There are many dangers for teens who are entering the "PREDATORY" stage of life. Both male and female bodies are developing fast with an increase of hormonal activity, which can leave them vulnerable, if they do not possess the skills to handle the potential offensive and inappropriate behavior. This course is designed for young people in grades 7 through 9 to share with them the verbal and physical tools they will need to avoid confrontation and stop someone from harming them. Whether on the street or with acquaintances, these skills will help them maintain and develop the self-confidence and esteem necessary to thrive without harm.

WORKSHOP OUTLINE

Awareness

There are three types of awareness that young people this age need to understand.; external awareness of their surrounding to recognize danger, internal awareness recognizing when their intuition is warning them against danger and the social awareness to recognize cultural, social and communal influences that pull them into unhealthy beliefs and behaviors.

• Trusting your intuition
  
• Recognizing dangerous situations
  
• Myths that hurt young people's ability to protect themselves
  
• Workbook
  

A teen's ability to be safe, stop the "testing of the waters", and not be marked as a victim, depends on their ability to properly assert themselves. Andre Salvage and Associates will conduct role-play exercises that will place them in real life situations and share the skills to "educate people on how to treat them".

Here are some of the skills shared with students:

• Educating someone on how to treat you
  
• Using your voice and body properly
  
• Being objective
  
• Not looking like a victim nor a challenge
  
• De-escalating problems
  
• Cool posing
  

Self-defense

There is no better way to give a young person the confidence he needs to walk away from confrontation than teaching him not to be afraid of it. Andre Salvage and Associates will introduce self-defense (not fighting) in a way that is very effective and gives them the skills to make the right decision about a particular situation. The instructors are heavily padded allowing each student a realistic feel to the assault and defense

Here is what they will learn:

• Stopping someone their age or older from harming them.
  
• Stopping adults from harming them.
  
• When and when not to fight.
  
• Blocking a punch
  
• Ground fighting