Self-Defense Course Has 'Impact' with Students

I saw a graduation for a physical education course at the last week called "Power Up." In name alone, the uninitiated might not know what the course is all about. As it turns out, parents in attendance got quite an eye-opener about how students are learning self-defense. One after one, students defended themselves in simulated assaults that looked and sounded authentic. 

In conjunction with IMPACT Boston, students learn about keeping themselves safe and how to strike back, when and if it becomes necessary. Watching teenagers defend themselves against the well-trained IMPACT staffers, was inspiring for the audience and empowering for the girls with the newly-acquired set of skills.

High school physical education teacher Kathleen Brophy brought the class to Wellesley. It is a popular phys-ed elective class. Ms. Brophy acted as a lead instructor as students demonstrated their newfound skills, attacking a would-be "assailant" dressed in full body padding.  It was a sight to behold, as students brought down two large men with Brophy's quiet guidance. Students learn to use "innate strengths against a perpetrator's innate weaknesses."  

Brophy told the audience that she leads the "Power Up" program because she is motivated by the loss of a former student, who was killed in an act of violence by an abusive boyfriend. She has also brought the self-defense course to public schools in Medfield and Brockton. 

For many students, "Power Up" is a new opportunity to learn the meaning of self-protection, and build confidence and self-esteem.  The class acts out a variety of scenarios and students cheer each other on with enthusiasm. Seeing how empowered learning the techniques of self-defense can be was all I needed to see to realize that courses like these should be offered in every school. IMPACT Boston also works with and the public schools in Weston and Lincoln-Sudbury to offer the self-defense, anti bullying curriculum. 

IMPACT Boston Director Meg Stone watched with pride as the students displayed their newfound abilities.  Stone says it's often a difficult choice for parents to decide about whether to discuss the threat of violence with their children. Her organization offers an intelligent way to discuss our violent society with youngsters, while also providing them with tools and strategies should they themselves, ever be threatened.

Following their demonstration on self-defense, several students told me finding words to describe what it feels like to be able to defend yourself is next-to-impossible. One student - who admitted she was nervous about the exercises, was delighted to have completed the course. Still another told the assembled crowd that anyone can acquire the skills, if they're willing to learn them. As a parent, there is nothing better than watching young people realize their own inner strength, something they get to keep once the semester ends.