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Author: Lauren Lopp

Notes on the Journey: On Breaking Boards

2026-03-20

You don’t fear the raging river. You are the raging river. The first time I broke a board was after I’d already been on the mat for several hours—our regular Saturday afternoon hour and a half session, followed by a three hour Rapid Assault Training class. “Do you want to break a board?” My instructor asked as we were wrapping up for the day. The important part to this story is, I’d already done some drills—in a manner that was at least correct-adjacent—and had successfully been able to remove a fully grown man from on top of me, so breaking

The Strong Side: A Bold New Step in Violence Prevention in Football

2026-03-20

The International Association of ESD Professionals (IAESDP) is proud to launch The Strong Side—a powerful new violence prevention initiative in football that brings the life-changing tools of Empowerment Self Defense (ESD) into the heart of football culture.  This global project is designed to improve fan safety and promote inclusive football environments by offering tailored safety trainings to football players, coaches, club staff, media, stadium workers, and supporters. By strengthening community resilience and communication, The Strong Side equips participants with tools to prevent gender-based violence in football and beyond. Why Football, Why Now? Football is more than a sport—it’s a global language. But like society, it also reflects deep-rooted issues, including violence against women and gender minorities. Research shows that major tournaments

The Power of the Break

2026-03-20

I’ll start by making an admission: I learned everything I know about ESD by teaching it.  What? Well, I created an Empowerment Self Defense curriculum called ASSERT about 20 years ago, before I knew that ESD was already “a thing.” I created it out of necessity. You see, my oldest son was being bullied in middle school (years 5-7 for my international friends.) He had been assaulted and robbed by upper classmen on more than one occasion, and he needed a self-defense class. As a concerned mom, I jumped into action, looking for a program for him.   What I found

Empowerment Self Defense Explained

2026-03-20

Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD) is emerging as a go-to framework for tackling rising incidents of gender-based violence, bullying, and harassment worldwide. Organizations like the International Association of ESD Professionals (IAESDP) aim to #FightForward by equipping individuals—especially women and children—with life-saving physical skills and the confidence to set boundaries and advocate for their own safety.  Driving the movement Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD) goes far beyond physical maneuvers. It’s a global movement—rooted in inclusivity, trauma-informed methods, and real-world problem-solving—to ensure everyone can #FightForward for their safety and dignity.  ESD programs blend assertiveness training, trauma-informed care, and community activism with practical self-defense tactics.  Grassroots movements,

Share Your ESD Story

2026-03-20

Your experience can empower others. You’ve overcome challenges as an ESD instructor or student—navigated classroom crises, broke through personal barriers, found your strength. We want your story for the IAESDP “Spectrum of Safety” Editorial Page — a platform where real experiences become teaching tools that transform lives worldwide. Together, we’re building our collective ESD legacy. Selected stories may be included in our upcoming “Spectrum of Safety” anthology. Ready to inspire others? Contact leah@mypwr.app for submission details. Your journey matters. Share it.

A Roadmap to the Empowerment Self-Defense Movement

2026-03-20

Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD) is a holistic approach to personal safety that addresses the full spectrum of gender-based violence through an evidence-based methodology. Many people teach self-defense, and each has critical impact through their work. Today, we want to highlight just a few key players in the ESD movement who are making waves—not only in their own communities but across the globe.

What to Expect from the Association Credentialing Exam

2026-03-20

So you’ve signed up for the Association Credentialing Exam or you’re thinking about signing up, and you like to feel prepared. You may have already checked out the Handbook, Code of Ethics, and Core Competencies, but you’re looking for guidance on what it’s really like to take the exam. Here’s what to expect, from someone who has already been there:

Teaching ESD in Cross-Cultural Contexts

2026-03-20

Reflections on Cultural Awareness & the Capacity to Be Humbled In Costa Rica, where I live, the communication style is indirect, and there are many ways to express a “no” with a lot of context—without actually saying the word “no.” Here’s one of my favorite examples. One time my mechanic told me my car would be ready the next day. So the next day, I texted him and asked what time I could pick up the car. He replied, “I am in Nicoya.” For a moment, I felt annoyed and thought, I don’t care where you are or what you

7 Signs You Might Be An ESD Professional

2026-03-20

Have you noticed that the term “empowerment” is popping up all over the Internet? Have you noticed it is often used to describe self-defense? Did you know that empowerment self-defense (ESD) is a thing and the people who teach it are ESD professionals?