, a jabby elbow & some flying haymakers. Maybe even playing the bongos on someone’s skull for good measure.
While completing these classes may boost your confidence – leaving you less likely to become a victim – they also leave you woefully unprepared to escape a real human being intent on doing you harm.
For example, nearly all of these strike-heavy courses rely on a specific set of responses to pain – but what happens when the “bad guy” has a very high tolerance for pain or barely responds to pain at all?
And how will you react when you haven’t been taught the precise mechanics involved in landing an effective strike – and that once you’re free of cushy padding, your own bones break with the first punch?
How our approach differs
With the abundance of self-ordained gurus flooding the market, there is no shortage of folks preying on women’s fears & insecurities with inadequate strategies that may do more harm than good in a real-life situation.
Though there is a time & place for effective striking, these techniques can rely heavily on precision, strength & explosive power in order to incapacitate your attacker & break away.
And those qualities may not exist in someone who hasn’t trained extensively – particularly once they’re squaring off in hand-to-hand combat with someone who’s much larger & stronger than they are (and remember, your attacker has selected you because he already suspects that you’re smaller & weaker than he is).
In contrast, Brazilian jiu jitsu uses a combination of leverage, technique & timing in order to disable and/or disengage from an attacker regardless of disparities in strength & size.
So nearly anyone – regardless of their body size – can learn to defend themselves using the principles & body mechanics of this powerful martial art.
Intro to Women’s Outdoor Self-Defense
Presented in partnership with instructors from New England Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Concord, the goal of this workshop is to empower women to take decisive & effective action if their personal safety is threatened during their outdoor adventures.
Topics will include –
- The reality of outdoor violent crime
- Key components of situational awareness & avoiding an attack
- Challenges & opportunities of a backpack grab or hold
- Escapes from several other grabs & holds
- And why most popular self-defense advice does more harm than good
Participants also will receive –
- An opportunity to practice these movements one-on-one with a partner
- Feedback from instructors to be sure that they are performing the movements correctly
- And a follow-up e-newsletter with a summary of the information presented – plus a mountain of bonus material – so you can focus on the instructors rather than taking notes or fearing that you’ll forget key points
When & where can you attend?
Sunday, October 27, 2019
10am to 1:00pm
Performance Health & Fitness
301 Jaffrey Road
Peterborough, NH 03458
Your Instructors
With a combination of expertise in martial arts, law enforcement & the outdoors, your instructors will walk you through your best strategies to remain safe along the trails.
Tony McBee & Jillian Cote
When introduced to Thai kickboxing by Jason Golden, Tony discovered a training program that made an incredible impact on his fitness & well-being. He is currently a BJJ brown belt instructor with 10 years of martial arts training & is co-owner of New England BJJ Academy.
Jillian started her martial arts journey back in 2009 & has been hooked ever since. She has studied Muay Thai & Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, holds a brown belt in BJJ & teaches the “Women’s Only BJJ” class at the Academy.
Sonya LeClair
Sonya LeClair, who runs The Reluctant Enthusiast, specializes in improving physical & mental health through outdoor activity. She is a Certified Health Coach & holds a B.S. in Wildlife Biology, an M.S. in Biology, and has over 20 years of experience in wildlife conservation, ecology & engaging people with the outdoors. She also works the front desk & is a member at Performance, so she might be a familiar face if you’re a regular there!
What does it cost?
Registration for the full 3-hour program PLUS follow-up material is only $49 per person.
Performance Health & Fitness members can register for only $40 – contact me to receive your discount code!
Registration
Space will be limited, so if you want to be guaranteed a spot, be sure to register early by clicking the link below.
If space allows, registration also will be available the morning of at Performance.
Note that the minimum age for this workshop is 14 (and of course, it is women only).
