Inspiration

WITH a glittering career as a singer/songwriter, a seat on the board of the Performing Rights Society, and involvement in some major charities and other projects, it would seem that Lynsey de Paul has a pretty packed schedule already.

However, this star of stage and screen has just launched a brand new business venture that will help to empower women of all ages.

Lynsey has just launched a self-defence DVD called Taking Control, and is hoping that it will be used in schools, colleges and universities across the UK, to teach young women how to protect themselves.

Lynsey has already received high acclaim for her DVD from the Police Association, and made the DVD following the huge success of her award-winning BBC 1 documentary Eve Strikes Back.

She said: "The first point I want to make is that men are not the enemy, and that most men want to protect the women in their lives. I had heard about so many attacks on women who seemed unable to defend themselves and kept thinking that someone really should do something about this, so I did.

"In the last year violent crime has risen by 12 per cent and sexual crime by seven per cent. Seventeen per cent of all attacks are connected with domestic violence, and 34 per cent are carried out by people we know."

Lynsey has drawn on her experiences as a child and young adult to make a DVD that empowers women and gives them the confidence to defend themselves.

"I had a difficult childhood and a violent father so I have always known what it is like to be frightened and feel vulnerable. I developed nervous twitches and was punished for it.

Men teach women self defence differently. When Eve Strikes Back was given the award I went up to receive it and a clip was shown of me doing some self defence for women. I also got to meet Dr Pauline Bart from The Home Office to dicuss the issue of assault and violent crime."

Lynsey's DVD demonstrates the most effective ways to protect yourself and get away from an attacker.

She added: "If you can fight back in a violent situation you double your chances of escape. You have to be aware of your best option. Women don't tend to play a lot of contact sports, but they need to know how to focus on their defence.

"For example, if a man has grabbed you, he has tied up two of his major weapons-his hands. Women are not natural fighters and tend to panic and waster their energy. My DVD shows the best best moves to make and the best way to use all your energy in a difficult and frightening situation. We take a very different approach to men."

Lynsey trained for a year before making the DVD and learned martial arts techniques.

She added: "We basically took what women can do naturally, and we adapted it to make effective and simple ways to defend yourself. I really want this DVD to become part of the national curriculcum in schools, colleges and universities. It is made in very succint chapters chapters that you can dip in and out of. "

For further details about the DVD Taking Control, please vsit Lynsey's website and follow the links.

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