The surprising roots of the self-defense movement and the history of women's empowerment. At the turn of the twentieth century, women famously organized to demand greater social and political freedoms like gaining the right to vote. However, few realize that the Progressive Era also witnessed the birth of the women's self-defense movement. It is nearly impossible in today's day and age to imagine a world without the concept of women's self defense. Some women were inspired to take up boxing and jiu-jitsu for very personal reasons that ranged from protecting themselves from attacks by strangers on the street to rejecting gendered notions about feminine weakness and empowering themselves as their own protectors. Women's training in self defense was both a reflection of and a response to the broader cultural issues of the time, including the women's rights movement and the campaign for the vote. Perhaps more importantly, the discussion surrounding women's self-defense revealed powerful myths about the source of violence against women and opened up conversations about the less visible violence that many women faced in their own homes. Through self-defense training, women debunked patriarchal myths about inherent feminine weakness, creating a new image of women as powerful and self-reliant. Whether or not women consciously pursued self-defense for these reasons, their actions embodied feminist politics. Although their individual motivations may have varied, their collective action echoed through the twentieth century, demanding emancipation from the constrictions that prevented women from exercising their full rights as citizens and human beings. This book is a fascinating and comprehensive introduction to one of the most important women's issues of all time. This book will provoke good debate and offer distinct responses and solutions.

A Black Belt who is calm in a crisis, who knows their potential and how to achieve it. A Black Belt who knows who they are, and who is comfortable with others because they know and understand themselves. This book is about the Black Belt that is within you. Feeling stuck? Feeling there is something missing? Black Belt Thinking will help you to: Increase your awareness and understanding of who you are Connect fully with yourself and others Know what 'failure' is and know why you will never fail Learn how to carry on, even when things seem too tough Use the power of humility to achieve extraordinary sustainable results Most of all, it shows you how to maximise your potential, whatever your upbringing or current situation. Nick Forgham empowers people to achieve more than they think they can. Whether it is improving a martial art technique, or increasing sales, or removing limiting beliefs that are holding them back. He is a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator and runs retreats and seminars that motivate and inspire people to succeed. Nick lives in Reading, UK and works internationally.