The Roodepoort Chamber of Commerce Industry (ROCCI) and Jump Start South Africa (JSSA) hosted self defence classes for about 20 women who learned how to defend themselves when attacked.
Pierre Assor from JSSA gave the lessons on 20 May at the Afrique Boutique in Ruimsig. He educated the women on how to protect and defend themselves adequately when attacked.
Assor said that the lesson was based on training that he had received when he went to the United States of America and trained with the navy seals in 2011.
“This is a navy seal’s training that we have altered for self-defence training. It is very intense and once completed the women will be able to defend themselves adequately,” he said.
He pointed out that the training course was usually longer than a day but he would teach the women what they needed to do when attacked.
Assor said that he began the training lessons upon his return from America and began with boot camps and continued with the classes when the demand grew.
“The training consists of hand-to-hand combat training and teaches the women to use their body as a weapon. The training will also give the women confidence and teach them not to be a victim,” Assor said.
During the training, Assor taught the women to use their adrenaline rush when attacked and showed them what to do when approached by an attacker.
“It is our own responsibility to help people understand that we don’t want them in our personal space and if that space is encroached upon, it is our responsibility to teach that other person to respect our space,” he said.
He added that the women should empower themselves so as to not become victims of crime.
One of the participants, Marchelle Viljoen, said that the lessons were very helpful and that she would know what to do in order to protect and defend herself if attacked.
“A few years ago I was involved in an attempted hijacking but after the self-defence class, I am more confident that I will be more alert to my surroundings and be able to defend and protect myself,” Viljoen said.
Details: Pierre Assor 082 549 4092
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