shaolin news & inspiration

Safety is a basic human right. Understanding the array of tools we can use — both inherent strengths of our bodies and items we typically keep close at hand — can help us maintain safety and improve our confidence to move through our everyday lives. Regardless of what we do or don't do, it's important to recognize that the ONLY person at fault for harassment and assault is the person perpetrating that act.

Situational awareness is about giving yourself time and distance to react. Technology such as cell phones and headphones can detract from our situational awareness by occupying our senses that would otherwise pick up important cues in our environment. The sooner we notice something, the more time, distance, and options we have to react to it, including walking/running away, yelling, and calling for help.

There are a variety of ways that technology can be a benefit. For example, specialty apps and features can provide quick access to emergency calling without having to manually dial a number. Dialing a phone requires use of fine motor skills, which function best when we are at ease. Smartphones are designed with shortcuts that allow you to make an emergency call — either to 911 or to trusted friends or family members — with just a swipe or simple click movements, actions that involve gross motor skills that are easier to carry out when we are anxious or frightened. Learn how to access the shortcuts on your phone by Googling "emergency call" plus your phone type (e.g. "emergency call iPhone"). 

Maintaining our sense of hearing is also an important part of our situational awareness toolkit. Consider using just one earbud when walking outside so that you can still hear someone (or something, like a dog!) approaching from behind. Other options include using open-ear headphones or turning on features that amplify background noise.

Don't underestimate the power of your voice. Yelling NO or STOP sets a clear boundary and conveys a lack of consent. It can startle a person and draw attention to what they're doing, and it can send a message to anyone nearby who might be able to assist. Statistically speaking, 84% of random harassment and assault STOPS if we start to yell and make it potentially uncomfortable for the other person. Practicing yelling and saying no can seem silly, but it's an important and effective way to build our vocal muscles! 

Keeping your head up is fundamental to the self-defense options that we teach. Holding your head up – nose pointed forward and not down toward the ground – structurally aligns your posture and your weight, solidly grounding you and allowing you to more easily walk, run, or change directions without falling. You can pick up cues in your environment, and having your head up can give you confidence to voice your needs. Consider it your Power Stance!

Effective physical resistance uses the strongest parts of our bodies to impact inherently weak points on an attacker. When seeking physical resistance training, look for programs that will teach you how to maximize your impact regardless of the size or physical fitness of the attacker.

And don't forget, all of the above also helps us to serve as an active bystander in the event that someone in our community needs support.

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SETpoint is Empowerment Self-Defense, and that's different. Our instruction is Trauma-Informed, Survivor Centered, Inclusive, and back by decades of research. Learn more about us at https://www.shaolin-studios.com/empowerment-self-defense.