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

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