Effective Self-Defense Education

Self-defense and prevention programs are highly diverse. A comparison of anti-rape, sexual harassment, and child safety programs suggest four key components of effective self-defense education.


1. Participants learn, observe, and practice in realistic situations.


2. Participants learn and use multiple verbal and physical strategies.


3. Participants learn skills that build on their existing strengths, abilities, and inclinations.


4. Participants develop self-esteem, self-confidence, and supportive emotional relationships.

IMPACT meets all of these criteria: participants practice in realistic situations, learn multiple verbal and physical tools, add to their existing toolbox, report increased self-esteem and confidence, and are part of a supportive and collaborative learning environment.


Adapted from: Martha E. Thompson. 1991. Self-defense against sexual coercion: Theory, research, and practice. Pp. 111-121 in Elizabeth Grauerholz and Mary A. Koralewski (Eds.) Sexual Coercion: A Sourcebook on its Nature, Causes, and Prevention.Lexington MA: Lexington Books.

From the IMPACT Chicago Archives: The Beginning

Martha Thompson

IMPACT Chicago Director and Instructor

2012 is IMPACT Chicago’s 25^th anniversary. In July 1987, Joe Connelly, the founder of Chicago Model Mugging (the precursor of IMPACT) and Lonna Brooks, the first lead instructor trainee in Chicago, formed the Self-Empowerment Group (a nonprofit) to support Model Mugging in Chicago.

In November 1990, I interviewed Joe Connelly about the founding period (August 1986-October 1988) of what was to become IMPACT Chicago. I summarize the key people, main activities, major issues, and key decisions. Below the summary are excerpts from my interview with Joe.

Key People

Joe Connelly was the key person during the founding of what would become IMPACT. He negotiated with leaders of Model Mugging and he provided the funds for his and Lonna Brooks’ instructor training, some of the funding for other instructors, and the founding of the Self-Empowerment Group.

Other important Chicago people during this time period were Lonna Brooks, the first lead instructor trainee in Chicago; Dianne (Dee) Costanzo, the first certified lead instructor in Chicago; Theo Pintzuk and Carole Isaacs, who took the first Model Mugging course (Theo later served on the Board); Martha Thompson (who took the course in May 1988); and a Business Advisory Board (Norm Axelrod, Dennis Detzel, Elliot Rubenstein, and Dennis Conroy).

Main Activities

Joe’s main activities during this time were negotiating with the Personal Empowerment Center (PEC), Model Mugging of Monterey (MMOM), and Matt Thomas (the originator of Model Mugging) to offer courses in Chicago; to send people for training, and to recruit for classes. The Chicago people who participated in training during the founding period were Joe, Lonna, Dee, Carole, Martha, and Bill Stobierski. Fifty women were trained during the founding period. The California trainers in Chicago were Judith Roth (August 1987 and May 1988), Mark Morris (August 1987), and Tom Elliot (May 1988).

Key Issues

How to create an effective, efficient organization with a commitment to offering the program to as many women as possible?
Are we teaching self-defense or empowerment? What is their relationship to each other?

Key Decisions

·         Establish a not-for-profit not a for-profit.

·         Decline to sign a royalty agreement with Matt Thomas (this decision was based on having no guarantee of services).

TIMELINE FROM THE INTERVIEW WITH JOE

August 1986

Joe heard about Model Mugging from friends in California and read an article about it in Black Belt Magazine.

December 1986

Joe talked with Julio Toribio and Danielle Evans, Model Mugging of Monterey, about training to be an instructor. 

February 1987

Lonna Brooks, the first lead instructor trainee in Chicago, took the Basics course in Monterey.

March 1987

Joe attended the first national Model Mugging Instructor Training in Colorado.

April/May

Joe established a Business Advisory Group. The group suggested a for-profit organization and outlined an investment proposal.  Joe decided to pursue a nonprofit group to keep the course of the cost low and the focus on the program rather than investment returns.

June 1987

Lonna worked with a pro-bono attorney to apply for nonprofit status. Joe and Lonna established a Board of Directors and scheduled the first class for August.

July 1987

Lonna attended Instructor Training in Monterey.

Joe and Lonna formed the Self Empowerment Group (SEG)—the nonprofit organization supporting Model Mugging in Chicago--the official beginning of what would become eventually become IMPACT Chicago.

August 1987

The first Chicago area class was held at (then) Hillcrest Community Center with 13 women. Judith Roth and Mark Morris came in from California to teach with Joe as a co-teacher. Dianne (Dee) Costanzo, who would become the first fully certified female instructor in Chicago, was in this course.

September 1987

A second course in Chicago was scheduled for November. A demonstration was held to recruit students.  Joe continued his training by guest instructing in Boston.

November 1987

The Board of Directors expanded membership.

The November class was canceled because of lack of enrollment.

January 1988

The Personal Empowerment Center (PEC), a national nonprofit for Model Mugging, was formed. It was created by the originators and established to protect their interests and to promote the program. Irene Vander Zande (who would become the founder of KidPower) was the Board President.

January/February 1988

Dianne (Dee) Costanzo  and Carole Isaacs attended Instructor Training in Monterey. Most of their fees and expenses were paid by SEG, which had received a loan from Joe. Carole received additional support from the then defunct group Chicago Women’s Uprising and Dee covered the remainder of her expenses.

April/May 1988

Dee, Carol, and Theo Pintzuk recruited for the two classes scheduled for May.

The week courses were to begin, MMOM unexpectedly asked for full payment for instructor fees. Joe borrowed money to cover the balance. Two classes were held; one with 15 and the other with 7. Judith Roth from California and Joe taught the larger class with Dee co-teaching and Carole assisting. Lonna taught, with Judith’s supervision, the smaller class. Martha Thompson and Margaret Vimont, who would later become certified lead instructors, were each in one of the May 1988 courses.

June 1988

A fundraiser was held to raise money to send Bill to instructor training. Carole and Joe approached Martha about working with them to develop a curriculum for universities and colleges.

July 1988

Martha Thompson and Bill Stobierski went to Monterey for Instructor Training. Bill’s expenses were covered by SEG and Martha covered her own.

August 1988

Joe, Lonna, Dee, Martha, and Bill set dates for two classes in the fall. Martha negotiated with North Park College for a location for the September and October courses and actively recruited for the classes. Carole went on leave.

September 1988

The first class in Chicago taught totally by a Chicago team was held at Mundelein College. Lonna was in charge of the bookkeeping and organizational finances. Lonna and Joe taught the course with group facilitation assistance from Dee and Martha assisted. Bill was the guest instructor. Martha continued to recruit for the October class.

October 1988

Lonna and Joe again taught with Dee providing facilitation support. Lynn Fernandez and Sue Albertson assisted. Lynn and Sue suggested class assistant training be developed. Bill and Martha came in for the final two classes (at that time the class was offered in 5 hour, 5 day sessions). Bill was the guest suited instructor and Martha was an observer.

Acccomplishments
By the end of the Founding Period, a nonprofit organization had been established, 5 courses had been offered (August 1987, 2 in May 1988, 1 in September 1988, and 1 in October 1988) with a total of 50 graduates and Chicago had an instructor team of 2 suited instructors and 3 lead instructors in different stages of instructor training.

Three Generations of IMPACT Graduates

Lili Betancourt, IMPACT Grad 1990

I guess every woman has worried about what she could, would do if attacked. At one time this was the scary stuff of a recurring nightmare. It was the kind of concern that lives mostly under the level of consciousness, like a sleeping monster keeping me tip-toeing through life.

Twenty-three years ago I came across a flyer for a unique self-defense course and I was intrigued by more than it’s name. Then called Model Mugging it promised empowerment. When I witnessed a graduating class of women in action, I was sold. I signed up for the next class along with my mother. There were times I worried about her living on her own and having to travel for her job. Her best friend, my sister, a cousin, friends and acquaintances have since joined the ranks of IMPACT graduates. Each of us exhilarated by the release of worrying and wondering- Will I, can I be safe?

Now I believe I really turned into a worry-wart when I became a mom. What took me by surprise was the feeling of vulnerability that accompanied the joy of my daughter’s birth. I had two small sons but this was “a man’s world”, wasn’t it? They’d never be shamed, embarrassed or angered by an assault of ugly catcalls and rude comments. How do you prepare your little girl for that?

Her dad had a few ideas but ninja warrior training wasn’t a real life option. So I drilled my little ones in setting boundaries and we practiced using our voices just as I’d learned to do in IMPACT. Years later my daughter was excited to turn 16 and get her license. I was excited for her to take IMPACT. I got to see that familiar look of exhilaration on her beaming face. Her dad likes to tease and calls us ‘triple threat’ when we walk down the street, three generations of IMPACT graduates.

Two Friends Teach IMPACT

Molly and Nat are friends. Nat is a librarian who lives in Northfield, Minnesota. Molly is an acoustics consultant who lives in Chicago. Every so often Nat gets in his car and drives 7 hours to meet up with Molly. In May, Molly and Nat will meet at Dominican University Gym in River Forest. Nat will put on a suit of armor and Molly will put on a whistle and together they will teach women to be their own superheros.

Molly and Nat are instructors with IMPACT Chicago. May 18, 19, and 20 they will teach (along with Rob Babcock and Margaret Vimont) the IMPACT Chicago Core Program. The Core Program is IMPACT Chicago's most intensive program, allowing women to gain the most self-defense training in the shortest amount of time. Over the three-day program, Molly will teach women how to increase their awareness, verbal boundary setting, and physical skills.

Women will practice these skills in simulated real life scenarios where Nat, in his body armor, will take on a range of roles, including the nice guy looking for his lost dog, the co-worker who disrespects his colleague’s boundaries, and the date who decides he wants more than dinner. Molly will be right there with each woman, coaching if she gets stuck and cheering her as she defends herself.

With Nat in the armor, women will set strong verbal boundaries and practice delivering strikes and kicks with full force, just as they would need to in an actual attack. By the end of the course, women will have repeatedly practiced skills to assess danger, set boundaries, and respond effectively to verbal and physical attacks.

Jennifer who is now her own superhero says: “IMPACT allowed me to find strength, both emotionally and physically, to defend myself. I feel empowered not only in my belief that I can safely get out of potentially dangerous situations; I also feel like I have the ability to face up to all challenges I will face in my life—IMPACT helped me to learn to believe in myself.”

Molly Norris has a BA in Physics with a minor in Music from Boston University, an MA from Stanford University in Music, Science, and Technology, and an MS in Building Technology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She also studied opera in Lucca Italy and now studies and performs vocal jazz. She is an acoustics consultant at Threshold Acoustics.

Nat Wilson has an MA in History along with a Secondary Education Teachers Certificate DePaul University and an MLS from University of Illinois 2009. He works at Carleton College as the Digital Archivist and Library Technology Coordinator. Nat lives in Northfield Minnesota with his wife Martha (Molly’s best friend).

Amelia says: “I cannot say enough good things about what IMPACT has done and meant for me. IMPACT has given me the confidence to react in any situation, whether it's as little as setting a verbal boundary with someone on the train or as major as defending myself in a physically violent situation in the community or, heaven forbid, my own home. IMPACT brings out the inner super woman that you never thought you had, or were afraid to show!

Yes, women leave IMPACT knowing they are their own superheros. We just haven’t figured out yet what to call Molly and Nat—super-super heroes or just heroes?