Comments

I watched 'Just Yell Fire', and told my form tutor at school about it. It's now going to be shown to everyone in the school, and hopefully they will show their friends at other schools as well. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone involved in the program for creating it; I know several people who have been in similar situations to those shown on the video, and they appreciate so much that something is finally being done to raise awareness of it, so that others will not be so unfortunate.

Teaching girls that they CAN defend themselves

I am interested in becoming a certified trainer for Just Yell Fire. I gained my Master's degree in Library Science last May with an emphasis in children's and youth services, and hope to find a job soon as a public librarian. With the amount of contact I will have in that field with young and teenage girls, as well as contacts with schools and other libraries, I would like to find out how to become involved and help promote your program.

I have been training in aikido as a self-defense art since June, and will be testing for my first rank soon. The more I learned in aikido, the more it made me aware of how girls and women in America are socialized about violence. Movies, television, and popular media seem to promote the belief that girls and women cannot win or escape in a situation where we are under attack by a man. Recognizing this made me interested in finding out what programs were already available to promote girls' and women's self-defense. I discovered Just Yell Fire by Googling "women's self-defense". I was thrilled to find that someone has begun a movement to counter that socialization early in women's lives, beginning with teaching the girls who are most at risk that they CAN defend themselves and escape an attacker, even if their attacker is much larger. I myself am only 5'1", and the techniques that eliminate an attacker's advantage of greater height are also especially applicable to me.

I live in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, and I would like any information available on training for certification for Just Yell Fire, either locally or in neighboring states if necessary. Many thanks to you, Dallas, and everyone else involved with Just Yell Fire for your caring and hard work.

"Thanks so much to Chad and Just Yell Fire for their great training session. I really enjoyed the course and believe the course will really benefit our young women in the community. The concepts are easy to remember. I look forward to passing on the techniques I learned."

The DVD is a great Help, our 19 cheerleaders were impressed, they talked things over..we got in a big circle and then we practiced all the hits/kicks/ and we had a black belt from our YMCA come in and he held their arm, they all got away, it was the most fun I've had in a long time, and I was proud of the girls for putting effort and concentration into what they were doing. I think they learned what they needed to learn.

I saw your segment today on Montel, and it touched me. My husband and I work for a state Dept of Corrections and deal with some of these offenders on a daily basis. I am always left wondering how their victims are coping. I was so excited to see a project of this magnitude from the next generation. We have four young children of our own and want to get the DVD to have to show to them on a regular basis. More than anything I just want to thank you for having the courage to step up and help other young people protect themselves. Thank you and congratulations on being such fine young women.

You are a remarkable young woman. This morning I saw an interview with you and your mother. The clips of the movie were wonderful. What you have done would be considered a major life accomplishment at any age. To recognize the need and produce an educational film at your age is nothing short of extraordinary. May I join your mom in saying how proud I am of you!

You are to be commended for your efforts in helping women and young girls to be better prepared when faced with the potential of being a victim of a violent attack! As a police officer of 34 years and a martial artist since 1962, I will encourage all of my students that I train to watch your DVD. Thank you.

First off I want to tell you I saw you on Montel & thought what you are doing is very impressive. It is wonderful seeing teenagers doing something so productive to help others in the community.

Not only does your video help teen girls & women, but I want to order one to have my young son watch it to help fight off any child predator that might try to abduct him. I really think your video should be shown to all young children as well to prepare them for circumstances that may arise such as attempted child abduction. Unfortunately we see all too often on the news what happens to young children who are caught off guard by these predators. Your video is a wonderful tool to help better prepare children to defend themselves. Again, thank you for making such a wonderful video to help others.
I will pass the word on to everyone I know.

I was just setting for my daily coffee when Montel came on, I heard about the DVD that two young girls had made, so I watched your DVD. WOW! How proud I was to see what a great job you and your friend had done, and now by paying it forward will help so many young girls and even children. I was a victim many many years ago and it still haunts me to think I had no idea on how to fight back. My attacker was not a stranger but my own father, however if I had known or seen a DVD such as yours I would have known to fight no matter who was the assaulter was.

I'm now a grandmother of two beautiful grandchildren and I don't know what I would do if anyone ever hurt them. I'm so proud of the work you have done and the strength and courage you have shown in your DVD.

Thank you for your Efforts and thank you for sharing such a wonderful DVD. Keep up the great work girls.

I have just heard about the DVD from members of a city-wide committee that deals with domestic violence in the Jewish community. As we all know, date rape, abduction and other types of violence cross cultural, racial and religious lines -- they highly recommended this film for use in our schools.

Thank you so much --