About Strategic Living - Joanne Factor

Who's Watching Your Back? - Safety and Self Defense Training

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  Aikido usefullness? Compare to Tae Kwon Do, pepper spray and gun.

  1 0 The best fighter, regardless of training, is the one with the best chance. But, frankly, this question is ridiculous. First, few assaults happen in dark alleys. Second, trashing another martial art reflects more (and poorly) on the trasher than on the art. Finally, while mace is a very useful tool, it is just that -- a tool that while useful, should be accompanied by back-up self-defense skills. Strategic Living - Joanne Factor answered in Self-Defense 9 months ago Answer, comment & read 6 more answers »

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  How do you deal with door-to-door missionaries?

  8 0 If I answer the door (usually I shake my head through the adjacent glass panel to indicate that I am not interested, and I do not open the door to talk), and I decide that I am not interested in what they are offering, I say "no thank you, have a nice day," and close the door. I don't feel I have to wait until we mutually agree that this conversation is over. My time is valuable to me, and I can choose to not engage with those seeking to occupy it. Strategic Living - Joanne Factor answered in Self-Defense 9 months ago Answer, comment & read 9 more answers »

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  1 0 Depends on what's up with the knee, if it's arthritis or torn meniscus or some other issue. Consult w/ a sports medicine doc or physical therapist (I go to Central Physical Therapy on Capitol Hill) to assess your knee's functionality. Martial arts with long deep stances can be harder on knees. Strategic Living - Joanne Factor commented 9 months ago

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  How to handle harassment on the street/metro?

  7 0 As an native New Yorker, I cultivated a look that while neither hostile nor aggressive, certainly was not friendly or inviting. Kind of like a "get over yourself" or "what, you're still in my space?" attitude. Another friend uses her "annoyed teacher" look to great effect. Safety and self-defense, after all, is 95% attitude. Strategic Living - Joanne Factor answered in Self-Defense 9 months ago Answer, comment & read 11 more answers »

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  Best kind of martial arts for females?

  3 0 A major idea behind most martial arts is that technique can overcome sheer strength. There is no one "best" kind of martial art for women. What is far more important is that you find a teacher and school that fits with who you are and is willing to work with you. Whatever art you choose, pick a school where you and your training are treated seriously and with respect, regardless of your initial aptitude. If you are looking for a women's martial arts school, you are in luck in Seattle. There are 2, and both are really good. I teach at the Feminist Karate Union (http://www.FeministKarateUnion.org). We work with women of all ages and abilities. The other school is Seven Star Women's Kung Fu. There is a women's martial arts camp coming up in about a month in Seattle. You may want to check it out, you can try a variety of arts. Visit http://www.PAWMA.org for more info. Strategic Living - Joanne Factor answered in Self-Defense 9 months ago Answer, comment & read 4 more answers »

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  Krav Maga close to downtown Seattle?

  0 0 Krav Maga used to be offered at the North end Jewish Community Center. They may know where to find that teacher, or another teacher, close by. Strategic Living - Joanne Factor answered in Self-Defense 9 months ago Answer, comment & read 3 more answers »

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  So where is good place to take self-defense for female empowerment?

  1 0 I agree with the other 2 responders. For longer-term training, both the Feminist Karate Union and Seven Star Women's Kung Fu are great choices. Both Strategic Living and Seven Star have shorter-term, self-contained self-defense classes. (Strategic Living (my business) is owned by one of the Feminist Karate Union's teachers.) Visit http://www.StrategicLiving.org/classes.htm for current class offerings, from one-afternoon seminars to 5-week multi-session courses. Strategic Living - Joanne Factor answered in Self-Defense 9 months ago Answer, comment & read 3 more answers »

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  Is it really a good idea to carry pepper-spray?

  9 0 Pepper spray can be a useful safety tool, provided you know how to use it, and are ready to use it. Fortunately it takes very little instruction and practice. For pepper spray to be effective, it needs to be in your hand, finger on the trigger and safety dis-engaged, BEFORE you are approached by a potential attacker. If you have any reason to raise it, you should be using it -- do not try to threaten someone with its use, just use it. If you do decide to carry pepper spray, buy two. Take one into your back yard or alley for target practice. Find an old Halloween mask for your target. Wear latex gloves -- pepper spray canisters do leak, even if you don't see anything on your hands. Spray in a zigzag pattern down the face, beginning at forehead level. Plan on buying a new canister each year, using the old one to refresh your target skills. Carrying pepper spray becomes less of a good idea if you are hesitant to use it, if you keep it "somewhere" in your bag (and figure you can dig it out at the last minute -- you won't), if you are not willing to do a minimum of practice, or if you let your attention to your surroundings lapse. And pepper spray is not a substitute for knowing basic self-defense. Strategic Living - Joanne Factor answered in Self-Defense 9 months ago Answer, comment & read 5 more answers »

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