MONROE - Someone who fights back can be a hard target.
That was the message Greg Bowles, Monroe Martial Arts instructor, wanted the students of his self-defense class to learn.
Bowles said women should know how to fight back if someone grabs or attacks them.
"If you get into a life-or-death situation, you want to know how to defend yourself," he said.
Bowles was one of several instructors Saturday at Turner Hall who showed women of all ages what to do if they're in danger.
"We have lots of tools we can use depending on the situation," Bowles said. "It's like, when you go to the tool box and you select which tool will work the best."
Grabbing an attacker's fingers, punching him or her in the throat, hitting the attacker in the elbow or kicking the person were just a few of the different methods Bowles demonstrated.
Bowles had the women practice the moves a few times so they would be comfortable and the moves would be easier to perform. Knowing what to do and doing it are equally important, he said to them.
Wanda Bowles, who helped organize the class, said people of all ages can learn the defensive moves.
"They're easy things people can do to get out of a dangerous situation," she said.
Sabrina Lisser, Monroe, who took the class, said she felt a little safer after attending the class.
"I could defend myself if I had to," she said.
While it's important to know what to do in case of an attack, knowing how to avoid dangerous situations is also important.
"Walk with a buddy, let people know where you're going, be aware of your environment," Greg Bowles said. "We want to make our communities safer."
The class was held in conjunction with National Domestic Violence Awareness month.
The self-defense techniques taught by Greg Bowles and the other instructors Saturday can help victims of domestic violence as well as random violence.
A second self-defense class will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 30, at Turner Hall. There will be a review of some of the things taught at Saturday's class, along with weapons and multiple attacker demonstrations.
Chandra Pelikan, Green Haven Family Advocates director, will also talk about the warning signs of domestic violence.
Cost for the class is $20.
More information is available by calling Wanda Bowles at (608) 325-5200.
That was the message Greg Bowles, Monroe Martial Arts instructor, wanted the students of his self-defense class to learn.
Bowles said women should know how to fight back if someone grabs or attacks them.
"If you get into a life-or-death situation, you want to know how to defend yourself," he said.
Bowles was one of several instructors Saturday at Turner Hall who showed women of all ages what to do if they're in danger.
"We have lots of tools we can use depending on the situation," Bowles said. "It's like, when you go to the tool box and you select which tool will work the best."
Grabbing an attacker's fingers, punching him or her in the throat, hitting the attacker in the elbow or kicking the person were just a few of the different methods Bowles demonstrated.
Bowles had the women practice the moves a few times so they would be comfortable and the moves would be easier to perform. Knowing what to do and doing it are equally important, he said to them.
Wanda Bowles, who helped organize the class, said people of all ages can learn the defensive moves.
"They're easy things people can do to get out of a dangerous situation," she said.
Sabrina Lisser, Monroe, who took the class, said she felt a little safer after attending the class.
"I could defend myself if I had to," she said.
While it's important to know what to do in case of an attack, knowing how to avoid dangerous situations is also important.
"Walk with a buddy, let people know where you're going, be aware of your environment," Greg Bowles said. "We want to make our communities safer."
The class was held in conjunction with National Domestic Violence Awareness month.
The self-defense techniques taught by Greg Bowles and the other instructors Saturday can help victims of domestic violence as well as random violence.
A second self-defense class will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 30, at Turner Hall. There will be a review of some of the things taught at Saturday's class, along with weapons and multiple attacker demonstrations.
Chandra Pelikan, Green Haven Family Advocates director, will also talk about the warning signs of domestic violence.
Cost for the class is $20.
More information is available by calling Wanda Bowles at (608) 325-5200.