Self-Defense Against Dating Violence

Have you or has anyone close to you ever been abused physically, emotionally, verbally, or spiritually by a dating partner? This may not surprise you but the statistics of those being abused in a teen dating relationship is NOT going down.

"Nearly 1.5 million highschool students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year. One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of the other types of youth violence. One in 10 high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend. One quarter of high school girls have been victims of physical or sexual abuse."

How does Self-Defense come into play?

We're not talking about defending yourself from your dating partner's physical attacks but avoiding it and being aware of thsoe who are abusive. True self-defense is knowledge, being aware of your surroundings, and being prepared for anything. This isn't always just for you but for those close to you as well. You want to strive to be a "peace warrior" or the person who others feel safe around, not just because you know how to knock someone out, but because of your strong leadership qualities and unwavering morals.

EMA is continually working on new ways to educate, raise awareness, and put an end to the many forms of violence that are affecting the community each and every day.