i went this saturday to a jiu-jitsu self-defense class for women & it was great! we learned some very basic escapes from grabs and we practiced saying things like, “No! Don’t do that! You’re making me uncomfortable!” which sounds silly but i found it really difficult to say. i’m used to looking at the ground & walking away really fast if someone comes too close. nothing’s ever happened beyond verbal harrassment – but maybe talking back (in a non-confrontational way) might be healthier/safer.

at the end of the class, everyone was like, “What if your attacker did this? What if you couldn’t move your hands? What if you were stuck in a corner?” the instructors patiently showed us one escape move after another. one instructor was a very small woman & seeing her flip a guy 2 feet taller than her onto the floor was great :)

lunchbox was skeptical of my new skills & tried grabbing my arms from behind. he wound up with is left elbow being pushed out the wrong way over my right shoulder & one more move away from being tossed onto the floor! – i can’t even push/roll lunchbox to the other side of the bed, so this is like a fkg miracle.

i can’t wait to sign up for a real class!