Tonight I did something that isn’t fun or comfortable, but it was necessary. I attended a “Not Me!” safety training class. One in five women will be assaulted in this lifetime. It’s not fun to think about the possibility of being the victim of assault (or worse) but now I have the knowledge, skills and belief that I will never be a victim.

The class teaches how attackers think and provides stories and statistics. Additionally, it’s important to keep your awareness in the moment in order to listen to your intuition (your personal threat alarm). For example, it’s important to stay off your cell phone if you are in public by yourself because your ability to observe your surroundings is severely stunted. And if you get attacked, the person on the other end of the phone call is powerless to help you. Dru Sjodin was on her cell phone with her boyfriend as she walked from her job in the mall to her car. Her boyfriend called the police, but Dru was long gone by the time the police arrived.

The most important part of the class was learning only four self defense moves. It’s important to limit the number of maneuvers learned in order to remember them. Everyone in the class was able to practice them, repeatedly, creating muscle memory—meaning we each will know how to react, should we need to.

The “Not Me!” safety training class has been featured on Kare11. Click here to watch the video (the video is hidden in the side bar under the advertisement). And check out the Not Me! book here.

The class should be taken by all women, all ages. If you’re interested in taking a class or having Not Me! teach a class at your work/place of worship/home, contact Alison James at 612.483.4783 by email: alisonsjames@comcast.net