I’m willing to bet that almost all of us women, at some point in our lives, have attended a self-defense class. Whether it was in a high school gym class, on a sorority retreat or even offered to females in your workplace, there are plenty of classes out there aiming to help women protect themselves from an attack. In these classes, they probably taught you techniques or “moves” to get you out from underneath an attacker or release you from his grip. But, did they ever discuss the moral affect of striking another person? Or tell you that if an attacker has made contact with you it’s actually a good thing?

Then your class wasn’t taught by Dominick Izzo. Izzo, founder of Izzo Training Systems, retired from the police force when he knew he wasn’t doing as much good as he had intended to when he became a police officer. “I was always stepping into these terrible situations after the fact. I wanted to show people that the common denominator in any violent act is them,” says Izzo.

We were lucky enough last week to find out about a free class being give by Izzo (produced by our friends at Raymi Productions) Izzo doesn’t really like to call what he teaches “self defense” but knows that’s what most people would file his class under. He believes that if you are trained properly, you will be in a position of offense, not defense, in an attack. And, because of that, no matter what the outcome, you will never be a victim.

He believes that many self defense classes fall short of preparing women for a real world attack. “By teaching such specific techniques, they do not take into account that every attack is going to be different and you need to be flexible if you want to survive,” he says. And, by flexible he does not mean you need to lift your legs behind your head.

He explains himself by sharing a story of his friend who was excited to share with him a technique she had learned to stop an attacker. She told Izzo to grab her wrist and she would escape. Izzo did grab her wrist as requested, but used his other arm to grab her throat. Suddenly, the woman did not know how to react since grabbing her throat was not part of her programmed technique. Since violent attacks are often very unpredictable, Izzo stresses that you need to be ready for anything and have the ability to roll with the punches (pun intended, pardon my poor taste). By teaching women the more general concepts of things like position and posturing, he is able to give them the tools they need to respond to a real life attack, no matter what the circumstances.

One of these concepts, which may be counterintuitive at first, is to not run away if your attacker makes contact. By going away from an attacker, you put yourself in a defensive position. Instead, you are better off facing your attacker, centering your body with his (or hers) and basically flipping the switch and attacking them first.

Izzo stresses the mental aspect of an attack just as much, if not more than, the physical. He says to tap into that instinct that allows women to protect their children at all costs, what he calls “grrrr.” He is also a big fan of “colorful expletives” shouted at an attacker. Izzo says that in the real world “a person attacks someone for one reason, they think they can.” If you can get down to his level and become as brutal and ruthless as the attacker himself, you stand a good chance of coming out of the situation unharmed. 

For more info on the Izzo Training System and where and to take classes, go to www.Izzo-Training.com.

This event was hosted by Raymi Productions, a boutique event consultancy. Raymi is know for hosting amazing free events (everything from this self defense class to shopping events). For more info on Raymi or to sign up for their newsletter, visit www.raymiproductions.com.

(Lacey Brenly)

We have heard rumors of a training program that you only needed to do 1-2 times a week for 20 minutes each session to get results. But, knowing that most times if something sounds too good to be true it probably is, we had filed it under the “ya right” category of our brains, along with Diet Pills, Big Foot, and Lip Plumpers.

Then, about a month ago, our PR gal, Lindsey introduced me to Estelle. Estelle talked about a 20 minute “class” she taught and I immediately thought it would be perfect for busy PoorLittleRichGirls. I e-mailed her to let her know how perfect a 20 minute workout (once a day I assumed) would be for our readers. When she responded with “the workouts at super slow are 20 minutes a WEEK” I felt like I had seen a Sasquatch with my own two eyes. Could it be the rumors are true? I had to check it out for myself.

I met up with Estelle to try out the SuperSlow program last Saturday and was pretty nervous, seeing as how I haven’t moved on purpose in quite some time. She immediately put me at ease and took some time to explain to me the theory, history, and practice of Super Slow. The SuperSlow theory was developed by Ken Hutchins over 20 years ago to assist those with Osteoporosis. Most people kill themselves at the gym doing rep after rep and running mile after mile on the treadmill, only to see little result and putting themselves at a greater risk of injury. SuperSlow is very different in that it is, of course, super slow. Instead of using 2-6 seconds to complete a rep, as most training does, SuperSlow requires each rep to be completed in 20 seconds (lift for 10 seconds, lower for 10 seconds). By slowing down the workout, you are forced to use your muscles to complete the reps, rather than momentum. Working the muscles to the point of exhaustion causes them to grow and build, which in turn causes your body to burn more calories, lower blood pressure, build bone density, reduce your risk of diabetes and the list goes on and on.

SuperSlow is also less intimidating and more personal than your average trip to the gym. Workouts are done one on one with a trainer in a room with no mirrors, music and there are no beef-heads or barbies to make you feel like you don’t belong there.

During our meeting, Estelle is able to rattle off a persuasive list of SuperSlows’s benefits. “If you go running say, you’re probably burning around 300 calories and that’s during the workout. If you add 3 lbs. of lean muscle mass to your body you will be burning about 10,000 extra calories a month and its even happening after [the workout] when you’re just sitting down!” she tells me. By that point I was psyched and ready for what I imagined would be the most torturous 20 minutes of my life. I started with a leg press. I immediately felt the muscles in my butt and thighs begin to burn. It was tough, but not unbearable and before I knew it my 2 minutes were up and we were on to the next machine. I eventually ended up on the floor for some sit-up like core exercises. As I came up from the floor Estelle said “you’re done.” I got up and scanned the room wondering what the next machine would have in store for me. Estelle snapped me back to attention “No, you’re finished. The class is over.”

Someone must be punking me I thought, as we walked out of the studio. I was amazed that in less than 30 minutes I could get such a great workout (I know it was great because I could feel my muscles quivering, already trying to recover from the intensity I had just put them through). I immediately scheduled another appointment for Tuesday evening (because SuperSlow is so intense you cannot go more than twice a week. Love that). Best of all, I walked out of there with a smile on my face and a ton of self-confidence, which is something I have never done with past workouts or classes. Estelle made me a believer in one session, and if you are serious about doing something positive for your health and well being you should giver her a call and try it for yourself.

Estelle is a certified SuperSlow trainer and you can find her at Citywide SuperSlow at 1901 N. Clybourne. To schedule an appointment give her a call at 630-730-1410.

(Story by Lacey Brenly, Photos by Neal Agustin)