Essential ESD Reading List
2026-07-02
Books to add to the top of your empowerment, personal sovereignty and safety reading list Note: This is a working list and subject to updates. UPDATED: July 02, 2026 ESD is much
Books to add to the top of your empowerment, personal sovereignty and safety reading list Note: This is a working list and subject to updates. UPDATED: July 02, 2026 ESD is much
Using fury as fuel for decisive action and other lessons from the zombie apocalypse “You’ve got to keep moving. No matter what. Just keep moving. That’s how you survive.” I
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
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
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
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.
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?
Author’s Note: Hello to all those who are taking the time to read this. I’d like to say “thank you” for being a part of the movement known as Empowerment Self Defense. I’m part of the board of the Association of ESD Professionals, as well as a Senior Instructor/Instructor Trainer for Impact Personal Safety Los Angeles and Global.
I was asked to share my experience as the famous “suit” that people in the ESD community have had the opportunity to fight against or have at least seen from videos of training with IMPACT LA/Global.
Notes on the Journey: Sometimes Violence is the Answer What is Violence? I grew up believing, like most of us I believe, that violence is a physical act that harms
Notes on the journey: Self Defense as Self Sovereignty A practice of embodiment, empowerment, and sovereignty “How would you feel about becoming a self defense instructor?” The question came eight
ESD Anthology – Spectrum of Safety: I Challenge You to a Duel It was a bad time for our family. The divorce was past, but the control issues were still