Thank you to everyone who attended our self-defense workshops this winter! We had great turnouts at both events and as always LeCarlo Beaty from Divas in Defense did a fantastic job teaching the courses.

At both classes, I shared my story of how self-defense helped me over come the fear I had after the attack. I feel very strongly that not only is self-defense an important tool in preventing assaults against women but it is also a powerful way to help victims of assaults heal. I am so grateful that I was able to take self-defense soon after the attack and I know that it had a huge impact on my recovery.

In my opinion, one of the best aspects of LeCarlo’s classes is that he focuses on real life situations. We discussed the importance of situational awareness every time you leave your house. How often do we go about our day and routines without fully being aware of what is around us? I know that the day of my attack, I had no idea that I was being followed on my morning run. Being aware of your surroundings and trusting your instincts are critical. At the classes the women learned how to properly punch and kick and how to get out of many different types of holds. I feel confident that all the women who came to the course learned survival skills and also had fun.

If you want to learn more about personal safety and self-defense pick up a copy of LeCarlo’s book Life Insurance: Basic Guide for Women’s Safety and Self Defense. I was honored to write and share my story for the foreword for this book and I couldn’t be prouder of all that LeCarlo does to keep women safe.