Hands-On Self-Defense for Women and Teens

Empowerment through ‘hands-on’ attack simulations – Since 1982

Realistically speaking, what would YOU do if someone decided to attack YOU?. You will most likely freeze, panic, you might scream, swear, hit and finally run away.

We can help channel that frozen fear into STRENGTH & EMPOWERMENT. We can guide YOU and show YOU how to confidently deal with the fear, confusion and panic that occur during a violent confrontation. Our dynamic COURSES and WORKSHOPS will CHALLENGE YOU with realistic, ‘hands-on’ attack simulations. You will learn to CONFIDENTLY & EFFECTIVELY fight back, USING FULL FORCE, disabling responses, against a fully padded assailant. 

SCENARIO BASED TRAINING

You will…

• BE ATTACKED MANY TIMES & in a variety of different ways during our sessions.
• FIGHT BACK using full force, disabling responses against a fully padded assailant.
• DISCOVER what it is really like to hit, knee, kick and gouge a potential attacker.
• CHANNEL YOUR confrontational fear into strength.
• Be CONSTANTLY CHALLENGED under realistic, stressful conditions.
• USE clear, verbal boundary setting when confronted.

We will…

• EMPOWER YOU with realistic, personal safety tools and strategies.
• DEVELOP YOUR ‘Do whatever it takes’ fighting ATTITUDE – MIND SET.
• INCREASE YOUR self-confidence, awareness and personal empowerment.
• Show YOU OPTIONS that effectively work for YOU (physical, verbal & passive resistance)

GEORGE MANOLI – YOUR INSTRUCTOR

• Our ‘hands-on’ women & teens self-defense course was rated by the CAFSU (Comité Action Femmes et Sécurité Urbaine) as one of Montreal’s best & most realistic assault prevention courses.
• Bachelor of education degree & is the author of 3 personal safety manuals.
• Active Police officer & holds Black Belts in Karate and Judo.
• Personal safety ‘hands-on’ expertise was used by:
  • Air Canada: Cabin defense, dealing with unruly passengers.
  • Bombardier Aerospace: Assertiveness training & Verbal Judo.
  • Montreal Police Force (SPVM): Gun retention program for street cops.
• Runs his own Karate, Bully-proofing & Jiu-Jitsu club at the Beaconsfield Rec. Centre.
• CNESST certified instructor for the Quebec Government (Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail). Assisting & empowering‘Rape & Assault’ survivors.

IT’S EASY TO BOOK A COURSE OR WORKSHOP

• Choose how much time you want to invest in your personal safety project:
  • A one-time event workshop
  • Several sessions given over 2 to 3 weeks
  • Full-blown, 15-hour course given over 6 to 8 weeks
• Organize your private, semi-private or small to large group sessions:
  • You organize the workshop or course
  • Call us to book a time and date
  • Find a location to hold the event
  • Gather friends, classmates, co-workers & community members
  • We will TRAVEL TO YOU to offer our services (Home, school, company, community center, club, etc.)
• We can refer you to an existing session if the organizer has opened it to the public

BASIC WORKSHOP OPTIONS 3 to 6 hours

The number of simulations covered in a session will depend on the number of teaching hours selected by you.

• Some of the simulations covered:
  • Standing – Panic attacks: pulled, dragged or lifted.
  • Standing – Verbal harassment, over-zealous date.
  • Ground – Standing, brought to the floor.
  • Ground – Lying down.
  • Ground – Gets beside or on top of you.
  • Standing/Ground – Blindfold simulations.
  • Standing/Ground – Participant’s choice of attack.
• Options:
  • 1.5 hours X 2 to 3 sessions
  • 2 hours X 2 to 3 sessions
  • 3 hours X 1 session
  • Other formats can also be arranged for your convenience

Courses 7 to 15 hours

The number of simulations covered in a session will depend on the number of teaching hours selected by you.

• Some of the simulations covered:
  • Standing – Confined spaces.
  • Standing – Outside, beside car, jogging, etc.
  • Standing/Ground – Armed attacker.
  • Standing/Ground – Passive resistance, no striking.
  • Standing/Ground – Multiple attackers (2 vs. 1).
  • Standing/Ground – Surprise attack (Gauntlet).
• Options:
  • 1.5 hours X 5 to 6 sessions
  • 2 hours X 4 to 6 sessions
  • 2.5 hours X 4 to 6 sessions
  • Other formats can also be arranged for your convenience

EDUCATIONAL MODULES PER SESSION

Each ‘hands-on’ self-defense session is divided into 5 TEACHING MODULES. Below, is an example of a class outline detailing some of the items covered per session.

Module 1 – Facts and statistics about being attacked

Some of the topics we discuss

• Who, what, where & why?
• Why would someone select you and not someone else?
• Stages of an attack & stages of a defense
• Age range of the victims and of the assailants
• Where do most attacks take place?
• Different resistance strategies someone can use?
• Confrontational rules to follow in order to de-escalate the situation
• Successful strategies against someone we know vs. someone we don’t know
• Hidden maims – what if nothing works?

Module 2 – Your physical and mental tools

The calm before the storm

• Being in the moment – aware & focused
• What to say & how assertively say it
• ‘Never say die’ warrior mind set
• Where & how to effectively strike – shield training standing & on the ground
• Disengaging and getting away screaming from the attacker

Module 3 – ‘Hands-on’ attack simulations against a fully padded assailant

• Attack simulations are done in increments of difficulty – like climbing a staircase
• The tougher our simulations with YOU, the easier a street confrontation will be FOR YOU
• The more hours YOU invest experiencing the various attack simulations with us, the more at ease YOU will become if confronted on the street
• Please refer to the ‘Workshop & Course options’ to see the various simulations done

Module 4 – Feedback on the simulations done in class

Did YOU…

• Think you did well during the attack simulations?
• Have time to think – did it go as planned?
• Feel the attack went by slowly or quickly?
• Feel assertive when he approached – Mind set?
• Move towards the assailant or did you move away from him?
• Channel your fear into strength?
• Talk or scream once attacked?
• Strike effectively?
• Vary your target selection?
• Stay too long once he let go or quickly got away?

Module 5 – Crime prevention & Street Smart strategies

Crime prevention topics discussed

• Home alone: Someone knocks at the door or someone breaks in
• Everyday weapons for self-protection
• Out and about: Followed on foot or by car
• Travel safety: Bus, Métro, car, taxi & elevator safety
• Purse safety: Shopping, while walking, at a café, etc
• Date rape prevention: GHB, Clubbing, Sexting, Selfie
• Using the buddy system: Creating an imaginary buddy.
• Fraud & Debit/Credit card prevention
• Being aware of crime trends in your area
• Don’t think or look like a victim
• Visualization exercises to do
• How to attract attention if kidnapped, etc

COST OF COURSES & WORKSHOPS WILL VARY

• The number of participants who will be attending:
  • Private, semi-private, small – large group sessions, team building, etc
• Number of sessions requested:
  • One meeting or several sessions
• The length of each session requested:
  • 1.5 hours, 2 hours, 2.5 hours, 3 hours
• The number of instructors-simulators required for the event:
  • Our student/teacher ratio is: 1 instructor-simulator for every 8 participant
• The travel time required for my team and I to get to your location.

CONTACT US

• By phone, text or e-mail:
  • Cell or text: 438-392-4683
  • E-mail: gmanoli@videotron.ca
• We will answer all your questions
• There are no contracts to sign
• No deposit is required in order to reserve a session(s)
• We are incorporated, insured & supply all the necessary equipment
• Mr. Manoli teaches all courses and workshops alone or with his assistants
• Sessions can be given in French or English.
• We will send you a written proposal detailing:
  • What will be taught in the session(s)
  • How many instructors/simulators will be present
  • The duration & cost of the session(s)

WE CAN ACCOMMODATE

• All women and teenagers (13+ years of age)
• Open to all fitness and skill levels
• No previous self-defense or martial arts experience required
• A large room is not necessary for these sessions

SOME OF OUR CLIENTS

MEDIA EXPOSURE

• National Film Board: The Volcano & The Ring Within
• Journal de Montréal & Journal de Québec : Les femmes veulent se defender, July 2018
• CBC Television: Montreal living
• Radio Canada: Télé@Kat
• TVA: Salut, Bonjour
• Avis de Recherche : Défense Légitime ( 5 episodes)
• TV 5: What are you afraid of? – Fear of violence
• Watch Mojo.com: Tactics that can save your life
• LCN: #Me Too movement, July 2018
• CJAD: The Aaron Rand show, July 2018