If you have a question, please click on "Contact Us" in the menu and we will get back to you within 24 hours. [1]  What's so great about learning self defense in a women-only setting? [2]  Is there any jumping or strenuous activity in these workshops? [3]  I was told at a karate studio that it would take years for me to really learn to defend myself. How can you claim to teach me anything meaningful in a few hours? [4]  What is your training and experience? [5]  I have some physical limitations. Can I still take your class? [6]  I’m 4’11” and I’ve always felt kind of helpless because of my size. Is it possible for someone like me to defend myself against a much larger person? [7]  I’m in lousy shape. Do I have to start working out before taking your class? [8]  How appropriate is your class for children? [9]  I’m a 72 year old grandmother and I’d like to take a self defense class with my granddaughter. At my age, am I likely to get much out of it? [10]  You say your techniques are easy to remember. How will I remember everything you teach me? [11]  What if I still feel a need to refresh my memory? [12]  Have YOU ever been attacked? [13]  How can a self defense workshop be fun? This seems like too serious a subject to me. [14]  Have you ever had to use the skills you teach in class? [15]  What about little kids? Can they learn effective physical self defense skills? What's so great about learning self defense in a women-only setting? Consider what happens when a group of women are sitting around chatting and a man joins the group. Have you ever noticed the energy changing and the conversation shifting to more neutral topics? My experience working with both co-ed and women-only groups has shown me that women are much less inhibited and more likely to "stretch" themselves in a women-only environment. Women also tend to be much more adept at creating a safe space amongst themselves, and they often feel freer to discuss certain subjects and do certain things when there are no men around. In my workshops, women will have the opportunity to share their experiences and experiment with their physical power and their voices. Once they’ve learned some skills, they can go out and practice more confidently with men if they choose. [to top] Is there any jumping or strenuous activity in these workshops? There is no jumping at all in any of the workshops. The physical activity is not particularly strenuous either. Keep in mind that you always have a choice about participation; if something looks too difficult for you I will find an effective option that works for you. [to top] I was told at a karate studio that it would take years for me to really learn to defend myself. How can you claim to teach me anything meaningful in a few hours? I understand where you’re coming from. The answer is that I concentrate on one particular skill set, namely self defense. I have broken everything down into the simplest and most essential skills for the express purpose of defending yourself. The martial arts, however, are much more than a system for self defense. Learning a martial art is an ongoing commitment and it encompasses areas such as proper form, discipline, respect, hierarchy, physical fitness, competition, and testing. These are wonderful things, and martial arts are a great idea for anyone who is looking for a challenging and structured activity. If, however, you are looking for a quick and easy method of learning the skills and attitudes that will either prevent you from being attacked or allow you to fight back effectively, the martial arts are probably not your most efficient choice. [to top] What is your training and experience? I?ve had an interest in self defense for as long as I can remember, which probably stems from growing up in a home with two older brothers! I took many self defense classes during my early adult years and also spent two years in the Israeli army. Even after all this training, I still did not feel I had skills I could really use until taking a life-changing course from Dr. Tom Washington in Minnesota in 1990. His unique and effective approach changed my perception of myself in only a few hours, and that experience has had a profound effect on my life. I subsequently trained extensively under Dr. Washington and co-taught with him until moving to San Diego in 1999. In addition, I am passionate about personal growth work. I am currently on the leadership track for Woman Within, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to creating educational opportunities for women to discover the power of who they are. I am also the Director of Empowerment Circles for Women Worldwide - West Coast, a woman's organization dedicated to providing women with education, encouragement, empowerment and opportunity. My interest and experience in women's personal growth work has given me even more tools to integrate into my work at Yes I Can! Self Defense for Mind and Body, creating a safe space for women to claim and explore their power. [to top] I have some physical limitations. Can I still take your class? Yes! I'm very excited about finding workarounds for women with physical limitations. I teach multiple options for any given situation so that you can choose the defense that works best for you. [to top] I’m 4’11” and I’ve always felt kind of helpless because of my size. Is it possible for someone like me to defend myself against a much larger person? Absolutely YES! I’m only five feet tall myself, and our program’s motto is, “Size Doesn’t Matter!” I used to feel very vulnerable because of my small size - until I learned these self defense methods. Remember that even the largest assailant has the same weak spots as any other person. The key is learning where and how to hit, and how to put enough force into what you do to make a difference. Here’s an anecdote for you. A man who’s been involved in law enforcement for many years told me that an arresting officer’s worst nightmare is not a big, burly man but a SMALL angry WOMAN. He said they are the hardest ones to get control of without the officer being injured himself. Translate that to an assault situation, and realize that fighting back has nothing to do with size and everything to do with attitude. [to top] I’m in lousy shape. Do I have to start working out before taking your class? No. You do not have to be in good shape to defend yourself. After taking one of my workshops you may be a little sore from using some muscles you may not have used recently, but the skills you learn should work for you even if you don’t work out. [to top] How appropriate is your class for children? Girls ages 10 and up attend my regular adult workshops. Mothers and daughters will often get tremendous benefits from taking a workshop together. Sometimes we get grandmothers who bring their granddaughters too! [to top] I’m a 72 year old grandmother and I’d like to take a self defense class with my granddaughter. At my age, am I likely to get much out of it? Yes you are. Your age is not an issue. Any woman who is out and about during her daily life will learn skills, attitudes, and preventive methods that she can use. [to top] You say your techniques are easy to remember. How will I remember everything you teach me? At Yes I Can! Self Defense for Mind and Body I keep things very straightforward. In creating my workshops, I have included only the simplest and most effective methods. In my experience, these tend to stick. You will also receive hand out materials, including a review of the techniques taught in class and a tip sheet, and these should help if you need a reminder. [to top] What if I still feel a need to refresh my memory? Any woman completing one of my workshops may return to retake the class at no charge for the class and only a $3 charge for materials. Click on Contact Us and send me an e-mail if you would like to retake the class, and I will let you know which sections have space available. [to top] Have YOU ever been attacked? As a 9-year-old child I was molested by a stranger. Fortunately I wasn’t otherwise harmed. This incident made me acutely aware of how vulnerable children can be in spite of all the warnings we give them, and I use this information when I do workshops for kids. As an adult, I thwarted an attack by using a defensive position I teach in class. The man who was following me took off immediately. My experience is that women who know how to defend themselves generally don’t end up as victims. Assailants assess their targets in only a few seconds, and women who have gone through my training give off “Don’t mess with me!” vibes that turn a situation around before it escalates. [to top] How can a self defense workshop be fun? This seems like too serious a subject to me. Self defense IS serious - and getting in touch with your power is FUN! Trust me. [to top] Have you ever had to use the skills you teach in class? I use them every day. The prevention skills I teach, such as body language, tone of voice, awareness, and attitude have become integral parts of me. 98% of self defense is prevention, and these techniques will do more to prevent an assault than anything else you learn anywhere. [to top] What about little kids? Can they learn effective physical self defense skills? Yes. Depending on the age of the child, they can learn many things that will help to keep them safe. Girls from the age of 10 can attend our regular half day workshop, as kids of that age can already defend themselves effectively if they know what to do. For younger kids, it's very important to teach them what to watch out for and to act out possible child lure scenarios with them. It's not enough to tell them what NOT to do, however. They must also be taught what they SHOULD do and they should have an opportunity to practice those skills. Although I do not teach children under the age of 10, I do offer a video for sale that has an excellent program for kids. [to top]