We are closely monitoring best practices in response to COVID-19. We will be updating our currently scheduled classes and formats based on CDC and Vermont State safety recommendations and guidelines.
Women’s Empowerment Self-Defense Workshops
Spring 2021
- Please check back for future classes. We will resume in person trainings as soon as CDC and VT State health guidelines permit.
Registration
Please go to our Workshop Registration page. All workshop fees are non-refundable and not transferable and all classes are LGBTQ friendly.
NOTE: Once registered for any of our public workshops, we will send you our pre-workshop email about 1 week prior to the event with details about the location of our trainings and the content of our programs. In the meantime, please feel free to contact Eileen at Eileen@TheSafetyTeam.org, if you need more information about registration and payment.
Future Workshops
Not able to make a workshop? Please fill out the form HERE and we will let you know about our upcoming trainings. Thank you for your interest!
Workshop Descriptions
Level I Workshop: The 2.5-Hour Introductory Women’s Empowerment Self-Defense Program
This beginner workshop utilizes both large and small group instruction. By adhering to a 5:1 student-to-instructor ratio, The Safety Team’s trauma-informed trainings focus on boundary setting, affirmative consent, and relevant sexual assault information, as well as the mental and physical skills of Empowerment Self-Defense. The overarching goal of these large-group sessions is to help women discover their collective voice, address victim-blaming by redirecting the responsibility for all assaults on to the perpetrators, improve women’s sense of power and control, and, as a result, reduce the likelihood of sexual assault and violence.
Level II Workshop: The 2.5-Hour Intermediate Women’s Empowerment Self-Defense Program
This intermediate workshop takes Level I another step further, allowing for a brief review of knowledge, practice of acquired strikes, and instruction of additional basic self-defense techniques that deal with a variety of common situations and potential attacks. The focus is on “hands-on” verbal and physical self-defense skills, techniques and strategies, which are presented to the group as a whole, but practiced in small groups of no more than four participants for each instructor. This format facilitates the learning of physical skills and allows for women to connect with one another. Throughout this class, important concepts are reinforced (affirmative consent, boundary setting, each person’s right to be safe). Level I is a prerequisite for Level II.
Level III Workshop: The 2.5-Hour Advanced Women’s Empowerment Self-Defense Program
Level III reviews the strikes learned in Level I and Level II, as well as the self-defense skills, techniques and strategies. In addition, students are given the opportunity to practice scenarios against members of The Safety Team and/or a padded male attacker, whichever may be more comfortable. All activities are at the discretion of the participant. Level I and II are prerequisites for this class. Women who participate in one or all three workshops report feeling more confident and ready to take on positive challenges, as they have discovered the power of their voice and the strength from within their bodies.
Previous Level I, II and III Workshops have been held at Maple Street Park, UVM Medical Center, Move You Fitness Studio, Martial Way Self-Defense Center, Northeast Association of Realtors, Middlebury College, Norwich University, Champlain College, Saint Michael’s College, Burlington Parks and Recreation Department, Otter Creek Awnings, Visiting Nurse Association, and The Sports and Fitness Edge, to name a few.
Instructors
Christine DiBlasio, Ph.D.
4th Degree Black Belt, Kempo-Jujitsu, Psychologist
Darcy Richardson-Miller, M.S.
2nd Degree Black Belt in Kempo-Jujitsu, Black Belt, Arnis, Forensic Toxicologist
Nancy Keller, M.Ed., C.A.S.
3rd Degree Black Belt, Kempo-Jujitsu, 2nd Degree Purple Belt, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Educator
Hillary Boucher
1st Degree Black Belt, Kempo-Jujitsu, Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Forensic Chemist
Karen Chevalier
2nd Degree Black Belt, Kempo-Jujitsu, Police Officer
Christina Allard, P.T.
Brown Belt in Kempo-Jujitsu, Physical Therapist
Eileen Mann
1st Degree Brown Belt in Kempo-Jujitsu, Community Outreach Specialist
Naima Dennis
Blue Belt in Kempo-Jujitsu, Computer Programmer
Peg Rieley, MBA
Purple Belt in Shaolin Kempo Karate, Property Development