When I was in college, someone I trusted made me feel unsafe and gave me unwanted attention. We were in (what I thought at the time was) a loving relationship. I was happy and we had fun together. I don’t remember one specific moment where things shifted. I think the relationship turned toxic over time; one bad fight built on another terrible argument.
One day, he got angry and put his hands on me, but I brushed it off as an accident. He would get mad and storm off, leaving me stranded or alone. He would verbally abuse me and make me cry. He would pretend that he was going to end his life to worry me and make me come back to him. He blackmailed me with information he had and convinced me he would ruin my reputation.
And then he threatened me. I was so scared that I slept with a kitchen knife under my pillow and alerted campus police.
There’s so much more to the story, but the takeaway is how scared I felt. What would I have done if he broke into my apartment? What would I have done if he followed me out of the grocery store? Or what if he showed up at the house where I nannied for small children? Looking back, I am not sure I was prepared. Knowledge is power; what would I have done?
I now have three daughters of my own, and I pray they never feel that way at the expense of anyone else. This is where Krav Maga Personal Safety comes in. Practical defense training that will keep you safe in any situation. When you are in danger, chances are you are slower, weaker, and smaller than your attacker, but with Krav Maga training, you will be smarter. 
I had the honor of training with Gus at his Krav Maga Personal Safety location in Norwalk. The goal of the program is to help reduce the number of victims of violent crimes every day by instilling the knowledge of self-defense and self-protection in all people. Gus and his team help you build the confidence and skillset necessary to handle violent situations so you can “Feel Safe and Live Free.”
Everyone has the right to feel safe. No individual should ever take that away from you. When this basic need was ripped away from me, it caused a lasting trauma that took years to heal. If I had experienced a program like Krav Maga, I would have had greater peace of mind and confidence, knowing I was prepared. 
Feeling safe feels empowering, and men and women of all ages are welcome to Gus’ program to ensure that. If you are curious about the program, it’s worth noting that it’s more than just learning to fight. Get all those dramatic movies that come to mind out of your thoughts!
They cover all aspects of reality-based self-protection, which encompasses situational awareness, verbal de-escalation skills, and acquiring practical hands-on skills needed to defend oneself in an actual, physically violent confrontation. 
Krav Maga Personal Safety has built a safe, secure, and nonjudgmental training environment for all of its students. Regardless of each student’s ability, they find ways for the self-defense system to work for them. The founder of Krav Maga, Imi Lichtenfeld, told all his instructors that a student does not fit Krav Maga; instead, Krav Maga adapts to fit the student. Their community is welcoming, empowering, and accessible.
Whether you are sending your daughters off to high school or college, teaching your sons self-defense, or simply wanting to feel safe in your own environment, Krav Maga is an amazing program. With the scary state of our world today, you can never be too prepared. Krav Maga’s accelerated Essentials course teaches people the basics of Krav Maga self-defense in six hours, with the option to continue with more advanced training after. 
I may not have had Krav Maga training 20 years ago, but I have it now, and my daughters will have it too! Oh, and in case you wanted an update – campus police alerted the town police, and a restraining order was issued. We went to court, and it was in place long enough to give me a sense of control again!
