The wind howls outside the door to Jason Foley’s Academy of Martial Arts in Conception Bay South. Frigid air fills the entrance as bundled-up women pile into the building and kick off their winter boots to join Foley on the mats.
They’re attending a free, 15-week program called Women Empowered, where they’ll learn how to defend against the 15 most common attacks — ranging from hair grabbing to being pinned to the ground by a weapon-bearing assailant.
Foley introduces the first lesson with an overview of the four phases of an attack.
“Phase 4? We call it ‘The Bad Guy Wins Phase,’ and it’s the phase you want to avoid,” he jokes.
But the reason women are attending Foley’s course in droves is no joking matter.
Corina Baldwin and Nancy Jones are real estate agents in St. John’s who say they’re thankful to have this course available to them. Real estate agents often show homes at all hours of the day and tend to work independently.
“We’re really vulnerable going in and out of vacant houses,” said Baldwin.
“And you never know who you’re meeting,” added Jones.
They say that agents have ramped up safety efforts, such as avoiding hosting open houses solo. Still, learning self-defence techniques is something they are interested in due to the independent nature of much of their work.
According to the most recent Statistics Canada report on assaults, released in July of last year, there are 22 incidents of sexual assault for every 1,000 Canadians aged 15 and older each year. Women were the victims in 87 per cent of those incidents.
“We’re just looking for a few moves now,” quipped Baldwin.
There is a lot of laughing and joking around during the lesson, but there are serious undertones as to why so many women braved Saturday’s snow squalls, and the slippery Outer Ring Road, to participate.
“There just seems to be more stuff going on these days. It’s good to prepare yourself,” said participant Allison Strong. “It’s good to know how to defend yourself if you’re ever in a situation.”
According to the most recent Statistics Canada report on assaults, released in July of last year, there are 22 incidents of sexual assault for every 1,000 Canadians aged 15 and older each year. Women were the victims in 87 per cent of those incidents.
“The spotlight’s on it,” said Foley, “With regards to the Harvey Weinstein thing, with regards to all the sexual harassment suits coming up now, and all these big guys are getting taken down.”
“It just happens to be that it’s in the light, and I think it’s necessary.”
Foley says the course teaches basic self-defence techniques and gives women the confidence to know that they have the ability and skills to defend themselves.
“They might never need them — hopefully not.”
This is the third time Foley has offered the Women Empowered program since introducing it to the academy last year. Fifty-four women finished the first 15-week course, 67 turned up for the second, and 44 were present Saturday.
“So it’s a pretty big class,” he said. “Today was a smaller number actually. We did have several people cancel throughout the day due to weather… so next week I’m expecting a lot more.”
Women Empowered is the official Gracie Jiu-Jitsu self-defence program for women. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was developed by Brazilian martial artist Hélio Gracie. Gracie modified traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu techniques so that he could defend himself against larger opponents. He went on to defeat many larger and stronger opponents — some outweighing him by 100 pounds — using these techniques.
Just because a bigger person has you pinned up against the wall doesn’t necessarily mean they have the upper hand. You have tools to counteract that.”
Denise LaCour
Denise LaCour trains with Foley and assisted in demonstrating techniques during Saturday's lesson. She says that learning self-defence helps women feel more empowered.
“Just because a bigger person has you pinned up against the wall doesn’t necessarily mean they have the upper hand,” she said. “You have tools to counteract that.”
The techniques taught during the course employ leverage and timing. The point is that anyone can make these techniques work against larger opponents, regardless of athletic ability.
LaCour received a round of applause and cheers from the women during the lesson when she demonstrated such a technique on Foley. She recommends that women sign up for the course, which is designed so that people can start and attend at any time throughout the 15 weeks.
The lessons are offered every Saturday from 3 to 4 p.m. until April 14.
