by Impact Inc. | Jul 29, 2024 | Blog Post
For years I rested securely in the righteousness and rightness of phrases like, “No is a complete sentence” and “No means No”. I readily passed out these phrases when giving advice. These phrases are righteous. They are correct. But I was missing a step in my own... by Alicia O | Jun 26, 2024 | Blog Post
This simple one-liner has been pivotal for me over the past year, upon being hired by IMPACT last July and participating in countless classes as part of my coach training. All of our self-defense courses highlight verbal skills in addition to physical skills, and we... by Impact Inc. | May 30, 2024 | Blog Post
Twenty-two years ago I walked into my first IMPACT class. I was excited, afraid, and hopeful. I looked around the room and saw the big padded suits the instructors wore. I wondered if I would really be able to defend myself against a person that big. I was lucky that... by Impact Inc. | May 28, 2024 | Blog Post
There is nothing to do after the final day of a Core class – our longest, most intense weekend class in which we pack 20 hours of training in between Friday night and Sunday – but rest and ruminate. Like a coach after an important match, I find myself replaying... by Impact Inc. | Apr 30, 2024 | Blog Post
Someone Tells You Not to “Walk Like a Victim”? When I started teaching self-defense more than 20 years ago, I was told about a study that supposedly explained how attackers choose their victims. Video tapes of people walking down a crowded street in New York City were... by Impact Inc. | Apr 29, 2024 | Blog Post
When asked what I do for work, people are often entertained or surprised by my answer, which ranges from “I am a self-defense instructor at IMPACT Boston– we work within the model of Empowerment Self Defense, a feminist framework through which we teach everyday... by Impact Inc. | Apr 3, 2024 | Blog Post
Two meProtective gear is a key component of any IMPACT class. We want students to practice their physical skills with all their strength and force, just as they would in a real life situation. We also need to protect our instructors’ safety. Enter: “the... by Impact Inc. | Jan 27, 2023 | Blog Post
A couple nurturing a plant together that symbolizes their relationship. The flower of the plant is a heart. Red flags are a popular topic in our classes. We teach self-defense for worst-case scenario situations, but just like in sports, your best defense is a strong... by Impact Inc. | Aug 1, 2022 | Blog Post
A woman walking at night. It’s nighttime, and the street is not quite as populated or well-lit as I thought it would be. Mostly I’m alone or there’s one other person, always a man. The walk to my car is only about 8 minutes, but I’m already starting to regret... by Impact Inc. | Dec 6, 2021 | Blog Post
Photo credit: Daniele Franchi / Unsplash To protect herself from the assault, Y froze. Trauma was beginning to set in. But once she was ina safe space back at home, Y’s roommate L led her through movement therapy, and traumaultimately did not set in. The...