BREAKING THE INTIMIDATION GAME–THE ART OF SELF-DEFENSE
BY JUDITH FEIN, PH.D.
copyright 2010

“ Breaking The Intimidation Game—The Art of Self-Defense” is unique.

• It is the only self-defense book which teaches you the practical applications of 35 years of rape resistance and avoidance research.
• It breaks new ground in the art of self-defense—the psychology of intimidation (complete with intimidation drills and skills)
• This beautiful book integrates social commentary art (10 colorplate artworks) relating to and adding insight to the  written word.

“Self-defense is a battle of intimidation; whoever wins this intimidation game wins!” states Judith Fein, Ph.D., and black belt in Tae k’won do. Dr. Fein combines her 35+ years of self-defense instruction with 35 years of rape resistance and avoidance research into this scholarly yet practical 220-page guide. She inspires her readers to develop their own personal power with actual first person success stories (“If She Can Do It—So Can I”), and provides powerful and valuable information in “The Psychology of Self-Defense—The Intimidation Game”, “Research Into Rape Avoidance and Defense—With Practical Applications”, “Come Into My Parlor Said The Spider To the Fly—Defense Against Known Assailants”, “Domestic Violence Prevention” and “Streetwise and Body Safe—Keeping Your Personal Power On The Streets”. The chapter “Basic Physical Defense and Intimidation Skills”—How To Fight Back and Win” offers hands-on practical step-by-step lessons in physical self-defense, utilizing 65 instructional photographs.

“The Art of Self-Defense” is the subtitle for “Breaking The Intimidation Game”. This double entendre word play refers to the social commentary art of internationally acclaimed artist Nancy Worthington, M.F.A., who created the cover art “Game Pieces” and whose unique and social commentary artworks appear as ten color faceplates at the beginning of each chapter to enhance and illuminate the text.

“Breaking The Intimidation Game—The Art of Self-Defense” is Dr. Fein’s fourth book on self-defense. Judith Fein and Nancy Worthington have collaborated to make this book a unique journey of transformation into self-esteem and personal power.

CONTENTS—BREAKING THE INTIMIDATION GAME

Acknowledgments ix

ONE: AN OVERVIEW—Taking The First Step

FIGURE 1.1 “Mirror Mirror On The Wall…” 11

Close To Home: Has The Last Rapist Been Arrested?

Exploding The Myth Of Self-Defense

The Three Levels Of Defense

Research Into Rape Avoidance

Defense Against Known Assailants

Domestic Violence Prevention

What You Need To Know About The Laws of Self-Defense

Principles Of Fighting

How To Use This Book—The Table Of Contents

TWO: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SELF-DEFENSE—The Intimidation Game

FIGURE 2.1 “Change” 21

Part 1—Breaking The Intimidation Game

Introduction—Magdalena’s Story

Self-esteem And The Point of Power

Victim Behavior Is Learned Behavior

Victimization And Personal Power

Conquering The Enemy Within

Self-Defense Training As Survival Training

Fears Of Fighting

Countering The Fears Of Fighting

Your Personal Alarm Warning Center—Gut Feelings

And Intuition

Anatomy Of An Assault—Understanding The Pattern

Anatomy Of An Assault—Breaking The Pattern

Learning From Animal Behavior

Breaking The Intimidation Game

Part 2—Intimidation Drills

Intimidation Drill No. 1—

Use Body Language To Repel Attacker

Intimidation Drill No. 2—

Use Body Language And Voice To Repel Attacker

Intimidation Drill No. 3—

Arm Grab From Front, Block And Yell

Intimidation Drill No. 4—

Arm Grab From Rear, Pivot, Bloc And Yell

Intimidation Drill No. 5—

The Arm Shield Pushback Drill Phase One

Intimidation Drill No. 6—

The Arm Shield Pushback Drill Phase Two

Intimidation Drill No. 7—

The Arm Shield Pushback Drill Phase Three

THREE: SUCCESS STORIES—“If She Can Do It—So Can I”

FIGURE 3.1 “Acceptance and Rebellion” 43

Part 1—Before And After: Self-Defense For Women Class

Empowerment Stories

Part 2—Self-Defense Success Stories

FOUR: STREETWISE AND BODY SAFE—Keeping Your Personal Power On The Streets

FIGURE 4.1 “Nimble, Jack B.” 61

Fear Vs. Personal Power—Externals Vs. Internals

Street Safety Examples—Who Gets Targeted?

Awareness When In Public

Body Language Intensity Levels And The Don’t Mess With

Me Signal

How To Acquire Street Smarts

Keeping Unwanted People Away

Defense Against Weapons

Assailant Tries To Force You Into An Automobile

Contents – v

Escaping Multiple Attackers

Non-Lethal Self-Defense Weapons

ATM Safety

Cell Phone Safety

Listening To iPods

Public Transportation Safety

Car Safety And Carjacking Prevention

Keeping Streetwise And Body Safe

FIVE: RESEARCH INTO RAPE AVOIDANCE AND DEFENSE—With Practical Applications

FIGURE 5.1 “Reich’s Bullseye” 87

Research In Rape Avoidance—A Dearth In Current

Federal Funding

Conflicting Advice

What Research In Rape Avoidance And Resistance Tells Us

What Strategies Are Effective Vs. What Strategies Are

Ineffective Or Even Harmful?

Do Individuals Who Physically Resist Suffer Injury?

What Are The Benefits Of Resistance?

What Is The Impact Of Weapons On Rape Resistance?

What Is The Effect Of Environmental Intervention On The

Outcome Of The Attack?

What Is The Difference In Effectiveness Of Strategies If The

Victim/Resister Know Each Other?

What Are The Effects Of Drinking By Offenders And Victims?

What Is The Effectiveness Of Rape Prevention Programs Vs.

Self-Defense Training?

Practical Applications Of Rape Avoidance And Defense

Research

Notes

SIX: “COME INTO MY PARLOR” SAID THE SPIDER TO THE FLY—Defense Against Known Assailants

FIGURE 6.1 “Come Into My Parlor…” 107

Rape Definitions

Scope Of The Problem

Here Are Some More Statistics

Our Sexist Society

Special Issue: Campus Rape

Special Issue: Athletic Teams, Fraternities And Acquaintance

Rape

Rape Prevention Strategies

Acquaintance Rape Avoidance And Fight-Back Defense

Strategies

Notes

SEVEN: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION

FIGURE 7.1 “Le Reveil De La Femme Fatale Lavande” 125

Part 1—Nature And Scope of Problem

Definition Of Domestic Violence

Who Is A Battered Woman?

Cycles Of Violence

The National Violence Against Women Survey

Bureau Of Justice Statistics Report

Police Response To Domestic Disputes

Women’s Use Of Self-Defense

Why Women Stay

Part 2—Domestic/Intimate Violence Prevention

How To Identify A Potential Batterer

Jean Green’s Advice

Self-Esteem

How To Help Yourself

How To Help A Friend

Contents – vii

Part 3—Resources

National Domestic Violence Hotline

Links To Domestic Violence Resources

EIGHT: BASIC PHYSICAL DEFENSE AND INTIMIDATION SKILLS—How To Fight Back And Win

FIGURE 8.1 “Cinderella Liberty” 145

The Fighting Stance

The Punch

Yelling As A Weapon

How To Practice Physical Skills

Practice Drills For The Stance And Punch

Kicking

Practice Drills For Kicking

Blocking And Counterattacking

Practice Drills For Blocking And Counterattacking

Grab Releases

Releases From Choke Holds, Bear Hugs And Rear Attacks

Practice Drills For Grab Releases, Choke Holds, Bear Hugs

And Rear Attacks

Down Defenses

Practice Drills For Down Defenses

Multiple Assailants

Practice Drills For Multiple Assailants

Knife Defenses

Practice Drills For Knife Defenses

NINE: YOUR PERSONAL SECURITY

FIGURE 9.1 “The Age of Anxiety” 189

Basic Principles

Telephone Safety Strategies

Cell Phone Security

Mailboxes And Rental Box Tips

Personal Check Security

viii – Contents

Identity Theft Prevention

Identity Theft Resources

Credit Reports

Computer Security/Phishing Scam Prevention

Laptop Security

DataDot Technology

Your Personal Security At Home

Emergency Plans

Confronting An Intruder

Telephoning The Police For Help

Good Neighbors

TEN: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER—Breaking The Intimidation Game

FIGURE 10.1 “Women Triumphant” 209

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Reyna’s Story Of Transformation

Breaking The Intimidation Game With A Vision For

The Future

ABOUT THE ART 214

The Artworks—Breaking The Intimidation Game

The Artist—Nancy Worthington, M.F.A