Author Archives: Alena Schaim

Sparring & Sports vs. Self-Defense

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Alena Schaim

Many sports, at their root, undoubtedly were created to develop and practice physical skills that can also be used in real-life situations. The interesting piece is when we forget how to separate the game aspect of sports from the physical … Continue reading →

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The Effects of Fear & Violence: Mourning Trayvon

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Alena Schaim

Trayvon Martin’s death, as well as the lack of charges brought against his killer, was horrific for many, but was not surprising. Women often tell me of their rape aversion plans. They usually include: carrying their keys between their fingers, … Continue reading →

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Saying Goodbye to “Stranger Danger”

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Alena Schaim

We pride ourselves at IMPACT for basing our programs on solid research and responding to dangers in the community. Occasionally the research or the danger changes, which means our program changes. A Washington Post article from 2010 summarized data from … Continue reading →

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Why We Set Boundaries

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Alena Schaim

People sometimes tell me that they hate conflict, and so setting boundaries is difficult for them. In reality, learning to set boundaries is perfect for the person who wants to avoid conflict because it prevents conflict from arising or becoming … Continue reading →

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Learning to Live Courageously

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Alena Schaim

Life takes courage. It takes courage to talk with that person you have a crush on and takes even more courage to stick with it when things get tough. Raising children and suddenly being responsible for another life takes courage. … Continue reading →

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Getting My Body Back

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Alena Schaim

I was not very athletic or coordinated when I was younger. I absorbed what many of my peers learned: girls’ bodies are there to look at. I was more aware of my body as something in the mirror than I … Continue reading →

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Why Do We Watch Real-Life Violence?

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Alena Schaim

Just before the Penn State scandal broke out and garnered so much attention because a popular man did nothing, there was a video of a Texas judge whipping his daughter that was making its way around the television news and … Continue reading →

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My Friend, Adrenaline

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Alena Schaim

My relationship to adrenaline – that hormone that gets the heart pumping and gives one the shakes – changed because of IMPACT.  IMPACT’s adrenaline-based classes teach students (including me, years ago) how to function when their nerves are jangled and … Continue reading →

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Feeling Safe & Being Safe

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Alena Schaim

Personal safety and self-defense classes should make a person actually safer, feel safer, and feel less fearful. Fear can make a person more closed off from the world- loathe to trust others, averse to talking with strangers, and hesitant to … Continue reading →

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Without the Myth of Random Violence

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Alena Schaim

Violence is seldom random.  Like all behaviors, violent behavior follows patterns that can be observed.  Once understood, these patterns can be prepared for.  I highly recommend the book, The Gift of Fear, in which the author Gavin de Becker breaks … Continue reading →

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