empowerment self-defense

Everyone has a right to feel safe and to develop skills for self defense, but we know that not everyone may be able or interested in taking martial arts. In 2015, Sr. Master Lisa and Master Michele developed a self-defense curriculum called SETpoint out of a desire to bring inclusive, trauma-informed, and survivor-centered programming to people at high risk of assault. The SETpoint curriculum is grounded in a model called Empowerment Self Defense (ESD). ESD is backed by research, and has been shown in numerous long-term and ongoing studies to greatly reduce the potential of assault and physical violence. For an overview by one of the primary researchers in the field see Jocelyn Hollander’s website.

ESD provides an opportunity to practice skills that are complementary to our martial arts programming. SETpoint programs focus on core elements that include:

• Situational Awareness to give ourselves time and space to react, as well as to recognize healthy and unhealthy behaviors in relationships; 

• Boundary Setting and De-Escalation through stance, eye contact and voice, with drills that focus on setting, identifying, defending, and respecting boundaries;

• Physical Resistance Skills that are based on the inherent strengths and weaknesses of ANY body and can be quickly learned and executed without years of practice, including strikes and low kicks to vulnerable targets that will cause a predictable response to the other person's body;

• Survivor Support as a key self defense tool after a trauma; and

• Active Bystander Intervention, where we use the toolkit we build for self defense to help another person.

We’re proud to offer both traditional martial arts and SETpoint training at Shaolin Studios in Regent Square. The programs provide a complementary set of skills designed to help anyone interested in self defense to find an option that’s right for them; skills that all of us can use as we navigate through school, work, travel, and our personal lives. Learn more about THE MARTIAL ARTS, SELF DEFENSE, AND EMPOWERMENT on our blog.