Yes You Can! Surviving a Personal Attack

The cover of this video features the presenter--Debbie Gardner, former police officer and FBI trainer--in the clutches of an attacker with a gleaming knife at her throat. Such titillation didn't bode well for the contents, which turned out to consist of a videotaped seminar on self-defense for an auditorium of employees. To her credit, Gardner isn't just a talking head. She buzzes and shrieks across the stage, enacting her theory of self-defense. Her unconventional method rejects ornate karate moves and promotes the simplicity of self-esteem as self-defense. Along with this approach comes tips like: don't be afraid to lie, swear, or growl at an attacker; and don't forget to breathe. In demonstrating these techniques, Gardner gives the Tasmanian Devil a run for his money--her presentation is sometimes indulgent and cartoonish as she tries to put her audience at ease over a tense subject. While Gardner's philosophy is useful, it could be summed up in a short magazine article, as opposed to a feature length video. An optional purchase. (A. Laker).