Tag: choose empowerment
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Don’t tell me how to be an empowered woman
I’ve noticed a trend amongst a small demographic made up of men who are angry at me. It is a brilliant rhetorical strategy that looks more or less like this: “You call yourself an empowered woman? Then why don’t you ____, huh?” Fill in the blank. Do this thing I think you should do. Conform…
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Why I’m Embracing the Power of my Anger.
Lessons from a Goddess on the Power of Ugliness A former partner used to tell me that my anger—or more specifically, my bitch face—frightened him. It was thanks to him, thanks to the pyrotechnics of our conflicts, that I came to know my capacity for rage. Do you know what it feels like to embody…
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Every Day — and March 8 — is a Good Day to Fight for Women’s Rights
It’s March 8, 2023. Between a “voice activation” exercise where we shout “no” at high, higher, and highest volume and a round of practicing palm heel strikes, my phone pings over and over. I’ve received a flood of messages wishing me a “Happy International Women’s Day.” I send back a few emojis without too much…
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The Difference Between Martial Arts and Empowerment Self-Defense
Understanding Holistic Self-Defense I do not teach martial arts! I’m not even a martial artist. I am an instructor certified by ESD Global to teach Empowerment Self-Defense, a violence prevention methodology developed by martial artists with over 40 years of experience. We work with physical techniques derived from various martial arts, assertive communication techniques, and…
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Self-Defense is Collaborative
Mission before Competition This year I have seen at least 3 different holistic self-defense retreats going around social media. None of them have been through my project (Choose Empowerment). At another moment of my life, maybe I would have gotten offended… Seeing other people taking “my” thing and making it theirs would have generated some…
