I\u2019m not saying I dislike students learning a comprehensive foundation across academic subjects. I actually believe it\u2019s incredibly important. I just think we sometimes forget to teach students the life skills that help them figure out how to actually be people in the world. And if you\u2019re reading this newsletter, it probably won\u2019t surprise you to hear that I believe safety and self-defense skills should be considered one of those essential life skills (right alongside home ec and personal finance).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over my seven years of teaching safety, self-defense, and violence prevention, I\u2019ve worked with many teens. A couple of things remain consistent across these classes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our world is changing quickly. There are some similarities between what teens experience today and what we experienced growing up, but there are also stark differences that can be hard for adults to fully comprehend. If you work with teens, have a teen, or regularly interact with teens, you already know this: there is no level of control or sheltering that can protect them from everything the world throws their way. And honestly, the teen years are meant to be a time of experimenting with freedom and responsibility and aren\u2019t served by keeping them locked away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That doesn\u2019t mean, however, that we have to feel like we\u2019re throwing them to the wolves. Just like with anything else, the tools and support we provide can empower teens to make effective decisions and problem-solve when challenges arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When most people hear \u201cteach teens self-defense,\u201d what they often translate that to is \u201cteach teens how to hit.\u201d And yes, physical skills matter. But this is where not all self-defense classes are created equal. Learning how to hit and yell \u201cno\u201d is valuable, but I also want teens to know how to set boundaries with friends who are making unsafe decisions. I want them to feel empowered to walk away from relationships that don\u2019t treat them with respect. I want them to have the tools to advocate for their needs, stand up for others, and remove themselves from situations before<\/em> things escalate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the kind of self-defense teens actually need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And it\u2019s the kind of self-defense that shouldn\u2019t exist only as an extracurricular option. Teens deserve a dedicated space where they can learn strategies and ask their questions, because they have<\/em> questions. They are deeply aware of what\u2019s happening in the world around them, and they want to know what to do. \u201cWhat do I do if someone has a weapon? How do I get out of an unhealthy relationship? What do I do when I encounter something, or someone, scary? What are my rights when it comes to protecting myself from a violent attack?\u201d Teen self-defense classes can provide a perfect place to explore these questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best thing we can do is give them space to voice those concerns and practice skills that help them find solutions. And there are few places better suited for this than schools and afterschool programs, spaces that already exist to support, guide, and hold space for young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what some of our students and providers have said about having these classes in their school and afterschool programs: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI learned many techniques for self defense like palm strike, how to release from someone. I like learning how to defend myself. It\u2019s stuff I never knew. I liked how I was guided and not judged. Thank you, I learned a lot and felt comfortable.\u201d (Teen School Program Participant)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI learned many different ways to defend myself and how to do it in different situations. I like that there was time to ask questions and go over situations.\u201d (Teen School Program Participant)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKrista and Kayla from We Are Safer Together are incredible in their approach to self-defense. Their focus on situational awareness, communication tactics, and boundary setting supports the participating teens with confidence development, provides space to express themselves and ask thoughtful questions. Our participating families have found this program to be beneficial by giving parents peace of mind knowing the teen has learned skills to protect themselves. Many of the teens love having the opportunity to not only learn self defense techniques but shared excitement when given the chance to practice safely with mitts and pads. This program is one that is highly requested by both teens and parents as they always want to know when the next session is available.\u201d (Afterschool Teen Program Provider)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How many people have used the Pythagorean theorem in their day-to-day lives? I\u2019m not particularly in a field that requires it, but I know that a\u00b2 + b\u00b2 = c\u00b2 will be drilled into my head for the rest of my life, whether I use it or not. However, as I\u2019ve moved from high school […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":323,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-self-defense"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Teens](\"https:\/\/heuristic-swartz.216-225-204-205.plesk.page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Family_Teens_Impact_Colorado_April_2022-01928-1024x685.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSelf-Defense for Teens is a Life Skill<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What Teen Self-Defense Actually Looks Like<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Teen Self-Defense Testimonials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n