The world of self defence is currently dominated by physical fighting skills and the flippant remark that we should just “teach all girls karate”. Martial arts can be great for your physical and mental health but they won’t help you to out a predator, represent yourself well in a debate or look like a terrible choice of victim to someone watching you.
Enter Armour For Life.
Armour For Life (aka psychological self defence) is a mixture of combat psychology, critical thinking and communication.
MY AIMS ARE:
- To help you find and understand the strengths you already have. Nobody starts from nothing.
- To increase your confidence in attracting attention if and when you need to.
- To practise adapting your body language and nonverbal cues, making you look less appealing to potential muggers or predators.
- To ensure you can combat common misconceptions e.g. "her outfit is why she was attacked" with confidence and factual knowledge.
- To build you a support network in the form of a badass personal army.
- To reassure you that freezing up is a common and natural response that can both be scientifically explained and worked on.
- To ensure you know what your options are if you are truly in danger. Some possibilities may surprise you!
WHO AM I AND WHAT DO I KNOW?
My name is Faith Roswell, and a long time ago I worked as a model.
During my 14-year career, I contributed to the jailing of two very dangerous individuals and the exposure of several more. I started getting interviewed by the national press and was often asked to contribute to discussions about how to keep women safe- especially in the creative industries.
After #metoo, people I knew started getting outed. Some were people I had worked with and trusted. It shocked me that I had unwittingly been so close to people who had preyed on others, been exposed by many sources, sometimes confessed, and one or two actually jailed.
I often heard women ask "why me?"*
I began to wonder "why NOT me?"
How had I been getting away safely? Was I doing something that put potential predators off?
If so, could it be taught...?
I started to study combat psychology, body language, behaviour patterns, critical thinking, and human/criminal behaviour. I asked experts for advice and opinions. I conducted experiments and surveys. I watched people for hours.
I came to a conclusion:
YES.
* because predators believe they can get away with it. This is their fault and decision, NEVER yours.
ARTICLES AND FEATURES
Note: some articles use a previous professional name.
"If the worst happens, never be afraid to speak out. The same goes to any woman who suffers sexual abuse - fight for justice."
"THE PREDATORS
WHO EXPLOIT KINK...
AND THE WOMEN
CALLING THEM OUT"
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"Once a rolling object gains momentum, it is harder to stop it in its tracks: the same goes for predators.
The earlier they see consequences, the harder it is for them to gain celebrity status and respect, and use these as armour. The more we educate ourselves and each other, the harder it is for them to use ignorance and prejudice
as shields."
"As one of Britain’s most successful alternative models, Faith Roswell used her own harrowing experience to help to expose a predator who has shocked the fashion industry."