Elemental is a sexual assault protection program that offers realistic training for realistic situations. This program:

  • Combines the best of classroom education and self-defense training in a program with peer-reviewed evidence of long-term effectiveness.
  • Offers an organized, cost-effective, and holistic curriculum that is grounded in social science research and is inclusive of a variety of participants, including gender and sexual minorities (GSM).
  • Assists your institution in filling the most recent requirements of the Violence Against Women Act (including the SaVE Act). Elemental combines some of the best elements of primary prevention and risk reduction programming. We offer face-to-face training and ongoing prevention through self-directed student review.
  • Provides program participants with choices in the way they respond to an assault, each based on the four elements of To-Shin Do. Our name comes from this element-based problem-solving paradigm.

What are the four elements?

Earth (Confident)
Hold your ground
Water (Surprised)
Step back momentarily, assess, then react
Fire (Connected)
Anticipate the threat and stop it before it grows
Wind (Withdrawn)
Exploit weaknesses within the threat that enable you to leave entirely

Latest News

New Instructor in Michigan!

Posted on Jun 25th, 2018

Welcome Tama Cathers! She is our newest independent Elemental Instructor. Tama will be offering classes in the Portage, Michigan area through her dojo "Quest Ninja Martial Arts." Her info will be on our instructor page very soon!

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Testimonials

The scenarios... all felt very real for me. As a survivor of intimate partner violence, I thought those situations were much more helpful than many of the stranger-rape cases in past self-defense classes I’ve taken.

2012 Participant

I really liked the earth, water, fire, and wind aspect to the seminar. I think it really helped by giving us four options for each scenario.

2012 Participant

I really liked that it was hands-on and that we had the opportunity to try all the moves you demonstrated. I loved testing the moves on the Creepers, because it gave me an idea of what it would be like in real life versus just seeing someone else do it or reading about the moves. The beds and couches were also a plus for me, because there is no other program that offers such realistic practice experiences. Additionally, you provided both verbal and physical solutions to all the problems which is a realistic approach. No two situations are alike, so it is best to know as many options as possible.

2013 Participant

I really enjoyed your "no pressure" approach and it allowed me to actually try the techniques without feeling uncomfortable.

2013 Participant

My daughter is signed up for an upcoming session. I just wanted to say that I think your program is a valuable service to the students!

Parent of a participant

I would recommend this seminar to others because I think it addresses many different angles of sexual assault and how to deal with them not only physically, but also verbally. Because it is more common for people to be assaulted by people they know, I think this program does a good job of addressing those types of problems and how to deal with them.

2012 Participant

I believe this seminar should be a requirement for every senior in high school! It would be an awesome investment.

Parent of a Participant 2015

I really liked the "uh-oh" moment identifications because a lot of them I would have never thought of and it allows me to look out for them in real life situations.

2013 Participant

First and foremost, I would like to congratulate you & your team on what a fantastic program Elemental is. I have been through several different types of programs, and I have to say that yours is one of the best I’ve attended.

2013 Assistant Residence Hall Director

I have recommended the seminar to other because it helped me a lot with confidence in uncomfortable situations, and made me feel like I could defend myself if necessary.

2013 Participant