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About IMPACT
IMPACT is a personal safety, assertiveness and self-defense training program that is part of a comprehensive effort to prevent sexual assault and other acts of interpersonal violence. IMPACT is the most studied self-defense program in history. IMPACT programs have been running with great success in the United States for the past 30 years. The founders of IMPACT-Israel were trained by IMPACT instructors in Chicago and Ohio. Our entire staff is committed to the proposition that every woman can learn to defend herself. Many of the hundreds of women and teens who have graduated from our courses since 2005 report that IMPACT was, for them, an intense and empowering experience that lead to significant positive changes in their lives. What is special about IMPACT? Learning Through Realistic Scenarios IMPACT programs teach through simulations of physical and non-physical boundary violations committed by both strangers and familiars. Students are coached by one instructor while another instructor portrays the role of aggressor or assailant, so they learn from experience how to deal with a range of unwanted situations. Verbal and Non-Verbal Assertiveness Skills IMPACT chapters emphasize communication strategies such as verbal de-escalation, assertive communication, and boundary-setting. These include such skills as: proper use of voice, what to say and how to say it, crucial for violence prevention or reducing the level of aggression in many situations. Full-Force Physical Techniques IMPACT teaches women to protect themselves by harnessing all their power and using their most powerful natural ‘weapons’ to strike vulnerable areas of an assailant’s body. Suited ‘attackers’ wear cushioned full-body armor especially designed for this type of training. Safety Skills In A Supportive Environment IMPACT offers a physically safe and emotionally supportive environment, that enhances self-confidence and skill acquisition and boosts each student’s awareness of her personal power. Sensitivity and Healing For Victims of Trauma For many who have experienced family violence, sexual assault, or other personal traumas, the experience of being physically powerful in the face of a simulated assault is a unique healing experience. IMPACT instructors are trained to work with participants recovering from abuse and related issues. Strategies With People We Know IMPACT recognizes that the majority of sexual assaults and other violations are committed by people close to us. IMPACT teaches effective strategies for addressing situations in which the person not respecting our boundaries is a dating partner, family member, or other familiar person. Self Defense For Everyone IMPACT workshops are committed to the belief that women are powerful and capable of protecting themselves. IMPACT teaches effective self-protection skills that work for people of different ages, sizes, and physical abilities. Commitment To Women’s Leadership IMPACT is committed to a teaching environment with women in leadership roles. Men and Women in Collaboration To Prevent Violence And Support Survivors IMPACT is committed to a broad vision of societal response to violence. IMPACT training is an important part of a comprehensive strategy to create social change, prevent abuse, and support healing. This is one of the reasons that it is important that men act as “attackers” (suited instructors) in the courses. They communicate the message that women who are attacked, have the right and ability to fight back. In addition to their physical skills, our male instructors are selected for their commitment to reducing violence against women and their support of each woman’s right to choose to defend herself. Click here to read about a family of IMPACT graduates IMPACT-Israel is an active member of IMPACT International, maintaining the highest standards for IMPACT chapters around the world:
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