Dhriti Self Defense Workshop Instructor Manual Usha – please add logo to this slide when available

Introduction (15 min) About Dhriti Radha – can you please add content on exactly who we are – we can also use speaker notes to add more details. Icebreaking All – we need to brainstorm on how we icebreak with participants.

Feminist Self Defense Philosophy (10 min) Madhu – please review and cleanup Self defense for women begins with the idea that women can resist violence. It begins with self ­respect, a knowledge of one's rights and the determination and ability to protect those rights. Our aim is to provide women with options by actively participating in their own safety. – Learn self-defense against verbal and physical assaults – Be assertive and skilled in physical defense techniques. A woman's best weapon is herself - her wits, her voice, her body. It is based on the empowerment of women as opposed to the protection of women.

Why Women’s Self Defense Madhu – please review and cleanup Women and men are physically different Women are attacked differently Women are socialized differently and are taught not to fight back Hence surprise is big element in a lot of our techniques Our model of self-defense is a feminist one created by women, for the needs of women, from the experiences of women.

Stretching & Stance (7 min) Radha – please review content to make it more succinct. Stretching is important, can get hurt if do technique incorrectly; we'll tell you ahead Groundedness cant be pushed over; confident and alert women taught to want to be light and thin ; weight is strength rooted, grounded, knees bent, butt tucked hands protect vulnerable points (face and chest) mobile from it ; all our standing techniques come from it If few students at a workshop, can show difference between pushing over in stance and not in stance

Voice as a self defense tool (5 min) All - Please review and see if we should add a context sensitive video. Practice the yell Video link &noredirect=1

Yell All – please review and suggest changes One technique is "The Yell". voice is a tool --strong and powerful yell vs. scream: scream is helpless, afraid, and out of control; in movies females scream ; scream comes from throat; yell is empowering, expresses rage, saying "no" to what's happening to you comes from deep inside you we yell "no", for one, because the legal issue of self defense is based on whether or not the female consented, if yell "no" -sure said "no"! the yell can be effective cuz surprise assailant -often enough to fend off attacker; they're looking for "good victims" alert other people around panic control: opens your throat and makes you breathe (often when panic you stop breathing) gives you chance to stop and think while assailant is surprised (creates an opening) the yell is done from our stance. will now demo: don't be surprised if it's loud comes from diaphragm ; ask everyone to breathe with hand on their diaphragm everyone get in a circle yell together, yell individually once around, yell once together

Core self defense strategy (15 min) – Madhu – please add content 1. Continuum of attacks 2. Different types of violence Strategies Fight back for physical Assertiveness for verbal/psychological 3. Examples of scenarios 4. What we teach 5. Strong points on your body – discussion 6. Weak points on a man’s body – discussion

Physical Moves- Part 1 Pivot Pivot in place, hip and shoulder are like a board, pivot whole body demo Palm Strike Palm Strike - targets are nose, chin, or throat starting from your stance, rotate your hips, move your arm across your body, strike target wrth heel of your hand strike at an angle across your body, not straight in front, to feel the difference: feel your pectoral muscle whiie moving your hand across your body versus striking directly in front of your body, use your hips; don't wind up; keep your elbows in you must be in close (if not, take a step in), drive through your target; after striking, bring your hand back to its original position, other hand is protecting your face and chest, demo Snap kick - Snap kick - target is assailant's knee; ideal location is the inside edge of the knee start in stance, lift up your leg so thigh is perpendicular to body and kick across to the attacker's opposite knee (to get inside edge) striking surface is ball of your foot, not your toe, bring your leg back can do several in a row very quickly; protect face with one hand support yourself with other person, if need to keep balance assailant's shoulder or wrist grab great for balance demo Instep stomp - Instep stomp - target is attacker's instep, target should be slightly behind foot that is doing the stomping look at the target, raise your leg, rotate your hip inward and stomp on instep, striking surface is your heel practice slo-mo with partners ; practice full-force on phone books Demo Radha, not sure what “Back to circle” is

What-if Scenario Discussion (30 mins) Madhu – please work with Supraja in adding what-if scenarios Ask participants for a what-if situation Have a WHAT-IF situation bank – discuss atmost 2 WHAT-Ifs

Physical moves – part 2 Side Thrust Kick The target can be the attacker's knee, head, or groin. While lying on your side (on hip or rolled slightly forward -not on your butt) keep forearm extended parallel to your body for balance. Have your lower leg bent so that your foot is almost in your crotch (kind of) for balance. Then with the upper leg, kick the attacker. rotating your hip toward the ground (and thus turning your toe down) as you kick. When you make contact, there should be a straight line from the target to your hip, to your shoulder.Pins philosophy: choose your opening/moment. relax. breathe. What's in your head is what counts. you're in control. gather your power. when you start fighting: be ready and committed—element of surprise, don't stop to see if it worked. but if overpowered temporarily you can stop, use other strategies, start over later, never too late. Pelvis Throw attacker sitting on defender's hips. works only if attacker is sitting down hard.can wiggle around to gel them to sit. plant foot by bending knee. use hips to push attacker off to the side. if doesn't work, try other side cuz attacker now will be sitting hard on the other side. Judo Pin attacker kneeling by defender's side holding down her arms.defender moves hips to the side and brings far leg up and around attacker's neck, bringing attacker down to the ground. follow-up is down-elbow to groin. Stomach Pin defender lying on stomach, attacker lying on top with legs between defender's. defender moves one leg to the side, planted with knee bent. defender bites attacker's arm (same side) and flips attacker over using hips and planted foot. Back Pin or "Scoot and Drive" Plant both feet quickly, scoot up quickly, insert foot quickly and "dribble, dribble", rotate foot and drive anger = strength element, have the will to actually hurt if necessary.

Assertiveness Skills (30 mins) Why (5 mins) Exercise 1 : body language eye contact, walk confidently instructors do silent bus stop role play where defender is passive then ask class "what could she have done differently?" "what wasn't very assertive?; what would be more assertive?" repeat silent role play, but this time she is assertive. Discussion: body language; faking confidence; and being alert Exercise 2: "I think, I feel, I want"; tone of voice "I think, I feel, I want"; structure to remember when want to communicate your feelings they can't argue ; you are correct about your feelings instructors do bus stop role play where defender is passive then ask class ''what could she have done differently?' "what wasn't very assertive?; what would be more assertive?" repeat role play, but this time she is assertive Exercise 3: active listening with broken record respond to what person says that shows you have heard them and possibly care, but keep repeating what you want. This two-part response lets harasser know you're listening ; not as "rude'

Assertiveness Skills- Contd… Role play on “non verbal bus stop related event – get lost message” personal experiences ("Anything happen to you recently where you wished you had handled it differently?" "How else could you have done that?" "Would you like to role play it?") Role play on “catcalls and groping in bus” Role play “bikes coming too close – intimidation”

Facilitate discussion on learnings (15 mins) a. Validate each other’s experience b. Ensure participants have key takeaways c. Another yelling session d. Close the workshop