Reimagining Women's Self-Defense

Book Synopsis

Reimagining Women's Self-Defense is where self-defense meets common sense, where self-awareness, situational awareness, strategy, and problem solving intersect.

Two-thousand-years ago, when the martial arts were evolving, women's empowerment and freedom of movement weren't high on the agenda. Yet women are still learning ancient self-defense concepts originally designed by and for men.

Reimagining Women's Self-Defense is a daring reexamination of protective training for instructors, safety professionals, and seasoned martial artists looking to broaden their understanding of self-defense for women and vulnerable populations. The book discusses how to break down the criminal process; recognize tells and tricks of emotionally abusive people and violent criminals; and respond early if engaged by multiple assailants. It considers weapons-how they are used and how to use them-and covers important legal ramifications of protecting yourself physically. You will learn to vet a litany of self-defense techniques taking into account size, strength, skills, and lifestyle; include specific considerations of parenthood in your self-defense practice; and heal intelligently after a violent assault. Finally, you will come away with teaching tools and resources to help you pass the knowledge on to your students and loved ones.

Tèja VanWicklen navigates the unpredictable terrain of predators and their unsuspecting targets in the presence of perplexing, unanswered questions:

• What is self-defense really?


• Are some techniques better than others?


• Should I rely on pepper spray?


• What if my kids are with me when I'm attacked?

Reimagining Women's Self-Defense rebrands self-defense as protective offense, addressing the shortcomings of a purely defensive mindset during a violent encounter and including others the "self" in "self-defense" leaves out. Protective offense is context-based and personal. It empowers women to discover their own answers and even their own questions.

Among other things expect to learn to:

• Break down the process of violent crime


• Stay off the criminal radar


• Recognize signs, tells, and tricks of emotionally abusive people and violent criminals


• Respond as early as possible to a confrontation by multiple attackers


• Understand how weapons are used and what your options are if confronted by one


• Learn ways to navigate confusion and shock


• Vet a litany of self-defense techniques taking into account size, strength, skills, and lifestyle


• Know which physical techniques to count on in a fight for your life and which NOT to


• Grasp some of the most important legal ramifications of physically protecting yourself against violence


• Heal intelligently after a violent encounter


• Include specific considerations of parenthood in your self-defense practice


• Evaluate self-defense courses and instructors so you can make educated decisions for your family


• Come away with teaching tools and resources to help you pass the knowledge on to your students and loved ones


• Help engage and encourage others to reimagine women's self-defense training so it benefits us all

Review Quotes

"A close friend paid her way through college by working as a stripper. She hired me to bodyguard her and her fellow performers whenever they did private shows. To be clear, they were not sex workers, but some clients wouldn't take "no" for an answer without my intervention. I soon discovered that job wasn't the only reason she had to view the world around her differently than I did. Our conversations were thought-provoking, highlighting a variety of subjects that I have rarely seen in woman's self-defense prior to reading this book. Let's face it, most martial arts were designed by men, primarily for men, hence fail to account for differences in biology, threat vectors, and lifestyle. Reimagining Woman's Self-Defense corrects traditional misconceptions, advocating a framework of protective offense with proven strategies for avoiding danger, de-escalating conflict, and fighting back effectively. It's well-written, practical, and an important call to action that should be embraced by anyone who wants to help women move through the world more safely."

--Lawrence Kane, Sensei, American Martial Arts Alliance (AMAA) Who's Who in the Martial Arts Hall of Honors Inductee, SIG Sourcing Supernova Hall of Fame Member, ProcureCon EPIC Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, bestselling multi-award-winning author of 31 books, including Musashi's Dokkodo, The Little Black Book of Violence, The Big Bloody Book of Violence, How to Win a Fight, and Surviving Armed Assaults

"Reimagining Women's Self-Defense shatters the centuries-old beliefs of women in conflict then reshapes them to strengthen every weapon in the arsenal for optimum mental, emotional, and physical self-defense. Teja VanWicklen's expertise, personal story, and life-long passion for the fighting arts have culminated in this brilliant book, one that is certain to advance and elevate women's training for years to come."

--Lori Hartman Gervasi, author of Fight Like a Girl...and Win: Defense Decisions for Women

"Women face unique situations and challenges, yet most traditional martial arts training fails to address them adequately or does so only in the most general terms. Teja VanWicklen's Reimagining Women's Self-Defense seeks to fill that gap and does so admirably, drawing on her many years of training and personal experiences growing up in the heart of New York City. With compelling stories, raw honesty, and hard-won wisdom, Teja dispenses genuinely useful, pragmatic advice that applies to real-world situations, much of which I have never heard discussed in any martial arts class. Teja has boldly reimagined women's self-defense beyond mere fighting techniques: she considers lifestyle, psychology (of both criminals and their intended victims), situational awareness, trauma recovery, health and nutrition, legal concerns, and more--because truly effective self-defense doesn't happen in the vacuum of traditional martial arts training."

--Jennifer Ouellette, author of Me Myself, and Why, science journalist, recipient of science writing award (Acoustical Society of America), Humanist of the Year 2018 American Humanist Association (AHA), Shodan Niseido Jujitsu

"I have been a single parent since my kids were 6 months old. I was in deployment ready units until the oldest went to university and have several missions and exercises domestic and international while parenting very young children. The challenges that working single parents face is already monumental, add to it the threat of physical violence. I felt genuine fear taking them out alone in certain areas. Fortunately for me, Teja and I were both looking for ways to better ourselves and she happened to be giving a class on women's self-defense (not a traditional one) and I immediately signed up. The course was eye-opening and life changing. Teja spelled out in simple terms why traditional "self-defense" courses fell short of the mark, leaving many with a false sense of security.

I was immediately drawn to her way of speaking about women's self-defense. Teja spoke a language I understood and even though we were both physically very strong and capable women, the reality of infants, toddlers and children brought a world of problems that even with my skill set I felt completely unprepared for. I had completed difficult training with Army combat trades, learned loads about how to survive in the wild, how to take care of equipment, move safely in various environments or inclement weather, taken intense first-aid for deployments, yet I was unsure how to confront a dangerous situation with a stroller, a diaper bag, and a toddler or two in tow. After having had to chase three on a beach, all at once, in three separate and equally dangerous directions (road, nettle patch, and water) with a compromised bikini top it was clear I needed to up my safety game.

I encourage all women who suddenly find themselves on uneven footing as new parents to read her book. I am so grateful for Teja and her work, and firmly believe we can all benefit from her knowledge. It takes a village, and she has my vote for Chief."

--Sgt Deloris Del Rio, CD (ret.)

"As a wheelchair user and founder of a self-defense instruction nonprofit, I have reached the same conclusion as Teja regarding the state of self-defense for women-It is badly in need of a makeover.

Reimaging Women's Self-Defense is a strategic plan of action for women. [It is] loaded with personal stories and references to relevant subject matter, and arms women and self-defense instructors with a clear and concise instructional framework.

The self-defense industry is both male dominated and fighting-centric; the "self-defense" aspect is more defense of ego than anything else. Reimaging Women's Self-Defense is a deep dive into personal protection. It is the culmination of Teja's many years of intense study and well worth your time."

--Erik Kondo, founder of self-defense nonprofit NOT-ME! Inc., author of Not-Me! Self-Defense and the Martial Arts for and by People with SCI/D

"Reimagining Women's Self-Defense came to me at exactly the right time in my life. Pre-pandemic I [was an instructor with] Street Sheild Self-Defense--I taught the soft skills and performed demonstrations while my sensei taught the physical skills. Since then, I've suffered a series of serious injuries that have left me wondering what I can still contribute to teaching.
Teja's book made me think deeply and productively. I learned not only from her own experiences, but also from the brilliant way she organized the book using the Self-Defense Continuum. This reminded me that the soft skills are actually the most important part of any women's self-defense training.
Teja's experience in life and on the mat puts her in the forefront of teaching the people who actually need it: women, injured women, women who must protect others. My children are grown so I protect my elderly mom. Teja is centering and naming that truth."

--Amy Stewart-Cooper, ADHD Leadership Coach, 500 Rising Endorsed Colleague, co-instructor Street Sheild Self-Defense, 2^nd degree black belt (Nidan) Okinawan Kenpo

"Teja's journey as a female practitioner in martial arts will resonate with other women who have confronted the outlier experience of being the only woman on the mat. Her writing begins with what it means to be a female practitioner "screaming into the void" of combat fighting systems designed by and for men. If you too are one of those women - you will feel heard in these pages.

For the adventurous martial arts novice, the material will help guide your training in what is still a male oriented profession (in approach, technique, and curriculum). The information in these pages' ranges from critical prevention skills to Teja's recommendations for foundational physical responses to the last threshold in self-defense--the physical fight. For the coach, trainer, and seasoned practitioner Teja has accomplished a Herculean challenge, organizing mountains of information into chapters, and closing with bulleted summaries and applicable exercises whether or not you are training with a dojo. As the book concludes, she tells the reader "The best way to learn anything is to use it." Throughout each chapter, she provides suggestions on how to do exactly that. Enjoy!"

--Tammy Yard-McCracken, Psy.D., LPC., Krav Maga instructor, certified Conflict Communication instructor, self-defense instructor, founder of Kore Self-Defense & Krav Maga, violence dynamics instructor, founder and CEO 500Rising, Inc., speaker, corporate trainer, and psychotherapist with experience in trauma recovery and survivors of violence

"As a physical educator, martial arts practitioner and instructor, and security professional, I have found that the more I train and study self-defense and survival arts, the more I understand the importance of learning the most realistic, current, and practical skills from top instructors and reputable sources. However, physical skill is only a small part of the equation. Reimagining Women's Self-Defense offers a comprehensive, well-researched, and thought-provoking overview of broader knowledge. To that end, the author incorporated personal anecdotes, relevant quotes, acronyms, and sketches throughout the text. She also integrated devices created by renowned experts, into the "Self-Defense Continuum," a model that clearly outlines the complex process of crime in a format that is easy for the average person to understand. This manuscript is an essential read for anyone seeking to gain the mental, emotional, and physical tools to protect themselves and loved ones from violent threats if necessary. Knowledge is power, and a well-informed, tactical mindset is the ultimate weapon. This book provides... and then some!"

--Rick Mitchell, B.A. Physical Education, fully-qualified instructor Taboada Balintawak Escrima, 4^th degree black belt Modern Arnis, International World Cup Full-Contact Stick Fighting Grand Champion, Pan American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champion, security professional

"Holistic, informative, and intelligent. This is a book that has been needed for quite some time. I read it with some expectation, having seen some of the authors work before, and it did not disappoint.
It is not a rehash but rather it is a serious look at what is needed for good, effective self-defense, filtered to be more accessible and applicable to women and other marginalized people and communities. It does not rely on fear to sell its lessons, it relies on knowledge, facts, and personal experience. What's more, it closes out each section with action points that teach you to integrate what you have just learned into your life, internally, not as a costume.
Teja includes all of the various aspects that I think are required to take care of oneself in the modern environment, including the use of effective weapons, and she even gets into some first aid in the aftermath of a critical incident.
I am glad to see this book come out, and highly recommend it to everyone, especially women, it is needed."

--Terry Trahan, Silat instructor, protection specialist, bouncer, author

"Recently a female student asked me which martial art would be best for self-defense. I answered her truthfully, none. There is a small amount of self-defense knowledge that can be extracted from martial arts.

In Reimagining Women's Self Defense Teja has drawn on her extensive experience, synthesized some excellent material, and sourced knowledge from experts in their respective fields, to provide a unique resource for women seeking self-defense guidance. I will be recommending this book to the women, and men, who train with me here in the United Kingdom."

--Garry Smith, author of Fighting Fit: Go Wild and Kick and Punch Your Way to Fitness.

"Too many self-defense resources are offered by large, athletic men with law enforcement and/or military experience. Although I have immense respect for those men, they know very little about the safety of women. How could they? Their size, experience, relationship with violence, and even the sort of predator who might attack them, are entirely different from what a soccer mom, college co-ed, or career woman might face.

Teja VanWicklen, does more than identify this problem. She presents solutions in a scientifically grounded, street-tested, and above all usable framework that can be applied today and become expert knowledge in time. Women, parents of girls, and every martial artist or self-defense instructor should read this book."

--Jason Brick, 6^th degree black belt, host of the podcast "Safest Family on the Block", author of Safest Family on the Block, and There I Was...When Nothing Happened.