By: Emily Feig

 

Physical techniques, while important, are just a part of self-defense. Most people think of self-defense classes as just learning physical fighting techniques. However, the majority of assaults are perpetrated by people the survivor knows (acquaintances, friends, relatives, neighbors, dates, classmates, etc.) and people are much more likely to hesitate before using physical techniques against someone they know. Jessica Hollowell, 29, is a women’s self-defense instructor at the University of Oregon. In her class she teaches assertiveness, verbal and psychological techniques as well as physical techniques.

 

Jessica has always been rebellious, loud and a feminist of sorts. She wanted to learn how to be a badass, kick people, and beat up bad guys. She took her first self-defense class her freshman year of college back in 2006. The class itself was so mind blowing, that’s when Jessica knew she wanted to teach. “It was really empowering for me. I had never been in a space where I felt so strong in my own body and so capable of protecting myself.” It was not only empowering in terms of being able to protect herself, but in her everyday life. She learned how to be assertive, make herself a priority and how to say “no,” without feeling guilty about it. Jessica has used her assertiveness many times in her daily life. She was once followed by a man while driving and he continued following her through the grocery store aisles. After giving it time, she confronted him with a stern, clear voice and asked him to leave her alone. After gaining these skills and becoming certified, Jessica became a teacher’s assistant and volunteered her time teaching out in the community. She found this important for her self esteem and improving her life, she wanted to share this with others. After leaving one of Jessica’s workshops, Samantha Kin said, “even after learning just a few simple moves to defend myself, I felt more capable of handling an attacker and felt more confident to yell.”

 

Knowing the techniques she is now capable of, Jessica feels more prepared and less afraid if a dangerous situation were to occur. She does not see herself teaching self-defense as a career for her future, although she does see herself continuing to volunteer teaching in the community. This is something she enjoys doing for herself. Jessica wants her students to leave her class knowing they are worthy of respect, they deserve to be safe, they are capable of defending themselves with their own body and mind and they don’t need others to protect them. She wants you to know that you don’t need to restrict your life in order to feel safer in the world, you just need to be confident.