I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I attended the self-defense workshop. We began the workshop by going around the room, introducing ourselves, and stating what we knew about self-defense. Like most other participants, I knew very little about self-defense and so was unsure what to say. However, in the next hour I learned a great deal about self-defense. We began the seminar by standing and breathing “like a tiger.” It was very interesting to see how just a change of posture can make a person transform from a victim to an equal.

We then moved on to actual strikes and maneuvers.  We learned a few basic hits to incapacitate an attacker, and learned how to escape from several different holds. We “practiced” with a partner in slow motion to get a feel for the movements. It was pretty awkward at first, to pretend to be hitting and grabbing people that I didn’t really know, but i got used to it after a while. Overall, it was  a pretty educational and empowering night. I only wish that I had known exactly how involved it was going to be before I attended, because I would have worn different shoes and clothes.