NOT-ME! PRESS ROOM: NEWS, EVENTS, PRESS, AND TESTIMONIALS

NOT-ME! puts on a demonstration for the Shelton Riverwalk Wheel/Walk for Fitness

2010-11-13T12:03:00.000-08:00

NOT-ME! partners with Adam Wall of A1 Mixed Martial Arts an puts on a self-defense demonstration at the Shelton Riverwalk Wheel/Walk for Fitness to raise money for the Connecticut Chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association.

Aupairs raise money from NOT-ME!

2010-11-13T11:51:00.001-08:00

Aupairs from AuPair in America attend the Beyond Awareness: Physical Assertiveness for the Street workshop to raise money for NOT-ME! programs.

Social Fun Plays Dodgeball to Defeat Violence

2010-11-13T11:37:00.001-08:00

The Social Fun Meetup Group with the help of Project Smile plays dodgeball to raise money to help defeat violence.

NOT-ME! Launches the 7 On 7 Campaign

2010-11-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

The 7 On 7 Campaign provides free packages of 7 Think Talk Talk Action bookmarks that teach 7 themes of personal safety to anyone who asks for them.

The 7 Themes are:

Self-Defense
Street Harassment
Bullying
Dating Violence
Domestic Violence
Community Policing
Defeating Violence

Please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

NOT-ME! 1 Broadway Arlington, MA 02474, or just drop by and get them.

NOT-ME! back in New Mobility Magazine

2010-10-09T16:49:00.000-07:00

The Funnel Effect: A Call to Action

2010-10-09T15:22:00.000-07:00

The Funnel Effect campaign is a public call to channel activities and events from the "Outer City" to the most violent areas of inner city Boston in order to disengage at-risk youth from violence.

The Funnel Effect is not intended to solve all inner city violence. It is a positive step in the right direction.

The Funnel Effect is based on the following factors:

A. The majority of the crime is concentrated to small areas of Boston.

B. Much of the violent crime is perpetuated by youth with minimal alternative activities.

C. The majority of resources for activities, events, and entertainment are outside the inner city in the surrounding "Outer City".

D. Most people and businesses in the "Outer City" have no idea of how to reduce the violence in inner city "hotspots". Therefore, they do nothing.

The "Funnel" channels the excess capacity of activities and resources of the "Outer City" into organizations that serve the most violent areas of inner city.

The "Effect" disengages youth from violence by:

1. Providing at-risk youth with alternate activities.
2. Providing at-risk youth relief from danger.
3. Providing at-risk youth examples of constructive activities and lifestyles.

Disengaging at-risk youth from violence is a method of Intervention to defeat violence. A complete plan of action to defeat violence requires a combination of Prevention, Intervention, and Mitigation as modeled by the 5D’s to Defeat Violence.

Prevention = Decide against and Deter violence
Intervention = Disrupt violence in progress and Disengage from violence
Mitigation = Debrief and heal after violence

NOT-ME! Featured in Abilities Magazine

2010-09-23T14:01:00.000-07:00

Dodgeball Fundraiser

2010-08-22T13:00:00.000-07:00

Several meetup groups get together and raise money for NOT-ME! during a fun Friday evening fundraiser.

Massachusetts Police Departments

2010-08-22T10:08:00.000-07:00

NOT-ME! sends samples of the 5D's of Self-Defense, Community Policing, Bullying, and Defeat Violence bookmarks to all three hundred police departments in Massachusetts.

Boston Greenfest

2010-08-21T13:57:00.000-07:00

NOT-ME! gives away outreach materials and literature at Boston's Greenfest.

East Tennessee University

2010-08-18T09:30:00.001-07:00

NOT-ME! produces 5,000 bookmarks on the 5D's of Self-Defense for East Tennessee University Police Department. The bookmarks will be used to promote the police departments self-defense classes.

University of Alabama at Fortsmith

2010-08-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

NOT-ME! produces 5,000 bookmarks on Defeating Violence for the Police Department at the University of Alabama at Fortsmith. The bookmarks will be used to promote Community Policing.

NOT-ME! offers two classes at Arlington Community Education

2010-08-18T09:17:00.000-07:00

NOT-ME! has been asked to offer two classes for Arlington Community Education.

The class descriptions are:

Physical Assertiveness for Women

Physical assertiveness is the foundation of self-defense. This
workshop will show you how to exhibit physical assertiveness,
a combination of body language and verbal assertiveness,
through both discussion and active role playing. Class
meets at Together in Motion, 1 Broadway, Arlington.
CODE: PHA 1 Wednesday, 10/13 @ 7:30-9:30pm $25

Break-away Techniques for Women

Learn the basic concepts of breaking away from aggressive
behavior. This workshop is an opportunity to practice “grab
escape” techniques and tactics. Wear comfortable clothes.
Class meets at Together in Motion, 1 Broadway, Arlington.
CODE: 2PHA 1 Wednesday, 11/17 @ 7:30-9:30pm $25

To register please goto:
http://www.arlingtoncommunityed.org/registration/index.php

Monroe County Sheriff's Office

2010-08-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

NOT-ME! produces and delivers 5,000 customized bookmarks designed to promote Community Policing to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

Project Place

2010-08-17T07:41:00.001-07:00

NOT-ME! teamed up with Project Place in Boston to offer a discussion group on the
5D's of Self-Defense to women clients at the Boston YMCA.

Carroll Center for the Blind

2010-08-17T07:38:00.000-07:00

At the request of the Carroll Center for the Blind, NOT-ME! ran as series of self-defense classes for their visually impaired clients. The classes introduced the concepts of the 5D's of Self-Defense and physical assertiveness.

Just Yell Fire

2010-08-16T07:46:00.000-07:00

NOT-ME! produces and delivers 5,000 customized bookmarks to the non-profit Just Yell Fire. The bookmarks combine the 5D's of Self-Defense and techniques from the movie "Just Yell Fire".

NOT-ME! workshop for Arlington Youth

2010-02-04T06:39:00.000-08:00

NOT-ME! provided a free workshop on the 5D's of Self-Defense and Physcial Assertiveness to the Young Adult Vocational Program in Arlington.

The Young Adult Vocatonal Program is a division of Eliot Community Human Services, Inc.

Fundraiser for Haiti earthquake survivors

2010-01-24T09:31:00.000-08:00

NOT-ME! interns joined with Together in Motion to hold a tween dance party fundraiser for survivors of the Haiti earthquake.

Due to the efforts of our interns Zarith , Catherine, and their friends over $500 will be donated to the Red Cross Relief fund.

Cell Phones for Safety

2010-01-20T09:35:00.000-08:00

"CARRY A MOBILE PHONE"

Carrying a mobile phone is widely advised by the police and self-defense advocates as an important personal safety precaution.

Unfortunately, there are many a-risk people living on a fixed income. Some can't afford even a basic phone.

NOT-ME! is making a difference.

1. We are providing free working mobile phones to women in domestic violence shelters.

2. We are also providing free pre-paid minutes to make the phones operational.

We are currently holding a Cell Phones for Safety drive. We are collecting for both functioning and non-functioning mobile phones. Phones that are not given to our clients will be recycled to provide funds to purchase air time minutes.

We are looking for people to help us collect phones. If you are interested in collecting phones from your friends, family, and people you would like to meet, please send an email to:

info@not-me.org.

NOT-ME! teaches wounded soldiers in Houston

2010-01-19T10:55:00.000-08:00

NOT-ME! recently participated in the Metal & Muscle Expo in Houston for injured soldiers and other people with disabilities.

NOT-ME! provided an introduction in basic martial arts and self-defense techniques to interested partipants.

NOT-ME! goes to Lesley University for Safety Week

2009-11-20T07:54:00.000-08:00

NOT-ME! provides a free workshop on the 5D's of Self-Defense for Leslie University students as a part of Safety Week.

Police, Campus Security, and Self-Defense Instructors Use Our Bookmarks

2009-10-09T09:33:00.001-07:00

NOT-ME! has fulfilled requests for thousands of the 5D's of Self-Defense bookmarks from police officers, campus security, and self-defense instructors across the country.

The bookmarks are used in conjunction with their self-defense classes to help the students make sense of self-defense.

NOT-ME! sends the 5D's of Self-Defense bookmarks Alpha Chi Omega

2009-10-09T09:20:00.000-07:00

In cooperation with the National Head Quarters of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, NOT-ME! has provided a personal safety bookmark to each woman member.

That means 13,300 bookmarks were sent to college women all across the country.

Alpha Chi Omega is a national sorority with a mission to provide awareness regarding domestic violence.

The Fifth D Emergency Grant

2009-09-25T18:49:00.001-07:00

NOT-ME! has provided an emergency grant of $1,800 to help a survivor of domestic abuse. Ms. B, a single mother of three young children who has a disability received the grant from NOT-ME! to stop foreclosure on her home.

Teen Classes at the Boston Ballet

2009-08-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

"Thank you so much for your amazing work during our Taking Healthy Steps Program. We had a lot of positive feedback from parents regarding the content."
- Brynn Wartman, Outreach Coordinator for the Boston Ballet

NOT-ME! goes to the Boston Ballet to teach classes on Physical Assertiveness and the 5D's of Self-Defense.

NOT-ME! Teen Dance Party Fundraiser

2009-06-28T12:33:00.000-07:00

Local teens dance and socialize to benefit NOT-ME!

Our first teen dance party fundraisier was a success with over 60 teenagers getting together to support NOT-ME!

A special thanks to Helenas for providing prizes to the winners of the Test Your Knowledge of Self-Defense Quiz and Together in Motion for providing the venue.

Workshop for the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission

2009-06-22T16:00:00.000-07:00

NOT-ME! teaches a workshop on the 5D's of Self-Defense and Physical Assertiveness for the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission 2009 Conferance at Northeastern University.

"Erik Kondo is a phenomenal trainer. He gave a workshop at our Annual Consumer Conference and I have heard a great deal of positive feedback from workshop participants."

- Lisa Weber of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission.

Profile in Real Fighter Magazine

2009-06-10T18:07:00.000-07:00

Erik Kondo is profiled in the May 30, 2009 issue of Real Fighter magazine.

Bentley College Students Assist NOT-ME! with Marketing

2009-01-05T13:11:00.000-08:00

A special thank you to Bentley College students for helping NOT-ME! by creating a special marketing plan to help NOT-ME! with our marketing plan for 2009.

CRIAG NEILSON FOUNDATION PROVIDES A GRANT TO NOT-ME!

2008-12-19T17:10:00.000-08:00

The Craig Neilson Foundation (www.CHNfoundation.org)has awarded NOT-ME! a grant to produce a display book that provides self-defense instruction and profiles martial artists will Spinal Cord Injury.

This book will be distributed to rehabilitation hospitals across the United States and Canada. An e-book version will be available to individuals with SCI for free download.

For more information, or to order a book, please send an email to: info@not-me.org.

New Mobility Magazine - September 2008

2008-10-26T06:27:00.000-07:00

New Mobility magazine writes about Erik Kondo and his 5D philosophy of self-defense.

NOT-ME! Collaborates with Just Yell Fire

2008-10-20T08:10:00.000-07:00

NOT-ME! is currently collaborating with the self-defense non-profit Just Yell Fire (http://www.justyellfire.com/). Just Yell Fire will be incorporating the 5 D's of self-defense into the the Just Yell Fire Train the Trainer program.

NOT-ME! Inc. receives Support from Not-Me! LLC

2008-09-22T08:15:00.000-07:00

The Arlington based non-profit NOT-ME! Inc. is collaborating with the for profit Minneapolis based Not-Me! Llc in order to help provide valuable self-defense education and information to women.

Not-Me! Llc has generously agreed to donate 10% of revenues from the sales of the Not-Me! book written by Al Horner and generated through the link below, to NOT-ME! Inc.

Al Horner's book shares the "NOT-ME! philiosophy" and is packed with up to date self-defense information, stories, and scenarios. It is a must read for any woman interested in learning more about staying safe.

http://www.notmebook.com/?a_aid=ekondo

AuPairs Make Sense of Self-Defense

2008-07-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

In November, a group of over twenty local au pairs came to the NOT-ME! Making Sense of Self-Defense class.

This class involved the use of masks and dodgeballs for role playing scenarios.

NOT-ME! Goes to Walter Reed Hospital

2008-05-01T08:06:00.000-07:00

On May 1st, NOT-ME!® travels to Walter Reed Hospital in Maryland to give a workshop and presentation on self-defense to soldiers injured the wars in Iraq and Afganastan.

Channel 5 News Story

2008-01-26T19:01:00.000-08:00

Paraplegics not an easy target for attack
January 18th, 2008 @ 9:10pm
Ed Yeates reporting

Think a paraplegic is an easy target for an attack? Think again! People confined to wheelchairs watched an eye-opening demonstration tonight in South Jordan.

Erik Kondo is a paraplegic. Despite his disability, he has an ability which is very much a threat to a would-be attacker, even in the throws of a full attack.

At the nonprofit Neuroworx rehab center, Erik showed those in wheelchairs they're not as vulnerable as they appear. Even without the use of lower limbs, they can unnerve an attacker with surprising strength.

"We're not talking about fighting situations where people get in an equal fight or a bar fight. We're talking about a predator who is looking specifically at someone because of their limited physical ability," he said.

The attacker, Bob Taylor, is part of his team out of Boston. Grabbing wrists or hands, grabbing the legs, bringing them down. Biting. Full strength strangle holds. Even a stick, or hard hits from that stick.

But not everything is physical. Psychology plays an even greater role.

"Because you are at a physical disadvantage, you have to make up for that by much greater awareness, much greater use of intuition, much greater use of verbal boundary settings, much greater use of strategy than someone who is able-bodied," Erik said.

Try verbally diffusing the situation first, even when it's "in your face."

"I made a mistake. That was totally my fault."

"Don't apologize. My mistake, my mistake. Back off, back off."

Though these folks may never need to use these techniques, at least they're in hand. Erik's message to the attacker? You've picked the wrong person. "Not Me" on the shirt means he will not be a victim.

Though Erik is paralyzed from the waist down, he holds a second-degree black belt in martial arts.

See link to full article
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=2512547

Sports N Spokes Article

2007-11-19T13:57:00.000-08:00

Spoke n' Spokes talks about Erik Kondo and NOT-ME!

For the full article, cut and past this line into your browser.
http://www.pvamagazines.com/sns/magazine/article.php?art=2298

SUMMERY OF ARTICLE
Erik Kondo's mission in life is to teach people with disabilities how to defend themselves. Keeping that in mind, Kondo, of Lexington, Mass., designed the Not-Me! self-defense system.

Before becoming serious about the martial arts, Kondo competed in soccer and lacrosse in high school and college. After a motorcycle accident left him a T4-5 paraplegic in 1984, Kondo didn't skip a beat and changed his sports activities to swimming and weight training. He made a solo ascent up the Mount Washington (New Hampshire) Auto Road in 1986 and climbed up the stairwell of a 50-story building in his wheelchair as part of a fund-raiser. He graduated from Bates College (Lewiston, Maine) with a double major in math and physics and a minor in computer science and has since founded and operated a number of successful retail and real-estate businesses.

Showing how multi-functional he is, Kondo helped deliver his second child, Helena, in the family car when his wife Katherine went into labor on the way to the hospital. To top if off, Erik and Katherine share the challenge of running their businesses while raising three young children.

Budo International Magazine - March 2004

2007-11-15T07:57:00.000-08:00

Budo Magazine writes about Erik Kondo and his black belt test.

2007-10-14T12:48:00.000-07:00

Taking a self-defense class through Not-Me! was a unique and empowering experience. The instructor's training prepares you to become a survivor of a dangerous situation no matter your what your size, experience or physical capabilities may be. It was far more useful and realistic than any particular "self-defense" technique will ever be. - Heather

2007-09-04T18:11:00.001-07:00

I never realized the psychological stamina and confidence necessary to safely assess, confront, and escape a dangerous situation. The instructors empowered me to do all three through videos, drills, and recreating real-life scenarios. I would recommend this class to any woman!

Sarah - school teacher

2007-09-02T08:15:00.000-07:00

I found the classes very enjoyable. The atmosphere was nice and the instructors were well informed

Anna - college student

2007-08-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

Even with 8 years of martial arts and considerable size on my side, I learned a lot of new techniques. Focusing on the mental/emotional aspects of an attack is so much more helpful than simple techniques.

~Anne B.
Age 24 Brown Belt Hantou Jutou

2007-08-29T07:24:00.000-07:00

The Not-Me! self-defense class was my first course/class in self defense. After completing the class, I feel more confident and prepared for any situations I might need to use self defense. I enjoyed the class, instructors, and other students. I look forward to taking a second level course with Not-Me!

- Meg

2007-08-29T07:23:00.000-07:00

You can learn the "survivor" mindset if you have the right instructors. You'll find them here.

- Jane Follansbee

2007-08-29T07:18:00.002-07:00

I had never taken a self-defense class before but after taking the Not-Me! courses I feel much more confident in my ability to not only defend myself against someone larger but to also assess the environment and situations going on around me. It was a great eye opener for me to see that I have the ability to get aggressive when I have to. It taught practical defense skills using real life scenerios, and I would recommend the course to anyone!

-Ashlee

2007-08-29T07:18:00.001-07:00

I'm surprised at how much I learned in just a few classes. I feel much more confident now walking down the stree than I did before this class.

~Julie

2007-08-29T07:16:00.000-07:00

This class taught me to deal with self-defense in a realistic way and as a result made me feel more prepared than any other class I've taken.

- Andrea