Women Learn Self Defense in Bayport

Self defense is more than just a "good" skill to have, in today's world it could be a person's only protection.  This is why Michael Pam's Blackbelt Champions in Bayport (most recently known as Champion Martial Arts) held a free, hour-long course on the techniques women can use when confronted with an unsafe occurrence, such as an abduction.

Hosted by Kyosahnim Kim Maliadis at the academy, located at 899 Montauk Highway, the seminar provided participants with statistics on violence against women and skills they could use to help prevent and/or halt an attack.

"We do events like this to inform people, not only of the reality of the dangers out there, but to empower them with the skills to defend themselves should they find themselves in that situation," Maliadis said. "The goal is always to give those that attended information that will make themselves, their family and their homes safer. We remind everyone that attended that night to share what you learned with others."

Maliadis opened the program by telling the audience daunting FBI statistics, such as: a person in the US is more likely to be the victim of a gun or knife crime than a car accident. She also said that a the most vulnerable place for a woman to be is a parking lot and the women's bathroom.  

It is first important to know that four levels of personal protection exist.  White is when a person is in a safe space with a feeling of home; yellow is an open environoment; orange is when something triggers a person to need to react, and red is when a response is needed because of an attack.

Using a stopwatch, Maliadis explained how 20-feet can quickly turn into unsafe space, as it only takes an abductor two-seconds to reach their victim at this point. 

Therefore, women must be prepared to protect themselves with three simple moves:

1. Safety stance: In this position, feet are staggered with the right foot in front, and hands up.  At this point a victim would say, "stay back."

2. Strike: The second "move" requires contact with the attacker. With their palm, a victim should quickly strike their attacker straight to the face. Victims can also strike with a straight arm to the side of the attacker's face, or an elbow to the attacker's face.  

3. Knee-to-Groin: Pump up your "power" leg and knee the abductor in the groin.  To get air for this move, expand your diaphram with a "key-up." To the untrained ear, a "key-up" may sound like "hee-yah." Key-up is Korean for yell or energy.    

But in the face of an abductor, feel free to yell anything that gives you the power to continue, according to Maliadis.

"Use any type of noise thats going to get you air and give you that energy," she said. 

Participants in the class learned information about personal safety and tried some of the moves they learned on 5-foot-6-inch dummies and shields, held by Maliadis' two assistants.

For Denise Pandolf of Holbrook, the class taught her that she may have to heighten her senses when in a vulnerable situation.  "I'm more aware of what I should be doing,"

Although Michael Pam's the school is new to the Bayport community, they have been around for more than 17 years and have done seminars on Women's Personal Safety, Bully Buster, child abduction seminars, and stranger danger as a way to give back to the community. In addition, they have hosted seminars for girl scouts, boy scouts, public and private schools. 

For more information, call 868-3115.