By Jeremy Robbins, CEO
On October 24, we welcomed women to Krav Maga Maryland for our Women’s Self-Defense Seminar in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The afternoon gave us an opportunity to spend time on a subject that deserves attention throughout the year: the ability to take your own safety and well-being seriously.
One message carries well beyond an event like this: you’re allowed to say no.
It sounds straightforward. In everyday life, it can feel complicated. You may want to end a conversation but worry about appearing rude. You may decline an offer and feel obligated to explain yourself when the person keeps insisting. You may know that something makes you uncomfortable while still wondering whether your discomfort is enough reason to act.
For many women, that tension is familiar. Being considerate can start to feel like an obligation to keep everyone else comfortable, even at your own expense. A simple decision becomes a negotiation with yourself: Am I overreacting? Will this make things awkward? What will they think of me?
Your discomfort deserves consideration, too. You do not need to prove that someone has bad intentions before deciding you want more space. You can appreciate an invitation and decline it. You can change your mind after initially agreeing. You can care about another person without giving them unlimited access to your time, attention, or personal space.
That does not mean every uncomfortable interaction is dangerous. It means you are allowed to make choices about your participation without first building a case against someone else.
At KMMD, we see that as part of a broader conversation about personal protection. Physical capability matters, and so does the confidence to take your own concerns seriously. When we talk about preparedness, we are also talking about whether people feel able to make decisions on their own behalf and seek support when they need it.
Confidence can be quiet. It can be a decision you make without asking everyone around you to approve it. It can also mean acknowledging uncertainty and asking someone you trust for help. You do not have to feel fearless to begin taking your well-being seriously.
Holding this seminar during Domestic Violence Awareness Month also gave the event an important context. Conversations about boundaries must leave room for the complexity of abuse. Someone experiencing abuse may face circumstances that others cannot see or fully understand. Saying no or leaving is not always simple or safe.
Abuse is never the survivor’s fault. It is not a failure of confidence, judgment, or physical ability. Responsibility belongs to the person choosing abusive behavior. Self-defense training can be one source of support, alongside specialized services and safety planning that account for the individual’s circumstances.
For friends, families, and communities, that calls for care in how we respond. Listening without judgment and respecting someone’s choices matters. Support should make it easier for a person to ask for help, without requiring them to defend why they have not handled a situation the way someone else would.
To the women who joined us on October 24, thank you for spending the afternoon with us and making time for yourselves. We appreciated the opportunity to work with you. Our commitment at Krav Maga Maryland is to provide a place where people can develop their capabilities, ask questions, and build confidence in their ability to protect themselves.
The seminar was one afternoon. The message remains relevant every day: your safety matters, your concerns deserve to be heard, and your boundaries deserve respect.
Prepared to act. Empowered to protect.
For information about ongoing training and future seminars, visit kravmd.com.
If you or someone you know is experiencing relationship abuse, the National Domestic Violence Hotline offers confidential support at 800-799-SAFE (7233), by texting START to 88788, or at thehotline.org. If device use may be monitored, use a safer device to seek support when possible.