Karate instructor, Bryce Nagy, comes out from Saskatoon twice a week to teach karate in Humboldt.
On Feb. 20, he was out to teach a different type of class; self-defense to Humboldt women.
Along with Sensai Mark Minarik, local women learned different techniques to get away from their attacker.
With people there to protect us, like RCMP and police, we become lazy, says Minarik.
“We don’t pay attention to being aware anymore.”
Giving people the option to protect themselves makes them feel safer, he says.
“This course gives women that empowerment, makes them feel equal to or even greater than their assailant if that happens,” says Minarik.
Beth Bautz was one of the seven women taking part on Saturday.
She found the course very educational and instructive. The instructors made the women feel comfortable, Bautz says, which was a very important element of the class.
“It was nice that we could do it with each other first and got us warmed up to the idea of what we were doing and then he worked with us one on one.”
Alison Korte has always wanted to take a self defense class but never knew who to contact or how to get involved.
What the instructors gave her with the class was beyond her expectations, she says.
“What he was able to give us in those few hours was a lot of knowledge, probably more than what he would put in, in a one day course,” says Korte.
Just learning the basics was very beneficial, she says, and just having that knowledge is something every woman should look into getting.
“Better to have the knowledge and never having to use it than not have the knowledge and run into a situation.”
Nagy says that everyone should have the power to defend themselves, whether they are male or female.
“The whole purpose of this class it to develop awareness, where you are in time and space, and how to be ready for sometime. I think that is something more people should learn.”
People are nervous about learning self-defense, says Nagy, with people not feeling confident enough to try it. That is why they should come in to learn and get that confidence, he says.
The situations they prepare the self-defense students for are not everyday situations that people would get into but situations that they should be prepared for.
“Most people are smart enough, they aren’t going to put themselves in a place where they’re in danger but sometimes you can’t help it. Maybe you see someone on the street and you can’t avoid them.”
Nagy’s been in that situation himself where he’s noticed people he should be aware of. He does not get scared, he is aware of it if something is going to happen.
“You have the tools you need so you don’t get scared or panic.”
Giving women this ability also makes them unappealing to assailants, says Nagy.
“They’re going to go after someone who they think is weak. When they see you and you have that confidence, there is a good chance they may think twice about it.”
Nagy’s own intentions in getting involved with karate were to get fit but also because he felt a little insecure and wanted to become tough.
“Suddenly, I don’t feel insecure anymore. Not because I think I’m tough, it’s because I realize I don’t have to think like that. I work everyday at something I feel good about.”
With this being the first class in Humboldt, Nagy hopes he can bring it back to town.
Both Korte and Bautz says they want to see more opportunities like this for women in Humboldt.
