Nonviolent Self Defense (NSD) is a system of self-protection and humane control developed in the 1970s by Harvard-trained psychologist Dr. William Paul.
NSD was devised for use by mental health professionals who dealt with potentially violent psychiatric patients on a daily basis. NSD is a system of integrated self-defense and control skills based on whole-body movement and pliancy. The system features evasion, deflection, dodging, disengagement, and restraint. NSD does not allow any offensive movements (kicking, striking, etc.) other than the use of humane restraint. Nonviolent Self Defense is now used by mental health, social service, law enforcement, and education professionals throughout the United States for nonviolent crisis intervention.
Famous quotes containing the words nonviolent and/or defense:
“Never before has a generation of parents faced such awesome competition with the mass media for their children’s attention. While parents tout the virtues of premarital virginity, drug-free living, nonviolent resolution of social conflict, or character over physical appearance, their values are daily challenged by television soaps, rock music lyrics, tabloid headlines, and movie scenes extolling the importance of physical appearance and conformity.”
—Marianne E. Neifert (20th century)
“The sick man is taken away by the institution that takes charge not of the individual, but of his illness, an isolated object transformed or eliminated by technicians devoted to the defense of health the way others are attached to the defense of law and order or tidiness.”
—Michel de Certeau (1925–1986)