FIGHTING BACK: Martine French tries out one of her new defensive moves on Sandon Gibbs, left. Teacher Anthony Wharton, rear, offers his advice. Photo: Steve Gosch
BEING aware of your surroundings is vital to keeping safe while out at night according to self defence trainer Anthony Wharton.
High Impact KRMAS (Kumiai Ryu) Martial Arts owner Anthony Wharton said he has had a surge in the number of people wanting to learn self defence since Melbourne woman Jill Meagher was murdered late last month.
The 29 year old’s body was found in a shallow grave six days after she disappeared from a busy Melbourne street at around 1.40am on Saturday, September 22.
Mr Wharton said while learning self defence can assist in an attack, it should only be used as a last resort.
“Physical defence is a last resort because usually the attacker is going to be bigger and more dominant than the victim,” he said.
“If someone is going to attack someone they’re not going to attack someone that’s bigger than them, they’ll look at attacking someone they can dominate.”
Canobolas Local Area Command crime prevention officer senior constable Greg Treavors agreed and said situational awareness is key if you are out at night.
“Be aware of what’s around you when you’re leaving places...who might be standing around you,” he said.
Intoxication can also inhibit your ability of removing yourself from a potentially dangerous situation according to senior constable Treavors.
“It’s going to slow your reaction time and with some people it lessons your awareness of what’s going on around you,” he said.
Mr Wharton said self defence classes teach you the steps to try and get out of a potentially dangerous situation before physical violence occurs.
“If you’re at the situation where you are striking it’s a very dangerous situation,” he said.
Mr Wharton said reasonable force must be used in any self defence measures.
“What that means is the force it that’s necessary to de-escalate the situation to keep yourself safe,” he said.
High Impact KRMAS Martial Arts will hold a free one-hour self defence basics session for the community this Friday at 6.30pm.
The session will be held at 61 Lords Place, bookings essential by calling 6362 9329.
nadine.morton@ruralpress.com