We started offering our free women’s self-defense program in Boston in 2010 and have been running it ever since. In the years that we’ve been running it, we have taught thousands of
teenagers and women how both predict, identify and prevent being victimized. Our program uses blended learning methods, utilizing a mix of online courses, and in-person physical self-defense
classes. If you are interested in attending any of our women’s self-defense courses/programs, you can find out when the next one is scheduled by
clicking here (this will take you to
our dedicated women’s self-defense Boston website, which will open in a new tab). Our physical classes take place at our training facility located just north of Boston, which
has free on-site parking.
The SEPS Women’s Self-Defense Program in Boston
The SEPS (Situation Effective Protection System), teaches two sets of skills. One of these sets, the self-protection component of the systems, looks at how predatory individuals whether
they are stalkers, abusive partners or sexual assailants target and access women. This also looks at the victimology – not victim blaming – component of victim selection including signals
that predatory individuals look for, which can be subtle and are not always obvious; this is especially true of potentially abusive partners, who at the start of a relationship may appear
to be the “perfect” partners. However, there are usually warning signs, some of which may be discounted, which do indicate future abusive behaviors etc. Rather than looking at “profiling”
individuals the program focuses on the methods and processes that predators, such as rapists and sexual assailants, employ in order to gain access to those they target and make themselves
appear as safe and non-threatening. The program was designed, and is updated, by Gershon Ben Keren, a criminologist who has been working and teaching in the security industry since 1990.
The physical self-defense component looks at the types of threats and attacks, women are likely to face, and presents simple, effective solutions for dealing with them. The goal of the program is to teach women how to effectively and safely disengage from a violent encounter and get to safety i.e., the idea is to get away and to safety rather than “beat” and “win” against an attacker e.g., if attacked in the home, it may be easier to disengage and get to safety rather than fight and force an assailant out, especially if they are bigger and stronger etc. We also teach tactics and strategies to employ when such disengagement options aren’t available e.g., when there are small children and dependents in the home, making disengagement not possible etc.
Part of our program covers the use of defensive sprays, such as OC/Pepper Spray. We teach the contexts in which different types of spray are effective, and how to use them. As with all the solutions that we teach, these sprays are used as a tool of disengagement, to create an opportunity to safely get away. If you are interested in our free women’s self-defense program for women in Boston and Massachusetts, please click here (this will take you to our dedicated women’s self-defense Boston website, which will open in a new tab).