The Feminine Warrior: A Woman's Guide to Verbal, Psychological, and Physical Empowerment

Marrewa, a fourth-degree black belt who gives workshops in assertiveness training and in physical self-defense in Southern California, here provides a wide range of techniques designed to help women take charge of their personal safety in this well-organized self-help manual. According to the author, physical empowerment stems from maintaining a positive mental attitude about your ability to protect yourself in any situation. Once this is in place, you can more successfully use strategies for self-defense. With ""de-escalation"" the keyword, Marrewa recommends a variety of sensible responses to verbal and physical threats, such as negotiation with the attacker, deciding when to run for safety and learning when to employ nonresistance. He also graphically describes ways to fight back physically against an attacker, although he cautions that this alternative should be chosen only when you are unable to escape or summon assistance and your body, rather than your material possessions, is at risk. Marrewa teaches women skills that will make them feel safer. Author tour. (Feb.)