Comments

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 saw your information on the back of my Doritos bag and it was like a sending from above. What you are doing is so amazing. And I appreciate it so much. The neighbor hood I live in is not safe at all, and neither is the place I work. Guys view girls as just their next crime victims, and it frightens me.I could not believe my eyes when I read the back of my Doritos bag. Thank you. Thank you, thank you. A million times thank you.

Hi Girls,

I saw you on Montel this morning and wanted to tell you how awesome I think you are for doing an awareness video for not only teens but anyone. I am a mother of four children three boys and one girl. I would love to have a dvd to teach them how to protect themselves. I also plan to take the dvd to the local schools and see if I can get them on board with your mission to protect people from predators. Keep up the good!

Hey, I just wanted to tell you guys that I think that what you guys are doing is amazing. Too many girls don't know what to do in a situation where they feel that their voice has been taken away, and I think it's great that you let them know how powerful their voice is, and that you teach them how to get it back. I know it's helped many. You guys are great.

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.

Dear Just Yell Fire activists,

My Name is Aya and I'm 17 years old from Egypt. I adore your idea about teaching girls how to fight back against sexual assault and raping.If you allow me I'd love to help you in applying the idea in the Egyptian society.There have been increasing number of rapping and sexual assault accidents and girls don't talk about that.I have downloaded the film and I learned so much and now I don't worry anymore about walking in the street freely.Anyway,if there's any ideas about how i can raise the awarness here in Egypt I'd love to be part of your campaign.I'm also a begginer activist in a non-profit organization called ( KONOZ ) that cares about making the society a better place to live. Thanks in advance.

Sincerely, Aya

I am a 13 year girl who attends middle school, and does ride the bus. My bus stop has one other girl, the same build and age as me. I am very weak, and don't play any sports whatsoever. For the past year, I have heard of many girls who were older and stronger than me get raped and taken away. Needless to say, I was frightened. What could happen to me?

My mom showed me and my little brother this video. After watching it, I emailed it to all my female friends and watched it over and over again to practice the actions used against a sexual offender. Thank you so much for letting everyone see this. Now I know that I have a chance against a 200 pound man or woman who tries to touch me. By the way, I thought the hair combing thing was brilliant, and the scoop kick was as well.

I am very impressed and thank you for what you are doing, the world need more people like you. Thanks from a father of a 6-yr-old girl.

Hi there, I saw you on the Montel show today and I have to say KUDOS to all of you who were involved in the making of this video!!!

You have strength and hearts of gold for spreading awareness of this kind. I have 3 daughters, aged 14, 8, and 6, and I can't stress enough as to the worry that I have on a daily basis being their mother, I worry about them walking to and home from school, about playing outside, and even being in a public place with their father and I, all it takes is a split second for someone to grab them.
You are all in my prayers and God is holding a special place for you all.

The DVD came today. I watched it with my daughter. Very well done, very informative. It's a relief to know that even a non-athlete can do something to protect herself. Thank you so much!