SJ ladies get a lesson in self defense

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marissa Tucker
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Several women of the 4th Fighter Wing may be standing a bit taller as they walk around the base after attending a self defense course taught by a martial arts instructor here Feb. 22.

The Women's Basic Self Defense course, taught by 1st Lt. Bryan Meyer, a maintenance officer and martial arts instructor who has been in practice for more than 30 years, was offered to women around the base free of charge to help women in the SJ community to build confidence and gain awareness in how to prevent potentially dangerous situations.

"I like to do this class at every base I go to and it is usually a pretty good turn out," he said. "Through the years I have trained a lot of police officers and researched how crimes have affected people. Our goal is more of prevention than actual combat. People think it's about punching and kicking [but]it's about avoidance."

The class, based on the Kuk Sool Won Korean Martial Art System, gives basic combat techniques and tips to heighten ones situational awareness.

"Many times, we are so pre-occupied with things like car keys, cell phones or thinking about random things that we do not pay attention to what is going on around us," he said. "Most people who will attack someone will not go for the person who looks alert and is looking at them in their face, they will go for the one who looks afraid or puzzled."

Lieutenant Myers kept the mood light as he gave helpful tips about safety, his students learned several techniques to temporarily disable a potential attacker such as throat thrust and potential attackers.

"This is a typical scenario, a woman is walking to her car and someone is walking close by her. Most people won't look back at the person or say something to them," he said. "By making eye contact, you tell that person that they are being watched and you see them. Even if it was a mistake and they had no intention on harming you, it is better to look like an idiot than be passive and get attacked.

Another scenario he gave invoked a reaction in the class participants. During a situation where someone is getting into their vehicle or close to their vehicle and they are attacked, Lieutenant Myers advises women to throw their keys as far away as they possibly can.

"Many times, during attacks like this, women are either assaulted in their vehicles or driven somewhere and assaulted," he said. "Also, when you feel afraid, make a lot of noise and run to a public place. You will get over the embarrassment of that in a few days, but the mental affects of an attack take years to get over."

Many of the students enjoyed the course and left with a heightened sense of their surroundings and the confidence to challenge someone.

"I took this class so I could better protect myself and my children, should we ever encounter a situation where we would be in danger," said Kayleigh Solorio, wife of Senior Airman Raymond Solorio, a crew chief here with the 334th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "I want to be able to take care of myself and not be afraid."

Lieutenant Myers offers a martial arts class at Heritage Hall every Tuesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. for $40 a month. For more information about the class, contact Lieutenant Myers at (919) 583-2334. Participants must have access to the base.