https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/blog daily 0.75 2025-05-27 https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/blog/blue-belt-blues-and-beyond monthly 0.5 2023-10-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/819ffd93-089c-4838-bb1d-c89b2bc72b08/white+belt+with+Relson.jpg In Defense of Self - Blue Belt Blues and Beyond - Make it stand out Tori with white belt at her first Relson seminar. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/d2f6868d-bb09-47d8-b7e8-be6e523890e9/CFD42A64-6102-4D6F-8385-8EAB711DC40C.jpg In Defense of Self - Blue Belt Blues and Beyond - Make it stand out Homemade Acai bowl with ALL the toppings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/9d1da5c8-2dd6-43e9-98fa-86c874e51ff5/blue+belt+with+Relson.jpg In Defense of Self - Blue Belt Blues and Beyond - Blue belt. (Photo circa 2011) https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/blog/igniting-the-joy-spark monthly 0.5 2023-10-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/758052cd-4ec1-49e2-8520-2e65bc8cf291/385879617_10159131575251582_4683406097905213121_n.jpg In Defense of Self - Igniting the Joy Spark - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/2c9b0596-438d-4567-9df3-312e4d5d9856/monarch+.jpg In Defense of Self - Igniting the Joy Spark Cross-roads are essential for growth. And I don’t mean growth in the American achievement-oriented/productivity way. I mean the kind of growth where you become more you, where you leave behind a caterpillar version of you and you emerge like a butterfly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/6f2a4db2-05c0-4cca-b130-1ac0c8c29a69/PXL_20230928_230454117.MP.jpg In Defense of Self - Igniting the Joy Spark I had gloves on and I was “sim” fighting a sixteen year old young woman - as part of her blue belt test. You know the click when you light a grill or a camping stove? You know, when you hear the whoosh of the gas and then you click the lighter or the ignitor switch. And then the fire starts? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/0510d982-f374-44e5-ade6-09eb2fb1a66c/PXL_20230616_000256511.MP.jpg In Defense of Self - Igniting the Joy Spark - Spark Spark Burn Fire FIre https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/blog/safety-first monthly 0.5 2021-11-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/c5baf01d-a21c-40cd-8f1c-0e00e8856883/safetyflag.jpg In Defense of Self - Safety First First Chakra, I am Safe https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/blog/pc8s9sqcy3eoy1k2a05ywu5gbezr9i monthly 0.5 2021-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/1633565545485-J8ASRQCH8NELI0V9UT5J/Tori+in+a+kayak.JPG In Defense of Self - What’s a fear of drowning have to do with self-defense? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/1633562953246-460RSHV1ODHCDJ4TEYQU/waves+in+hawaii.jpg In Defense of Self - What’s a fear of drowning have to do with self-defense? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/1633564489808-RQOP3FP1DJGD8JHNHQ7B/Candlelight+Fitness.jpg In Defense of Self - What’s a fear of drowning have to do with self-defense? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/1633562260587-S6NQMQZMNZ2ZMKFKZPE1/kayak+on+rocky+shore.jpg In Defense of Self - What’s a fear of drowning have to do with self-defense? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/1633564780721-2Y3F1X12DW097GPDZ8YC/childhood+beach+trip.jpg In Defense of Self - What’s a fear of drowning have to do with self-defense? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/1633563849436-2LGLBWSUAI6Y8PXYQEJM/rear+neck+hug+defense+with+relson+gracie.jpg In Defense of Self - What’s a fear of drowning have to do with self-defense? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/blog/what-is-the-awareness-connection monthly 0.5 2021-10-04 https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/blog/in-defense-of-self monthly 0.5 2021-10-04 https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/events daily 0.75 2025-10-02 https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/events/event-one-9alrw-eajyn monthly 0.5 2025-10-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/94146525-6443-43c4-a290-3d0f70af8f73/PXL_20230702_230435388.jpg Events - Part 2: Solo but Secure - Women’s Safety & Confidence in the Outdoors - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/ed34c54d-b315-474f-a1d3-d22b45d52143/IMG_20211122_214853_509.jpg Events - Part 2: Solo but Secure - Women’s Safety & Confidence in the Outdoors - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/events/event-one-9alrw monthly 0.5 2025-10-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/ed34c54d-b315-474f-a1d3-d22b45d52143/IMG_20211122_214853_509.jpg Events - Part 1: Solo but Secure - Women’s Safety & Confidence in the Outdoors - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/94146525-6443-43c4-a290-3d0f70af8f73/PXL_20230702_230435388.jpg Events - Part 1: Solo but Secure - Women’s Safety & Confidence in the Outdoors - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/events/womens-self-defense-workshop monthly 0.5 2025-10-02 https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/home daily 1.0 2025-12-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/5f958472-159c-47ce-8e3d-f712c5c042f5/428609082_10159908170823004_3873576011185200822_n.jpg https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/about daily 0.75 2025-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/1633380405237-635RVIYPNQS8UZ6R3NL2/double+ankle+grab+sweep.jpg About She has a strong interest in the practical application of self-defense, and recognizes the positive impact that conquering physical, mental and at times emotional challenges can have on increasing an individual's self-confidence. She has also seen the positive impact training has on kids who come in shy and unsure of themselves, and leave with greater confidence and gumption as well for women, teen girls and those that are female identifying. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/7291c7b3-1117-40ba-a1ac-8279931dea05/PXL_20250422_223318311.MP.jpg About Perhaps you want to be able to go hiking, biking, walking, running, or skip through a field of sunflowers - alone like I wanted to. Just like you see guys doing - all the time. Perhaps you have some weight (physical or emotional) from a past experience that you’d like to set down, move past. You’re ready to be the conductor of your train of life rather than riding in the caboose. Or you might even be walking around in regular clothes, working at the office (or teleworking) but you secretly have this sense that you have an internal badass superhero inside who just needs some skills so you’re ready to defend yourself and others. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/30cc8791-3900-4247-bbcf-3d248a193f4a/PXL_20240314_230240866.MP+%281%29.jpg About - About You You could be anybody. Everyone deserves the opportunity to walk through the world with peace and security, to spend their time and energy on positive action rather than fear of danger around every turn. You might be in charge of a group of young women, and know the stats for assault, and while not wanting to scare them, want them to have the ability to set boundaries, to say no, to speak up. Perhaps you wish you had had those skills during certain times of your life. Or you’ve read something in the news that makes you angry, scares you or brings back a memory. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/3cf0da1d-3c4d-41d7-b868-6977189f01a0/Toney-Waldecker-Back-Attack-Seminar-18_websize.jpg About - About Tori Garten - Head Instructor Tori began training self-defense based on Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2006. She is a certified instructor and Black Belt under Grand Master Relson Gracie. She is currently the highest ranked woman under GM Relson Gracie on the East Coast, and one of only 3 in the USA. Tori leads the Women’s Self-defense and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu program at Hi-Tech Rising Tide in Hanover, MD as well as the Little Sharks program for 5 - 7 year olds. Tori has extensive experience teaching a wide variety of students of all genders. In particular she feels called to support women, girls, teens, the LGBTQ community and underserved populations, as well as those who have been assaulted in some manner in the past. Her goal is to support learning skills that increase an individuals ability to move through the world with safety and confidence. Tori began assisting with kids class while still a white belt, and began teaching women’s classes in 2012 after attaining her blue belt. Additionally she has designed and taught a multitude of self-defense seminars and workshops for the general public as well as for special groups such as Girl Scouts & Brownies, Venture groups, Refugees and underserved populations, as well as part of Take Your Kid to Work day workshops for kids at NIH, and during “Career Day” at elementary and middle schools. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/1633380029956-U8GHTPMG75XZ4RZIBPRN/super+slap.jpg About Tori has coached a variety of women self-defense skills through private lessons. Private lessons allow an individual to move at their own pace and address specific concerns. Some students need more time to be accustomed to body contact and physical touch which can be key to staying present in a self-defense situation. Or a student is simply ready to learn and wants to absorb as much knowledge, information and experience in a focused individualized manner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/1633380514644-UIDDG1MCZKHMN4OBB1LB/tori+shrimping.jpg About Her instructional specialties include: Physical Self-Defense (including against weapon attacks) Mental, Emotional and Verbal aspects of self-defense Working with women with previous assault backgrounds Designing and teaching self-defense seminars for small groups Relson Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gracie Survival Tactics (GST) Level I and Level II certified Working with kids with a variety of personalities, backgrounds and needs Tori also has cleared background checks through the US Army for working with children. She is certified a certified Wilderness First Responder, including CPR, AED and injection devices (epi pens). She has also trained as part of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) of Montgomery County, Maryland. Tori is a graduate of Bowdoin College. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/1633380160547-XRZU57TFSC13D7TEENTT/Kids+11+%281+of+1%29.jpg About Tori feels strongly that everyone, regardless of age, strength or athletic ability should have the opportunity to learn to defend themselves in a safe and welcoming environment while learning self-defense based on the beautiful art of Jiu-Jitsu with the incorporation of mental, emotional and verbal skills. https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/reviews daily 0.75 2021-10-04 https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/contact-us daily 0.75 2025-10-18 https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/take-action daily 0.75 2025-05-27 https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/services daily 0.75 2025-10-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/d5e50c1e-2c40-46e5-b35f-b37bbacdf385/womens+self-defense.jpg https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/store daily 0.75 2025-10-18 https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/store/gift-card monthly 0.5 2025-12-24 https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/store/online-course monthly 0.5 2025-10-02 https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/store/self-defense-workshops monthly 0.5 2025-10-02 https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/store/p/self-defense-private-lessons-packabe monthly 0.5 2025-12-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/41bcf6f0-1a87-4160-a861-16b9a583dc51/wrist-grab-release-300.JPG Store - Self-Defense Private Lesson Package - wrist-grab-release-300.JPG https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/store/p/self-defense-private-lesson monthly 0.5 2025-12-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/2669a7ca-3769-4b8f-96c7-0399bee0cb92/wrist+grab-300.jpg Store - Self-Defense Private Lesson - wrist grab-300.jpg https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/store/p/custom-workshop-hill monthly 0.5 2025-12-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/7d58cd38-0ef0-4876-8a72-bf44687f71c4/PXL_20250622_173804031.MP+%281%29.jpg Store - Trauma-informed Self-Defense Workshop 2-Part Series - PXL_20250622_173804031.MP (1).jpg https://www.theawarenessconnection.org/store/p/womens-self-defense-workshop monthly 0.5 2025-10-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/46b0281f-b7ab-492e-b8d4-8f598cfe5ec0/PXL_20250622_171522501.MP+%281%29.jpg Store - Women's Self-Defense Workshop - PXL_20250622_171522501.MP (1).jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/7cf2a28a-0b15-4183-ac94-146349bb4c41/PXL_20250622_173804031.MP+%281%29.jpg Store - Women's Self-Defense Workshop - PXL_20250622_173804031.MP (1).jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a6f2b937dee514fff6826/fb7cf851-866c-4dda-8a8a-5466b5159421/PXL_20250622_180523507.jpg Store - Women's Self-Defense Workshop - PXL_20250622_180523507.jpg