October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

As the creator of Fighting Spirit Warriors, a fitness for self-defense program for girls and women, I wanted to give readers some information on domestic violence so you can be more aware of how this topic affects us all.

Domestic Violence

It’s a known fact that domestic violence can happen in any relationship, regardless of ethnic group, income level, religion, education, gender or sexual orientation. It doesn’t matter if people are married, dating or living together abuse can happen to anyone. However, women are primarily the victims of domestic violence.

The number of physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions toward females are epidemic. This type of behavior includes intimidation, manipulation, humiliation, isolation, frightening, terrorizing, coercing, threatening, injuring, or wounding someone, that someone is usually a female, and the perpetrator is usually a male. In fact, The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 95 percent of the assaults on partners or spouses are committed by men against women.

What Causes Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence may start when one partner feels the need to control and dominate the other. Abusers may feel this need to control their partner because of low self-esteem, extreme jealousy, difficulties in regulating anger and other strong emotions, or when they feel inferior to the other partner in education and socioeconomic background. Some men with very traditional beliefs may think they have the right to control women, and that women aren’t equal to men.

This domination then takes the form of emotional, physical, financial or sexual abuse. Studies suggest that violent behavior often is caused by an interaction of situational and individual factors. A male as young as five may learn how to be an abuser simply by observing his family, people in his community, and other influences, such as music videos and video games, or he may have been a victim or sexual assault. Unfortunately, when girls grow up witnessing violence in the home, they are more likely to accept this as normal. When they get older there is a strong possibility they will end up with boyfriends or husbands or mates who are abusers.

Alcohol and other chemical substances may contribute to violent behavior. A drunk or high person will be less likely to control his or her violent impulses, but being under the influence isn’t the cause of abuse, although most men use this as an excuse.

How Domestic Violence Affects Families               

and Communities

 

FACTS:

Every year in the U.S. there are over 3 million incidents of domestic violence. That means that every 9 seconds someone is being beaten by their domestic partner!

Each year about 324,000 pregnant women in the U.S. are battered by the men in their lives.

Forty percent of girls age 14 to 17 report knowing someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend.

Children who are exposed to domestic violence are more likely to exhibit behavioral and physical health problems including depression, anxiety, and violence towards peers. They are also more likely to attempt suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol, run away from home, engage in teenage prostitution, and commit sexual assault crimes.

Abusive relationships have a powerful psychological impact on the victims and can begin to take its toll on the victim physically as well as mentally and emotionally.

A University of Pennsylvania study found that domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women, more common than automobile accidents, muggings and rapes combined.            

Domestic Violence is a major cause of family homelessness. A large percentage of all women and children living on the streets became homeless because of domestic violence.

It is estimated that 40-60% of men who abuse women also abuse children.

Battering occurs among people of all races, ages, socio-economic classes, religious affiliations, occupations, and educational backgrounds.

 

 (Sources: Bureau of Justice Statistics; National Domestic Violence Hotline; Gazmarian, J. A., Petersen, R., Spitz, A. M., Goodwin, M. M., Saltzman, L. E., & Marks, J. S. (2000) Violence and Reproductive Health; A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in American Cities; American Psychological Association, Violence and the Family: Report of the American Psychological Association Presidential Task Force on Violence and the Family; Uniform Crime Reports, Federal Bureau of Investigation)

Be Safe Out There

April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month

By Jillian Bullock

If you’ve purchased my memoir, HERE I STAND or seen me on TV you already know that I was raped at age 11. Due to my inability to channel the anger and emotional pain, I often got into fights at school and my grades from honor roll started to fall. I kept my feelings to myself because I felt I couldn’t really talk to anyone. At this time I lived with my family, including my white stepfather, who was a member of the Philadelphia Italian Mafia. He was the only person I told about the incident. Next thing I knew the guy who assaulted me was found dead, with a single bullet to his head.

Although my rapist was now dead, I still struggled to move on. I started training in Tae Kwon Do at age 12 in an attempt to ease some of the emotional pain and to learn focus and discipline. My fighting at school stopped and my grades improved. However, that one single act completely transformed my life, and especially my relationships with men.

The thing about being a survivor of a sexual assault is that the emotional scars often take years to heal. Some women never do recover. They may seem great on the outside and go on to achieve success in various areas of their lives, like I did. However, being a victim of rape or sexual assault the wounds are often much deeper and can lead  to destructive habits, like drug and alcohol addiction, homelessness, getting involved in toxic or abusive relationships, problems dealing with social situations, and much more. Today, as someone who is a Professional Life Coach and studying psychology all the time, (I’m working on obtaining a Ph.D. in Psychology), I have found that these behaviors are a result of feelings of depression, low self-esteem, unworthiness, guilt, and a lack of confidence.

    Jillian leading Fighting Spirit Warriors Workshop  

FACTS:

• 1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime
• Every 35 seconds a woman is raped somewhere in the United States.
• One in four college women report surviving rape (15 percent) or attempted rape (12 percent).
• Rape victims have been found to be 8.7 times more likely to attempt suicide.
• 64% of women who reported being raped, physically assaulted, and/or stalked since age 18 were victimized by a current or former husband, cohabiting partner, boyfriend, or date.
• More than 70% of sexual assault victims know their attacker.
• 1.3 women are sexually assaulted every minute.
• In a single year, over 90,000 women in the United States report a rape to law enforcement officials.
• Each year, it is estimated 25,000 American women will become pregnant following an act of sexual violence.
• Girls ages 16-19 are 4 times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape or sexual assault.
• 7% of girls in grades 5-8 and 12% of girls in grades 9-12 said they had been sexually abused.

As you can see from the stats this is a serious epidemic our country is facing. Many of you who are reading this fall into this category – a survivor.

As the creator of Fighting Spirit  Warriors, a fitness for self-defense program for girls and women, it is my mission to help females learn the skills and techniques necessary so hopefully they will never become a statistic.

 Jillian training with Richard Cossaboon

Ladies, if you are in the Philadelphia area, please go to –http://www.jillianbullock.com – and click on Events to find out information about my Fighting Spirit Warriors workshop on April 21.

If you don’t live in Philadelphia but you would like to host a workshop in your city, the website will provide you with information on how to book me. I travel throughout the country as a way to make my services available to all.

Learn how to be “Fit 2 Fight To Have A Safe Life!”

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month:Learn To Be Fit To Fight

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Learn What You Need to Know to Be: “Fit 2 Fight To Have A Safe Life”

Fighting Spirit Warriors® is a fitness for self-defense program created by Jillian Bullock. The exercises females learn are used to help girls and women build the cardio conditioning and speed necessary to run away from a potentially dangerous situation or have the power, strength and accuracy to fight back against rape or sexual assault.

Fighting Spirit Warriors® incorporates exercises along with boxing and martial arts drills that work the whole body at one time in order to tighten and tone muscles, especially the weak areas for most women – arms, thighs, butt, and stomach.

Facts:
• 1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime
• Every two minutes a woman is raped somewhere in the United States
• Each year, it is estimated 25,000 American women will become pregnant following an act of sexual violence.
• One in four college women report surviving rape (15 percent) or attempted rape (12 percent).
• Rape victims have been found to be 8.7 times more likely to attempt suicide.

                                                                                                 Empower Yourself to Be a Victor, Not a Victim!!

Where: Performance Garage
When: Sunday, April 21, 2013
Address: 1515 Brandywine Street (between Spring Garden and Green Streets) Philadelphia, PA
Time: 9:30-10:45a.m.
Fee: $15 in advance. No ticket sales at the door.
Fee: $10 if you work for a non-profit organization that serves the needs of girls or women. Must show proof of employment with letter from organization, employment photo badge or some other official document.

** 50% of the proceeds from the workshop will be donated to Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR).

Dress in workout attire and sneakers. Bring water bottle and small towel. Space is limited. Sign up today!!

**Special note – Both workshops will be filmed for promotion of Fighting Spirit Warriors program on website, Youtube and television. If you do not wish to be filmed during the workshop(s), please indicate on the form below.

If you are included in the filming on this day you will be required to sign an appearance release form at the event.

All participants must be 18 or over. For more information about Fighting Spirit Warriors go to – http://www.jillianbullockenterprises.com.

PRINT FORM

“Fit 2 Fight To Have A Safe Life” Workshop
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Name:___________________________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________________________
City:________________________ PA___________ Zip Code________________
Email:___________________________________________________________
Home #_________________________________ Cell #_____________________

Workshop Attending: 9:30-10:45 a.m.

 Price: $15 per person Number of participants ________ Total $_________________

Price: $10 (non-profit) ___________ Total $______________________________

Do not wish to be filmed _______________ Wish to be filmed_________________

Send check or money order to:

Jillian Bullock c/o Fighting Spirit Warriors
216 S. Carol Blvd. Ste. A3
Upper Darby, PA 19082

**If you work for a non-profit organization that serves the needs of girls or women,  you must show proof of employment with letter from organization, employment photo badge or some other official document. Send a copy of document along with this form.

Print out and mail form, along with check or money order. NO REFUNDS!

Any questions  email Monique Arrington, Business Manager  at – marrington@jillianbullockenterprises.com.

Stay Motivated

By Jillian Bullock

So, it’s now February and how are you doing with your fitness resolutions? To keep yourself motivated, here are some tips:

Jillian and client, Matt

1.Be Realistic
If you know your fitness goals were a bit ambitious, for example, “I’ll drop 30 pounds in a month, or I’ll run my first marathon with only three months of training, then you need to rethink those goals. “Resolutions fail because they are unrealistic,” said Dr. Belisa Vranich, a clinical psychologist in New York City. To help you avoid failing at your goals rewrite what you plan to do and be realistic. To get your body in great shape takes time, hard work and dedication for what your want to accomplish. Have patience and you’ll start to see results. You didn’t gain the weight overnight, so it won’t come off quickly. Reach for a goal of 2-3 pounds a week for weight loss.

2. Envision Success
It is vital for you to see yourself at the end goal. If you plan to lose 50 pounds in five months, close your eyes daily and see what you will look like, what you will be wearing, how you will feel, what your friends, co-workers, mate, and family will say, and the style of new clothes you will wear.
You can also get a magazine and cut out a person’s body you are striving to look like. Place a photo of your face over the person’s face and look at that photo every morning when you get up and every night before you go to bed. Visualization is powerful because if helps you believe you can succeed at your fitness goals. Also, post motivational quotes around your apartment or house, and at your office. A positive attitude is also key to success.

3. Keep It Interesting
To avoid boredom switch up your exercises so you can keep it interesting. Don’t do just one type of exercise, for example, aerobics, because your body will become used to the same program and that exercise will become ineffective. Strive for variety – add weight training, bootcamp, Zumba, yoga, Pilates, kickboxing, along with stretching and core work. Even when you do a cardio routine don’t jump on the treadmill all the time, try the elliptical machine, jumping rope or the stationary bike.

When you constantly make your body guess, you confuse the muscles which will help you lose more weight, firm and tone your muscles, and get stronger while you build cardio conditioning and endurance. Can’t make it to the gym, you can also try at-home workout videos, e.g. PX90, Insanity, and TaeBo. Find activities that are fun for you, but also challenging.

4. Cheerleading Squad
Everybody needs a support team or their own cheerleading squat to help them keep focused. So do yourself a favor and join fitness, health and nutrition support meet-up groups so you stay motivated and on track. There are also on-line support groups and blogs. You also might need to hire a personal trainer to get the support and guidance you need to succeed.

“Successful people have support,” said Andrea Metcalf, creator of the “Keeping Fit” DVD series. “Statistics show that one in 10 people can lose weight on their own but group support increases success rates to seven in 10.”

5. Nutrition is Key
Don’t try to eliminate the “bad” foods from your life all at once or you will fail. Pick a food or drink you can live without, say soda, do that first and replace it with something healthy, e.g. green tea with honey or water with lemon. The goal is to get to the point where you are eating clean for six days and then you get a special treat by the end of the week. I call it a “free meal,” not a free day, where you can eat anything you want. This will be your reward for doing so well, which helps you on a psychological level because you have something to look forward to by week’s end. That meal will also help rev up your metabolism, which in turn burns fat and eliminates fat loss plateaus, and it refills your glycogen levels, which gives your muscles energy.

6. Don’t Beat Yourself Up
No one is perfect, so if you fall off the fitness wagon for a day or two, pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and jump right back on the wagon. The most important thing is not to ditch your fitness program and quit. You can, and will, succeed.

                                                      If you have any questions regarding fitness, health, nutrition, or self-defense, write me below.

January is National Stalking Awareness Month

By Jillian Bullock

 

As someone who is an advocate of girls and women’s rights, safety and health, through my program Fighting Spirit Warriors, I teach females fitness for self-defense, safety tips and preventive measures, how to spot a predator, and the red flag warning signs of an abuser. As I learned more about the dangers of stalking I thought this month, January, was a perfect time to give my readers some information and tips since it is National Stalking Awareness Month.

Hopefully you’ve never had to deal with this horrible situation, but since stalking affects roughly 6.6 million adults in the United States each year, more than likely the majority of people reading this article have been touched by this dangerous crime.

Stalkers have been known to threaten, physically attack, sexually assault, and even kill their victims. Unfortunately, there is no single psychological or behavioral profile that can predict what stalkers will do. Stalkers’ behaviors can escalate very quickly or take up to two years before a violent act occurs. Stalking usually takes the form of sending emails or repeated phone calls to more personal ways like delivering things to the victim’s doorstep or showing up at their job or where they frequent during social events, like the gym.

Females Are Targeted More Often

Although men can also be victims of stalking (66% of female victims and 41% of male victims are stalked by a current or former intimate partner), it is usually a crime that affects women most.

Facts:
• 76% of females victims have been stalked by their intimate partner.
• 67% had been physically abused by their intimate partner.
• 89% of female victims who had been physically assaulted had also been stalked in the 12 months before their murder.
• 79% of abused female victims reported being stalked during the same period that they were abused.
• 54% of females victims reported stalking to police before they were killed by their stalkers.
[Source: Judith McFarlane et al., “Stalking and Intimate Partner Femicide,” Homicide Studies 3, no. 4 (1999).]

How to Spot a Stalker

Unfortunately you can’t. A stalker isn’t necessary mentally ill or has a certain “look.” There is no psychological or behavioral profile of who is a stalker or how violent he or she will become. Stalking can start off slowly with something as “innocent” as daily phone calls and quickly escalate to violence, then murder, especially when a stalker’s attention is ignored or rejected.

How Stalking Affects People

More Facts:
• 46% of stalking victims fear not knowing what will happen next.
• 29% of stalking victims fear the stalking will never stop.
• 1 in 8 employed stalking victims lose time from work as a result of their victimization and more than half lose 5 days of work or more.
• 1 in 7 stalking victims move as a result of their victimization.
• The prevalence of anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe depression is much higher among stalking victims than the general population, especially if the stalking involves be¬ing followed or having one’s property destroyed.
[Source:Eric Blauuw et al., “The Toll of Stalking,” Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17, no. 1 (2002):50-63.]

How to Protect Yourself

Do not think you can wish stalking away. You can’t. Once a stalker has it in his mind to do you bodily harm, it will happen. A stalker can be a former lover or spouse, but he can also be a co-worker, a member of your gym, a  friend, a member of your church, someone you met at the supermarket, etc. Here are some tips to help reduce your chances of becoming a victim:

Tip 1 – TMI – Don’t put all your personal business on social networking sites.

This especially includes your birth year, where you work, when you will be on vacation, what big ticket items you just bought, etc. You may think this is fun and cute, but it opens you up to a potential stalker watching your every move and getting personal information that could help you become a victim.

Tip 2 – Become more aware of the behaviors and actions you do that can heighten your chances of becoming a victim. For example, being too friendly with the mailman, who always wants to stop and talk about you, your family, your job, etc., is not good.

Tip 3– Look for the red flag warning signs before you become serious about a new guy/girl.

Take your time and really get to know a person before you invite him/her into your life. Do not allow the new person in your life to have access to all your personal business right off, this includes where you live and where you work. If he turns out to be a stalker, now you have nowhere to hide.
If you already work with someone who you might want to date, the same thing applies. Take your time, get to know their personality, how they handle conflict, what happened in their past relationships, check them out on line and see if they have a past – any court proceedings, domestic violence or family disputes, or terminated from employment. Does the person move around from city to city a great deal? Keep your eyes open and beware.

Tip 4 – If he or she comes on too strong, watch out

Don’t believe there won’t be a problem down the line if a guy or gal “falls in love” after a few dates. It takes time for a relationship to develop to really get to know someone. That obsessive behavior will come back to bite you in the ass later. This also goes for a new friend who buys you gifts early in the relationship, who wants to spend all their time with you, or who calls you 10 times a day just to say “Hi.” Don’t think it’s cute or romantic. In most cases, it’s a red flag.

Tip 5 -Women, you must possess a “Don’t mess with me attitude”

A women who comes across as strong and confident with high self-esteem will be less of a target. Most stalkers, just like sexual predators, don’t want to bother with a woman who has an assertive attitude and disposition, which is necessary to get a stalker to understand that he is messing with the wrong person. A stalker, or any violent attacker, will want an easy mark.; a woman who seems to have low self-esteem, who is uncertain, a bit shy, or a pushover.

Tip 6 -Educate yourself on the stalking laws in your city

You want to know what your options are if you are a stalking victim and where you can get information and help to protect yourself. If you are a victim of stalking call the police and make a report. Also, engage the support and help of trained professionals, e.g. anti-stalking advocates, who can be found through local domestic violence and rape crisis programs and local prosecutors’ offices. Your church and community leaders may also be able to help give you options to keep you safe. Let your family and close friends know what is going on and check in with them often throughout the day.

Tip 7 – Learn the skills necessary to protect yourself

I believe every girl and woman should learn self-defense to give them an edge to defend themselves against rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking.

Although nothing is fool-proof and there are exceptions to any and all the tips listed here, it is still better to have some insight into how to protect yourself, which might actually help save your life one day.

If your organization, group, agency, college, business or event is interested in learning more about Fighting Spirit Warriors, go to http://www.jillianbullockenterprises.com.

Functional Fitness

By Jillian Bullock

There’s no reason to gain weight during the holidays. I will be writing various articles throughout the holiday season on fitness and nutrtion to help you maintain or maybe even lose weight before the new year.

FITNESS

Functional training is a great way to exercise because the moves help individuals perform the activities of daily life more easily and without injuries. By applying functional exercises it will allow people to do everyday tasks, e.g. shoveling snow, running up a flight of steps, putting luggage in the overhead compartment of an airplane, lifting furniture, etc.  These exercises help people lose weight, build endurance and strength, improve cardio conditioning, balance, core stabilization, and flexibility.

Warm-up with any cardio, e.g. jogging, jump rope, jumping jacks, etc. Do at least 10 minutes before beginning your exercise program. Don’t ever work out without getting your body warm so you don’t risk getting injured.

Jumping Rope, great exercise to warm up

SQUATS

With any functional training exercise squats are a must. Using a barbell or dumbbells this exercise works the glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, back, and core. Through proper lifting you will learn how to use your legs, not your back. This is important when you are lifting any object, small or large, from the ground.

While holding a barbell behind your neck, or dumbbells by the side of your body, your feet should be slightly wider than your shoulders. Sit down, like you’re sitting in a chair, butt back, chest up. Squat down as low as you can. Return to starting position.  Do 10-15 reps for three sets.

SQUATS WITH CURLS

By adding in bicep curls with squats you put more of a challenge on your body and work more than one body part at the same time.  Start the movement the same way you would a regular squat, while you hold a dumbbell in each hand or a barbell in front of you. As you begin to sit down in a squat position curl the weight up, palms facing your body. Once you stand up, the dumbbells or barbell come down in front of your body. Repeat for 10 to 12 repetitions, 3 sets.

CLEAN AND PRESS

This is a wonderful exercise that hits the entire body – shoulders, legs, back, and chest. While the barbell or dumbbells are on the floor in front of your body squat down and pick up weights. Make sure your feet are slightly wider than your shoulders. Standing up flip the barbell or weights up where your palms face outward. When the weights are in front of your chest press weight overhead, arms straight. Slowly lower weight by flipping hands down, palms facing toward your body. Squat to return weight to floor. 10-15 reps for three sets.

BURPEE

This  high-intensity exercise uses only your body weight. While in a standing position, feet shoulder-width apart, drop down into a squat position while you put your hands out in front, on the floor. Kick your legs back quickly, where now you will be in a push-up position. Do a push-up, and then quickly jump your feet back in. Leaping up as high as you can in the air, raise your arms above your head. Repeat for 10-15 repetitions, 3 sets.

Take Action – If you don’t know how to perform the exercises properly either enlist the aid of a certified personal trainer or take to the Internet and watch several training videos.

Fighting Spirit Warriors: The Tour Continues

I just wanted to update people on how the Fighting Spirit Warriors: Fit 2 Fight To Have A Safe Life Tour is going. First of all I want to thank all those who are supporting my mission to reach and to teach girls and women why being physically fit is vital to help reduce their chances of becoming a victim of rape, sexual assault and domestic violence. After the holidays the tour will really start picking up. I’m booked for colleges,agencies and women’s organizations throughout the country, so I’m training hard, keeping myself mentally, spiritually and physically in shape to not only teach females day after day, but to also handle the many questions I get from women who are currently in unhealthy relationships or who have been victims of sexual assault. Sometimes, I feel I need to take my butt back to school for a Ph.D. in psychology in order to answer the questions in a truly helpful way. It is a big responsiblity to give advice to others who are truly looking for answers and I want to be of service to others.

The media is starting to contact me about the Fighting Spirit Warriors program and the tour, so that’s good. The more people know about my mission the more organizations, businesses, corporations, colleges, churches, agencies, etc. will book me. My goal is to teach one million girls and women in one year.

Here are some photos of me. Let me know what you think by posting comments or questions. If you or someone you know wants to book me during the tour, go to my company website for more information – http://www.jillianbullockenterprises.com.

 

 

 

 

 

Are You The Next Victim of a Violent Act Ladies?

By Jillian Bullock

 

 

 

One day I ventured into a lobby in downtown Philadelphia for a meeting and I saw  a group of people gathered. I fell in line wanting to see what everyone was looking at across the street. Like everyone else I saw a man grab a woman. They looked like they were arguing, maybe having a lover’s quarrel. People not only gathered in the lobby of the building, but outside in front of the building, too. Everybody stared, but nobody did anything. I immediately asked, “Did anybody call the cops?” At that point, no one had. But my insistence pushed the security guard to make the 911 call. When I saw the man slap the woman I pushed through the crowd to start my way across the street to help her when she broke free from the man’s grasp and ran off.

I learned on the news later that day that the woman went to the police to report the incident. Surprisingly, she didn’t even know the man; they were complete strangers. He stood on the sidewalk screaming and wailing his arms as people moved across the street to avoid him. He randomly picked that poor woman to assault. Her day, I’m sure, was totally ruined as she probably felt scared, traumatized, fearful, and violated.

In a country where 1.3 females are raped or sexually assaulted every minute, I wasn’t shocked by the violator’s action as much as I was disgusted by the action, or lack of action, by those who just stood there watching, but didn’t lift a finger to help the woman. I wondered how long those people had been watching the drama unfold outside before I came into the lobby.

Then there was the incident of a young woman who was stabbed in a grocerystore after she and her estranged husband had an argument. While she lay on the floor bleeding to death other people in the store acted like nothing strange or unusual happened. One woman took a picture of the dying woman with her cell phone, as another customer stepped over the woman to ask the owner for a bag of potato chips. Needless to say, by the time police arrived on the scene the woman was dead.

How about the young woman who was attacked on the subway platform in Philadelphia in broad daylight? As the attacker dragged the screaming woman pass the ticket agent their eyes met. He called 911, but he did nothing else to help the woman. In a dark corner of the platform, the attacker raped that woman.

When the woman sued the transportation company the judge threw out the case, citing he, the transportation employee, wasn’t required to do anything or to get involved. The judge acknowledged that the worker had at least called the police. It’s difficult enough to be violated by the rapist, but to be violated by the legal system, well that’s another story. Still, I wonder if that judge would have felt the same way or if his decision would have been different had the victim been his wife, or daughter or mother. Unfortunately, our society has become so desensitized to violence that most people just ignore it unless it directly affects them.

FACTS:

The NationalVictimCenter in the United Statesreports, 1.3 females are raped every minute. That results in 78 rapes each hour, 1872 rapes each day, 56,160 rapes each month and 683,280 rapes each year.

Battering is the major cause of injury to women, resulting in more injuries to women than auto accidents, muggings and rapes combined. More than 1 million women seek assistance for injuries caused by battering each year. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

One out of every four college women polled was sexually assaulted during four years at college.

A dating partner has abused one in five high school girls. (Ms. Magazine Study on Sexual Assault and Rape)

According to a Forbes magazine April 2012 issue, the number of incidents of rape and sexual assault is on the rise.

 

Part of the problem and why statistics for rape, sexual assault and domestic violence are so high is due to the lack of concern by people who witness such horrific acts, but do nothing to intervene. Of course laws are in place to assist females after they’ve been attacked, but not much assistance is in place before she becomes a statistic. For example, a woman may file a restraining order against a boyfriend or an estranged husband, but that really does nothing for a female’s safety. It’s actually a sick joke to think that a piece of paper will deter anyone from crossing the line if his intention is to hurt or kill his girlfriend or spouse.

If lawmakers and society won’t do what is necessary to lower the number of rapes, sexual assaults or other violent acts against girls and women, it’s really up to females to help themselves. It all starts with women making better, smarter and more empowering choices in order to ensure their safety and reduce their risk of becoming a victim.

 

What You Can Do To Help Protect Yourself From Being Next

There are several ways to stop an attack before it starts, and although no system is 100% fool-proof, there are ways to cut down or to reduce your chances of becoming a victim of rape,  sexual assault or any violent act.

The number one tip – Situational Awareness. Know what’s going on all around you at all times, so you can see in advance when something doesn’t seem right and you may be in danger.

Additional tips if you are by yourself:

No headphones on while walking or jogging
No talking on your cell phone or texting while you are outside. Seriously.                                                                                                                                                                                                        No wearing ear plugs and listening to music on public transportation                                                                                                                                                                                                                No sleeping on public transportation
No fumbling through your pocketbook for anything – keys, I.D. badge, cell phone
No carrying more than one pocketbook or bag
No going to a new city, without a tourist guide, and looking around like you’re tourist or lost
No walking slow, with your head down                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     No parking your car in a dark parking lot or in an underground parking lot                                                                                                                                                                                                  No stopping to talk to strangers                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  No using the ATM machine at night or at an outside location

 

Picking His Prey 

There is something we used to do in the Army called the “military crawl,” where we’d get down, flat on the ground, and we’d inch our way slowly up to the unsuspecting “enemy.” We were quiet as a mouse. The closer we were able to get to our enemy during training drills, the faster we’d be able to take him out. That’s exactly what a predator does when he’s looking for his next victim – YOU! Don’t make his job easy. Be aware. Be smart. Make sound choices.

 

In October (Domestic Violence Month)  I launched the Fighting Spirit Warriors: Fit 2 Fight To Have A Safe Life. My mission is ‘to reach and to teach” one million females in one year and teach them why being physically fit is vital to help reduce their chances of becoming a victim of rape, sexual assault or domestic violence. I also teach them safety tips and preventive measures, how to spot a predator, and the RED Flag Warning Signs of an abuser.

This program is important to me because as someone who as raped at age 11 I know firsthand the emotional impact such an incident can have on girls and women.

I would like to thank those people who are supporting this mission by booking me at their businesses, colleges, corporations, churches, events, non-profits, etc. Also, a big thanks to those people who are purchasing Fighting Spirit Warriors: I HIT BACK T-shirts. I am starting to get a great deal of interest from the media, as well, who want to feature me in order to discuss the Fighting Spirit Warriors program and my mission. This is a big help to get the message out.

Check out some of the training photos with me and my training partner, Richard. It takes a lot of work to prepare for such a tour and training so many females. But it’s worthwhile knowing girls and women throughout the country will know how to avoid being a victim or how to protect themselves if they are violently attacked.

Learn more about the Tour by going to – http://www.jillianbullockenterprises.com.

 

 

 

 

I HIT BACK T-shirt

 

 

How Domestic Violence Affects Families

domestic violence

It’s a known fact that domestic violence can happen in any relationship, regardless of ethnic group, income level, religion, education, gender or sexual orientation. It doesn’t matter if people are married, dating or living together abuse can happen to anyone.

The number of physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions toward females are epidemic. This type of behavior includes intimidation, manipulation, humiliation, isolation, frightening, terrorizing, coercing, threatening, injuring, or wounding someone, that someone is usually a female, and the perpetrator is usually a male. In fact, The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 95 percent of the assaults on partners or spouses are committed by men against women.

What Causes Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence may start when one partner feels the need to control and dominate the other. Abusers may feel this need to control their partner because of low self-esteem, extreme jealousy, difficulties in regulating anger and other strong emotions, or when they feel inferior to the other partner in education and socioeconomic background. Some men with very traditional beliefs may think they have the right to control women, and that women aren’t equal to men.

This domination then takes the form of emotional, physical, financial or sexual abuse. Studies suggest that violent behavior often is caused by an interaction of situational and individual factors. A male as young as five may learn how to be an abuser simply by observing his family, people in his community, and other influences, such as music videos and video games, or he may have been a victim or sexual assault. Unfortunately, when girls grow up witnessing violence in the home, they are more likely to accept this as normal. When they get older there is a strong possibility they will end up with boyfriends or husbands or mates who are abusers.

Alcohol and other chemical substances may contribute to violent behavior. A drunk or high person will be less likely to control his or her violent impulses, but being under the influence isn’t the cause of abuse, although most men use this as an excuse.

How Domestic Violence Affects Families               

and Communities

 

FACTS:

 

Every year in the U.S. there are over 3 million incidents of domestic violence. That means that every 9 seconds someone is being beaten by their domestic partner!

Each year about 324,000 pregnant women in the U.S. are battered by the men in their lives.

Forty percent of girls age 14 to 17 report knowing someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend.

Children who are exposed to domestic violence are more likely to exhibit behavioral and physical health problems including depression, anxiety, and violence towards peers. They are also more likely to attempt suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol, run away from home, engage in teenage prostitution, and commit sexual assault crimes.

Abusive relationships have a powerful psychological impact on the victims and can begin to take it toll on you physically as well as mentally and emotionally.

Every year in the U.S. there are over 3 million incidents of domestic violence. That

means that every 9 seconds someone is being beaten by their domestic partner

A University of Pennsylvania study found that domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women, more common than automobile accidents, muggings and rapes combined.                                                                                    

Domestic Violence is a major cause of family homelessness. A large percentage of all women and children living on the streets became homeless because of domestic violence.

It is estimated that 40-60% of men who abuse women also abuse children.

Battering occurs among people of all races, ages, socio-economic classes, religious affiliations, occupations, and educational backgrounds.

  (Sources: Bureau of Justice Statistics; National Domestic Violence Hotline; Gazmarian, J. A., Petersen, R., Spitz, A. M., Goodwin, M. M., Saltzman, L. E., & Marks, J. S. (2000) Violence and Reproductive Health; A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in American Cities; American Psychological Association, Violence and the Family: Report of the American Psychological Association Presidential Task Force on Violence and the Family; Uniform Crime Reports, Federal Bureau of Investigation)