Business & Tech

Local Business Offers Free Women's Self-Defense Class

First Class Martial Arts in Severna Park is offering the class on Oct. 12 and 20.

If you’re walking to your car at night, and someone grabs you from behind would you know how to react?

First Class Martial Arts in Severna Park is offering a free women’s self-defense class that will teach women how to defend themselves in scary situations—and how to avoid those situations all together.

Instructor James Yoon said the class would focus on what to do if someone tries to attack you, and how to avoid making yourself vulnerable—all for free.

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“I think the No. 1 thing they are going to walk away with is knowledge,” Yoon said. “A lot of people don’t quite know what to do when a situation occurs. I think understanding how your body is going to react to it—like with an adrenaline rush—knowing how to control that is helpful. Because when it happens you only have a split second or two to decide.”

According to Yoon, the class itself will focus on three parts: How to keep yourself from becoming an easy target, what do to if the situation actually occurs, and how to get yourself away quickly.

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Yoon said many people don’t realize there are simple ways to prevent an attack—like asking a coworker to walk with you to your car at night. He also said a bar or restaurant can be the safest place to run if you feel threatened because they are always filled with people and often open late.

“It doesn’t always have to be physically defending yourself,” Yoon said. “It is also having the knowledge to keep yourself safe.”

Yoon added, “There’s a lot of things people don’t know about self-defense. A lot of it applies to anyone. Are you aware of popular areas in your travel routes? Are you aware of where the dangers are? Instead of being paranoid, if you know where the dangers are, you can be more prepared."

The idea for the class came to Yoon when he realized most people see martial arts as something that is for children or men. He said he wanted to make the community aware that martial arts has something to offer to everyone.

The class will focus on ways to stay safe and will also feature a practical application part.

“There are going to be some preferred techniques,” Yoon said. “There are some techniques specifically for woman based on leverage and intelligence over brute strength. You don’t have to be the strongest person in the world to defend yourself.”

The class will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 12 and 10 a.m. to noon on Oct. 20 at First Class Martial Arts. Those interested in attending should register no later than one day prior to the class by calling 410-975-9777 or emailing fcmainfo@gmail.com.

“In the past I have done self-defense seminars for teachers and that has been very popular,” Yoon said. “Ten out of 10 participants find that they walk away with knowledge that they never would have thought applied to women's self defense.” 

First Class Martial Arts is located at 497 Ritchie Highway (behind Donut Shack).


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