'R' Recreation & CWC Community Education

Kids Self-Defense Workshop

EMPOWER WYOMING strives to end violence through personal safety training, teaching individuals to be more self-reliant, increasing their self-esteem, and imparting practical self-defense skills. This 2.5 hour class is packed with ways to empower boys and girls:

Strangers: Kids practice awareness, plus verbal and physical strategies in scenarios with people they don’t know.

Familiars: The sad truth is that children are most often assaulted or abused by someone they know. This workshop offers role-play scenarios with a “familiar” (a relative, teacher, coach, neighbor, peer, friend). Kids practice setting verbal boundaries and how to stay firm even if the Familiar responds with hurt feelings, anger or defensiveness, bribes, or even threats.

Physical Self-Defense: Simple, effective physical skills are taught focusing on strike-and-flee. The physical portion of the workshop is reserved for the end, and can be withheld if students fail to demonstrate that they will be responsible with this training. Students are individually required to make a solemn promise to use these techniques only in a situation where their life or safety is at risk. Ultimately, the self-defense training adds a fun & empowering coda to the workshop. Parents are encouraged to attend and observe, so they can help reinforce these skills after the workshop.