When people think of self-defense, it’s common to picture a person adopting a certain pose, arms up to protect the body, ready to defend against an immediate physical threat. In reality, practicing self-defense is much broader than that.
Situational awareness, for example, is a learned ability that relies on one’s perception, observation, and preparation. When mastered, it can be life-saving.
Young people at The William George Agency for Children’s Services (WGA) began learning more about this important aspect of self-defense along with verbal and non-verbal de-escalation techniques thanks to support from a donor advised fund at The Cortland Community Foundation.
Youth in WGA programs have experienced significant trauma and many gravitate towards familiar environments that are chaotic and unsafe. Understanding this dynamic, WGA’s Director of Special Services, Samantha Harden, LCSW, and Behavioral Health Clinician, Suzanna Condon, LMSW, developed a self-defense training curriculum for youth, consulting with professional colleagues and a retired Police Chief along the way.
Harden says that youth often come to WGA’s campus with little awareness and knowledge on how to accurately interpret their surroundings or identify potential threats. They may think they know how to navigate a tough situation, but they know little about how to avoid such a situation in the first place.
“This training helps them to recognize potentially bad situations and dangerous interactions before they happen,” says Harden.
The first training workshop took place in April with teens from WGA’s Youth Centered Recovery Program.
Instruction is designed to occur in group settings so youth can learn from each other’s real-life experiences and perspectives. Sessions start off with a question such as, ‘What does danger look like?’
“We want young people to understand there are levels of danger and that danger can escalate quickly by things that are in and out of their control. It’s not always easy to detect a potentially dangerous situation, especially if you’re with someone you think you can trust or your awareness has been impaired due to drugs or alcohol,” explains Harden. “From the first question, we delve deeper into different areas, such as what are healthy boundaries and relationships and how thoughts and choices can impact situations.”
Harden is happy with initial feedback from the first few trainings and thinks the curriculum is enriched by using real world examples that youth can relate to.
“Everything went well [in the first sessions]. Overall youth were engaged and receptive. We focused heavily on situational awareness. They were able to process a lot of past situations that were risky or ended poorly, which I think was really helpful for them to realize how their decisions and substance use affected their engagement in their communities.”
Training covers many ways youth can defend against potential threats without physical force. These include proactively thinking about how to stay safe in different kinds of environments, watching for cues like changes in someone’s tone or body language, avoiding distractions like scrolling on the phone or using headphones, and identifying entries and exit routes in unfamiliar spaces.
Youth also learn that safety begins with them and that their feelings and perceptions can be powerful influencers. Learning to trust their intuition is important, especially for youth who experience low self-esteem.
“The way this customized training highlights situational awareness and personal intuition as part of self-defense is powerful. It can truly help every one of our program participants build awareness, make safer choices, and navigate their worlds with greater confidence,” says Helen M. Hulings, Executive Director of The William George Agency for Children’s Services. “We’re grateful for the support that inspired this important learning opportunity and for how it will enhance the personal safety and well-being of the youth we serve for years to come.”