Comments

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.

I truly believe your program is a Godsend...this world we live in is a wonderful and beautiful place, but there are "MONSTERS" out there. You are educating parents and children, not just girls but the boy's as well, on how to be prepared to deal with them. Thank you and God Bless.

Thank you Dallas for having these helpful dvd training programs. I have 2 daughters and these will bring more awareness to the danger that's out there. Keep up the good work. I applaud everyone involved in making this program, again thank you so much for all the hard work you all have put in.

I was so excited to hear about the DVD - "Just Yell Fire". The reviews are excellent. I look forward to receiving the DVD and utilizing the information to help teenage girls with self defense. Thanks so much for your consideration in this matter!

I am wrapping up the semester and showed your story again. I talk to my students about finding a voice, being empowered etc. My goal is to get them to realized the power they have through the tools we learn in my class.

Anyway, after we got done talking about you and others who have found a voice, I let them log onto your website and encouraged to look at "Just Yell Fire", we had already talked about the video's origins and message. At the end of class a very quiet 8th grader who never really speaks out much came up to my desk.

"Do you know how fast they can send the video? I am going to be moving soon."

Maybe that doesn't have the impact for you that it had on me. I have no idea what her personal story is, but the really timid girl making such an inquiry made me wonder.

I don't know how long videos take to ship. But I happily gave her mine. She was stunned and looked at it and then me with a wide eye, then said thanks and walked back to her seat still looking at it.

It was a nice moment, just wanted to share.

Thanks for who you are and what you stand for.

I am a Disabled Veteran and a grandfather of Sixteen. I would have been the proud grandfather of another little one, but I guess GOD wanted him to be in Heaven with HIM. I will see him later and what a joy that will be. I have eight granddaughters and eight grandsons. I would not take a million dollars for any of them. Maybe two million would do it. No just kidding. They all are the light in my life. One grandson is old enough and has finished Navy training and is a Corpman with the Marines and will be going to Iraq or Afghanistan in January or February. Please remember him in your prayers. His name is Frankie.
I want to thank you all for making this film. It is something that should have been made a long time ago. I wonder just how many young lives would have been different if this film had been made sooner. I pray all who watch this, will never experience anything bad and if in a situation will know what to do because of this film. May GOD bless and reward everyone who was a part of this film.

Thank you for making this video. I've been sexually assaulted three times in my life. I've learned from your video that I do have a right to protect myself. I have a little sister and I'm trying to get her to learn the techniques because I wold want anything to happen to her.

A Big Fan

I think that you both are doing an amazing and inspiring job making this video. It could effect mostly teenage girls. It could save a tune of girls all around the world. I know a friend that was followed by an elderly man, so instead of fighting him or doing something she just ran! He could have followed her home and done pretty bad things to her. I am 12 years old almost 13 and I was almost kidnapped! After I saw the Montel show, I knew that I had to see your website and look at the video. It is truly inspiring!!! Around my area here in Toronto there are a lot of girls who were being kidnpped and they only yelled out help and they didn't do anything. I live in Toronto. Even the most smallest children are being kidnapped in my area! So, in my school they always say to be very careful and we always get newsletters saying if there is someone in the neighboor hood or if a man got released from jail. Our principal is very caring and has codes for when strangers come in. Code red means that there is a man inside the school. So, we get down and lock the doors and hide until it is safe. Code yellow is when someone is around the area. Code orange is when someone is in the school yard. I am a big fan and you are so brave!!! I wish I could be like you and be so brave!!!

I think what you are doing is great, I am proud to live in a world where there are still people out there who care. I am gonna hang on to this cd for my daughter for when she gets a little bit older. Thank you!!!

This morning I had the good fortune of checking in on the "everything self-defense" blog by Tom Callos. I must say it was a pleasure to view "Just Yell Fire". I can't believe that I have never come across this tremendous piece on women's self-defense. Your daughter, Dallas and her friend are truly ambassadors on a subject that is only taken to lightly.

I have been teaching martial arts and situational self-defense since 1978. Only since 1997 has my school focused on the anti-abduction of children and the protection, rape prevention, and quick escape for women. We have implemented much of the information that is offered on this DVD through sources such as John Hall's "Date Escape" and Tony Blauer's "Rape Prevention".

The key that makes "Just Yell Fire" so solid is "who" is presenting this film. The two girls, the police officer, and Dallas' instructor give the targeted audience a much better presentation. It will be so much easier for girls and parents to pay attention and to stay interested.

I truly look forward to scheduling and evening with daughters and parents so that we may view "Just Yell Fire" together. I'm not sure if it's possible for me to download and burn the video to DVD. But I will give it a try and I look forward to sending as many parents as possible to your website.