In celebration of Women’s Month and in response to the alarming levels of violence against women in SA, including the rising crime rates in Ekurhuleni, the learners and teachers at Birchleigh High School in Kempton Park recently participated in self-defence classes.
Sensei Tony de Beer, the founding member and assistant chief instructor at the International Shorei Martial Arts Academy and the owner of the Eastrand Goju Ryu and Birchleigh Martial Arts Academy, led the classes.
The sessions empowered the participants with the latest self-defence techniques.
ALSO READ: Kempton Park businesswomen celebrate Women’s Month
Specialising in the Okinawan Goju Ryu fighting techniques, De Beer believes self-defence is the key to women unlocking their ability to protect themselves.
“This fighting style involves flexible circular movements where the person learns to use their opponent’s power against them to eliminate them, which makes it ideal for people who are small in frame, and in this case, ideal for the young ladies taking part,” said De Beer.
“From abusive partners to carjackings and house robberies, the skills taught in the self-defence classes will help the teachers and learners navigate traumatic and potentially life-altering events,” he added.
De Beer, who has been a martial arts expert for over 50 years and has even trained police officers in his career, taught a class to 60 participants, helping them protect themselves and reduce the threat of danger in their everyday lives.
ALSO READ: Women in law overcome hurdles to reach success
“When a perpetrator approaches, particularly when they target women, they can either grab your shoulders, neck, arm or even pull your hair to bring you closer.
“The idea is to exert dominance over you, but with a few basic skills and a great deal of practice, young girls and women can gain the confidence to take them on,” said De Beer.
During the hour-long session, the teachers and girl learners learnt basic self-defence skills, which De Beer said they could continue to build on and develop with more practice.
Myrtle Hendricks, the deputy principal at Birchleigh High School, said the skills the learners and teachers would learn in the self-defence classes would be invaluable for several reasons.
“Self-defence training fosters a sense of empowerment. This can be particularly important for learners, especially girls and young women, in building confidence and resilience.
ALSO READ: Kempton Park women empowered through self-defence
“For teachers, it can provide peace of mind and a sense of control over their safety, both within and outside the school environment,” said Hendricks.
“The confidence gained from knowing how to defend oneself can also reduce the anxiety related to safety concerns.
“For the learners and teachers, this can contribute to a more positive and focused learning and teaching environment,” she added.
Thandeka Garane, the public relations officer at Tribeca, said that while Women’s Month in SA commemorates the sacrifices made by women and celebrates their achievements and struggles, the country continues to grapple with one of the highest rates of violence against women in the world.
“This creates an inherently unsafe environment for girls and women, with even schools becoming sites of fear as incidents of violence rise.”
Despite this bleak reality, initiatives like these self-defence classes are helping to transform victimhood into empowerment, allowing women and girls to reclaim their power.
ALSO READ: East Rand Business Women celebrates Women’s Month
Chaunece James, the sales and marketing operations manager at Vuma, said creating safer communities is a priority for the country.
“It starts with ensuring young girls have access to the right tools and opportunities that will help build their confidence to defend themselves against the inherent dangers around them,” said James.
“Our partnership with the school and sensei Tony equips girls with practical skills and contributes to building a safer, more connected and empowered community.
“The positive ripple effect of this is that communities gradually become safer spaces for women because initiatives like this raise awareness about the importance of personal safety and can inspire others in the community to take steps towards self-protection and empowerment in their daily lives,” said James.
Those interested in pursuing self-defence classes with De Beer can visit www.shoreimartialarts.co.za for more information.
Victims of abuse can find support at www.tears.co.za
