Featured on WCNC – NBC Charlotte – Aikido of Charlotte
These kinds of stories are making headlines across the country. And here in Charlotte, hundreds of women are now taking matters into their own hands. Literally, by enrolling in self-defense classes, like the ones offered at Aikido of Charlotte.
“The reality of the world that we live in, I think it’s so important for everybody to have basic self-defense skills, especially women and young college students,” said Sensei Jonathan Weiner, a black belt and senior instructor of Aikido Charlotte.
What better way to find out than trying yourself? NBC Charlotte’s Rachel Brown enrolled in the class.
The two-hour workshop teaches students the three A’s: Awareness, so you don’t become a target. Assessment: if you see something that’s off, decide what you’re going to do. And action, knowing how to defend yourself if you can’t get away.
“Do women have a chance when it comes to fighting back against a man? Absolutely,” Weiner said. “You will have things you can do should you be in a situation where you sense an attack.”
A Runners World Survey found that 30 percent of women runners say they’ve been followed by a person in a vehicle or on bike or foot. Three percent of them reported being groped. And according to the FBI, more than 95,000 rapes were reported to law enforcement in 2016. That’s five percent higher than 2015 and 12 percent more than 2012.
But the class at Aikido is one of many classes that are empowering women to fight back.
“It was good to realize you got to get in that mindset,” said Weiner. “If you learn how to defend yourself with proper technique, and women are typically smaller muscles, smaller frame, they’re going to be more efficient and going to be able to take someone down.”
The next self-defense class is Saturday, November 10 from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. It costs $45 and is open to men and women. If you’d like to sign up, click here or call (704)-931-8751.
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