Local Facility Offers Free Self-Defense Class For Women
By Kristen Johanson
CHERRY HILL, N.J. (CBS) - October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, and a self-defense facility in Cherry Hill used the opportunity to teach women how to protect and defend -- all for free.
College-student Mariana says she doesn't want to be scared anymore:
"If anything happens, what I gotta do? I gotta defend myself."
So she decided to try Krav Maga.
"It's not anything fancy, like flying spinning kicks or anything, it's designed to be quick, effective, reaction-oriented, based on your natural movements," explains Don Melnick.
Melnick owns the facility in Cherry Hill, and says he wants to equip women with self-defense tactics:
"Somebody's pushing you up against a wall, especially during a domestic violence situation, chokes are the top attacks that people face."
He says it takes a few classes to get the hang of it, but it's a practice for everyone:
"It's designed to help get people get out of bad situations, and get home safe."
Jennifer decided to come and try it out.
"As a woman, it's really important that I know how to defend and protect myself," she tells KYW Newsradio. "Unfortunately, I think in this society, women are victimized so often, that we need to be able to defend ourselves when someone is trying to hurt us.
Melnick says the practice was developed by a young Jewish man during World War II to help others escape persecution.
