This weekend, the Center for Violence Prevention and Self Defense (CVPSD) staff will be taking part in an intensive 16-hour instructor training event in Philadelphia. Hosted by Shivworks, the Everyday Carry (EDC) training focuses on the fundamental realities of knife fights, covering both offensive and defensive strategies in high-stress situations.
The two-day program provides real-world context by analyzing actual criminal assaults involving edged weapons. By studying these incidents, participants gain practical skills to avoid, stabilize, and resolve encounters where a blade is involved. Rather than relying on theoretical concepts, this training immerses attendees in scenario-based drills that reflect the unpredictable and chaotic nature of real-life violence.
For CVPSD, this event is more than just professional development—it’s an opportunity to enhance our ability to educate and protect the communities we serve. As an organization committed to violence prevention and self-defense, we constantly seek effective, reality-based training that helps individuals stay safe.
By participating in Shivworks EDC, our team will deepen their understanding of edged weapon threats and bring back valuable knowledge to incorporate into future workshops and training sessions. This investment in continued education ensures that CVPSD remains at the forefront of practical self-defense training for the individuals and communities we support.
Why Does CVPSD Staff Continue To Attend Professional Development Programs
CVPSD Staff attend development training for several key reasons, especially in fields like self-defense, where ongoing education is critical for staying effective, relevant, and adaptable. Here are some of the primary reasons:
1. Staying Current with Best Practices
Violence, criminal tactics, and self-defense strategies evolve over time. Training ensures that professionals stay up to date with the latest research, techniques, and real-world case studies.
2. Enhancing Skills & Knowledge
Even experienced instructors benefit from refining their skills. Training allows them to hone techniques, test new methods, and strengthen their understanding of practical application in high-stress situations.
3. Learning from Experts
Development training often brings in top-tier instructors who specialize in specific areas of self-defense. This exposure to new perspectives and methodologies helps professionals expand their toolbox and refine their teaching approach.
4. Validating & Improving Teaching Methods
Instructors must ensure that what they teach is effective, practical, and applicable in real-life situations. Attending advanced training helps them confirm their techniques against real-world scenarios and improve their ability to convey knowledge to students.
5. Adapting to Real-World Threats
Violence is unpredictable. Training that incorporates scenario-based drills, case studies, and stress-testing techniques prepares professionals to respond more effectively to modern threats, such as edged weapons or multiple attackers.
6. Networking & Collaboration
Training events bring together like-minded professionals, allowing for networking, knowledge exchange, and collaboration. This can lead to new ideas, partnerships, and opportunities to improve the industry as a whole.
7. Professional Credibility & Certification
Ongoing education builds credibility in the field. Many training programs provide certifications or credentials that enhance an instructor’s qualifications and demonstrate commitment to professional growth.
8. Reinforcing a Mindset of Growth
Self-defense is not just physical—it’s mental. Attending training reinforces a learning mindset, ensuring that instructors remain adaptable, open to feedback, and continually improving.
9. Improving Student Safety & Effectiveness
Ultimately, the goal is to equip students with the best possible self-defense training. When professionals advance their own skills, they can better prepare their students for real-world encounters, making the training more practical, effective, and life-saving.
For organizations like CVPSD, attending professional development training is an essential part of staying at the forefront of violence prevention and self-defense education.
Stay tuned for updates on what we learn and how we’ll be integrating these new insights into our programs!
More Free Online Violence Prevention and Self Defense Education
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, our mission is to prevent violence by building skills and inspiring individuals to be agents of personal, community & cultural change.
The Center for Violence Prevention and Self Defense (CVPSD) offers a variety of public training programs designed to empower individuals with practical self-defense skills and violence prevention strategies. These classes are open to anyone looking to improve their personal safety, ranging from beginners to those with prior experience. The courses focus on a holistic approach to self-defense, covering essential topics like verbal de-escalation, situational awareness, and setting boundaries, alongside physical defense techniques.