KINS15, 3 units
SATURDAYS, FALL SEMESTER 2026 at College of the Redwoods
*You must be enrolled as a student at CR to attend this course.

This course is specifically geared towards middle and high school teachers.

Prerequisite: Empowerment Self Defense (PE 15), 3-day workshop: June 5, 6 & 7.
Learn more here.

Empowerment Self Defense (ESD) provides tools to prevent, interrupt, and heal from abuse, violence, and harassment. Recent studies (Hollander, 2020) have shown that ESD graduates are less likely to be targeted by assailants and when targeted, are significantly more successful in resisting the assault than control groups. In fact, ESD is the only easy-to-learn tool that addresses violence as it is happening. Additionally, ESD training increases confidence in all areas of life, lessens victim blaming, and assists in healing after assault.

ESD is evidence-based, trauma informed and comprehensive. ESD instruction belongs alongside life skills such as First Aid/CPR and swimming lessons. Beginning this Fall of 2026, College of the Redwoods will offer empowerment self-defense training for teachers! All fitness levels welcome!

The first half of the course will be instruction on how to teach ESD content and the second half will consist of hands-on teaching Empowerment Self Defense workshops to adults. People who successfully pass this course will be ready to teach independently and will be well prepared to be certified by the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation and the International Association of ESD Professionals.