This past Tuesday, March 6th I instructed an introductory Shredder seminar at the request of the YWCA with the assistance of my two coaches-in-training Richard Wegg and Alfredo Corona and two members of the Anchorage Chapter of the Guardian Angels (Jermaine Garcia and “Hammer”). We had over 25 women and teens in attendance and for two hours, we drilled them on awareness, intuition, passive stance, flinching and the foundational components of Shredding. At the end of the seminar, we put on mock attacks with those participants who tackled their fear and wanted to test their newfound knowledge and they tore us apart! It was beautiful to see women and young girls who thought they couldn’t take on a full grown man and in moments have us whimpering on the ground in a fetal position.
I could tell that many women in attendance wanted real answers to real concerns. The YWCA approached me after the kidnapping of a local coffee barista and thought the material would lend well to giving women a fighting chance. Many women shared their concerns and “what if” scenarios – some of them gruesome. One woman asked what she should do if our arms were crossed and we were lying prone on the ground with the attacker on our backs. I asked her “how did you get in that position?” This was something she hadn’t thought about. I brought up several times the physical skills are important, but we need to seriously consider how we happened to be in such a physical predicament.
We covered the ways women are attacked on three levels (emotionally, psychologically and physically), the three wants of a criminal (valuables, mind/body, or life) and their three fears (attention drawn to the situation, being hurt/violence done to them, and being caught). I also spoke about our ever-changing society and how, as a result of group-think, more and more crimes are being committed out in the open. For example, just an hour and a half before the seminar began, a woman dressed in business professional was walking down the street (approximately 2 blocks from the YWCA) and another woman, from across the street, ran across to try and steal her purse off the business professional’s arm in broad daylight and through heavy traffic.
In all, the YWCA was thanked repeatedly and received several phone calls and emails after the seminar thanking them for putting on the class.
As a result of the positive feedback and reception, the YWCA and I will be hosting a second class on Thursday, March 15th 2012 from 6:00pm-8:00pm. The cost is $10 per person. If one is unable to make the financial obligation, we will waive the fee.
Jermaine Garcia, the Chapter Leader of the Anchorage Chapter of the Guardian Angels assisted me in an interview/demonstration for KTUU Channel 2 News, which was aired during the 6pm and 10pm nightly news, with a small recap being aired the following morning (clips below). As well, ABC News came out mid-way through the seminar and recorded and aired a small segment as well. Enjoy the links! Thank you to Richard Dimitri for allowing me to represent Senshido International in the Anchorage bowl.
http://www.ktuu.com/videogallery/68685766/News/ywca-self-defense-class#pl-62893695 (video that aired the evening of the seminar)
* The above video was a shorten form that aired the morning after the seminar.
This is the link to ABC and their clip: http://www.youralaskalink.com/news/safety/YWCA-Offers-Self-Defense-Classes-in-Response-to-Samantha-Koenig-Disappearance-142012063.html
Please, if you know anyone in or around the Anchorage/Matsu area, please encourage them to come.
Be safe, well and love life my friends.
Malachi Bond
Senshido International Team Member/Affiliate Instructor
Senshido Alaska
907-575-4952
I like how Malachi thanks me for 'allowing' him to represent us... lmao at the humble nature and kindess of my team, brother, it is I who THANKS YOU for doing such a great job and bringing great people together to do great things. Well done brother!! :`)
ReplyDeleteRich