Statements such as: “A woman’s boundaries must be respected no matter what” should be considered redundant in the 21 Century. Sadly, we live in a reality where the prevalence of violence toward women is alarming, and in order to make a significant change we must acknowledge that this is a serious problem that concerns us all. If we strive for a healthy society, we have to do everything in our power to stand up against perpetuation of a culture that objectifies and dehumanizes women. The first step, in tackling this complex issue, is making it clear that Under No Circumstance should a survivor be held accountable for having been subjected to an assault.
Although by no means a complete solution, as a martial arts school, our most effective contribution is empowering women by providing the knowledge and skills for increasing personal safety. Our women’s self-defense classes are taught by a professional martial artist; aside from addressing this growing need at the dojo since 2014, our chief instructor has also been teaching self-defense at Washburn University (to both non and criminal justice majors), and has taught numerous self-defense workshops in the community over the past 15 years. There are two basic, but equally important, aspects of self-defense. The mental aspect addresses the development of awareness of the surroundings, and mastering and channeling emotions during a potentially life threatening situation. The second aspect consists of physical techniques. When combined, these two can help turn fear into power and can prepare a woman to effectively respond in virtually any situation. It is a fact that studying self-defense will not guarantee 100% safety; however, women who study these skills are simply better prepared.
As with any other skill, it takes time and effort to master the physical aspects of self-defense. We provide four courses during the year – each one is comprehensive and four hours long. There are no specific attire requirements but, for your comfort, we recommend clothes that do not restrict movement; no prior skills or particular physical fitness level necessary; all you need is a positive attitude and a desire to learn. The youngest we allow in this program is age twelve.
In addition to this program, we also provide onsite self-defense workshops. To request a workshop for your group or organization, please contact us at (785) 228-3804, or karate@mooresmartialartsacademy.com
Course Schedule 2024
Course 1: February 24th, from 9am – 10am
Course 2: April 27th, from 9am – 10am
Course 3: August 24th, from 9am – 10am
Course 4: November 16th, from 9am – 10am
*The schedule is subject to change