Find Your Strength: The Essential Self-Defense Handbook For Every College Woman

FIND YOUR STRENGTH: The Essential Self-Defense Guide for Every College Woman is more than a book focusing on physical techniques to thwart an attacker. While written in a style with teenage girls and young college-bound women in mind, the knowledge Jodi Harrison-Lee shares is valuable to women of all ages—and even boys and men. Parents, with daughters about to leave the nest, will find this book helpful in discussing precautions about life in the real world. The book is easily accessible, conveyed in a conversational style, accented with drawings, stories, tips, and observations.

Drawing on her 25 years of martial arts training and teaching, and alarmed by the startling statistics of sexual assaults of women during their college years, Master Lee was moved to help women stay safe. To empower as many people as possible, she compiled her knowledge into writing FIND YOUR STRENGTH and supports readers with online demonstration videos, bonuses, a Facebook community, and a blog. The book delves into topics beyond physical techniques of self-defense. She examines the roles a woman’s MIND and SPIRIT play, in order to stay safe and be strong, so that basic self-defense techniques, governed by the role of BODY, are used only if necessary.

In the MIND section, knowledge is sharpened as Master Lee discusses topics that include:
• Walking on campus at night
• Everyday objects that could be used as a weapon
• What a young woman may encounter at parties and other social situations
• Alcohol and its dominant role in sexual assault cases
• Date-rape drugs and being aware of one’s drink
• Natural-born ‘weapons’ a woman has at all times
• An attacker’s weak spots

In the BODY section, the focus is on a woman’s physical abilities:
• How a woman can use her natural weapons and the best targets on an attacker
• Tips that display confidence and may discourage an incident
• How to use your voice and the importance of communication
• Photos show techniques and a link is provided to online demonstrations

In the SPIRIT section, Master Lee leads you on a journey of self-reflection covering such topics as:
• Learning to respect and love oneself
• Teachings in the era of #MeToo
• Personal integrity and hearing one’s inner voice
• Seeking friends and mates and never settling for less

FIND YOUR STRENGTH should be required reading for teen girls and young women as they prepare to leave home for new academic and life adventures. Parents, in using the book as a discussion starter, can feel less anxious when their daughter leaves home and ventures out into the world. High schools as well as colleges and universities can make it highly recommended reading for students, likewise sororities and their members. Volume discounts available.

Jodi Harrison-Lee is a long time martial artist, having trained in both taekwondo and hapkido for over 20 years. As a master instructor, author, speaker, and empowerment coach, her passion is to help people feel and be safe, strong, and able to defend themselves. Through her book and seminars, she teaches her unique philosophy, including seven keys that unlock the secret to finding your strength.

Growing up in southern California, Ms. Harrison-Lee was, first and foremost, an athlete. As a pre-teen, sports gave her strength and a feeling of invincibility. But in her middle school, she didn’t fit into the expectation of a typical schoolgirl. Her self-esteem dropped which led, in high school, to unwise and dangerous choices. Fortunately, participation in sports kept her grounded. Years later, she wondered why sports alone hadn’t kept her from making such poor decisions.

In 1986, Ms. Harrison-Lee entered the University of Southern California and received a Bachelor degree in psychology and communication. From San Francisco State, she earned teaching credentials in both regular and special education. Relocating to CalState LA, she later earned a Master’s degree in Education. At this time, she realized an imbalance in her life; something was missing. During her college years, her academic career dominated her life. She was still an athlete, but without a sport.

During her elementary school teaching years, she searched and ultimately found her perfect physical activity to practice for her entire adult life: Martial Arts. After many years of training that led to several degrees of black belt, she became a gold medalist in both forms and sparring at the 2009 US Open Taekwondo Championship. She later attained the title of Master by earning her 5th degree black in taekwondo and 4th degree in hapkido, Korean self-defense techniques.

Over the past 20+ years, she and her husband, Grandmaster Jung Y. Lee, teach martial arts at their studio, The Martial Way, in La Crescenta, California. Simultaneous to their business, they are raising three children, all of whom are now black belts of varying degrees.

Through dedication to martial arts training, paired with numerous key life experiences, Master Lee finally understands what truly gives someone strength. Now, it is her mission to share her secret, to help other people find their strength too.