Crime & Safety
Pro Karate Offering Free Women's Self-Defense Class
Dean Lavas, owner of Pro Karate, is teaching a free a self-defense class in honor of two women, Kelly Rothwell and Sheena Morris, who Lavas believes may not have been able to get themselves out of a dangerous situation.
A Palm Harbor business owner is hoping free self-defense classes will help save lives. Dean Lavas, owner of , is teaching a self-defense class in honor of two women who Lavas believes may not have been able to get themselves out of a dangerous situation.
St. Petersburg Police cadet Kelly Rothwell, 35, vanished in March of 2011. Rothwell was discovered missing after a close friend called the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office concerned about her safety because of domestic issues Rothwell and her boyfriend had been experiencing. She was never found.
Sheena Morris, 22, was found dead in a Bradenton Beach hotel room. Her family says prior to her death, someone in a nearby hotel room called 911 to report a domestic disturbance. Morris' family wants her death investigated.
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Lavas learned about the Sheena Morris case after the dead woman's mother, Kelly, enrolled in a self-defense class he taught.
"If Sheena Morris or Kelly Rothwell had taken a class like this, we don't know what would have happened, if they'd be here today. It's just basically awareness in bad situations," said Lavas.
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"I think every woman should have a little bit of self-defense knowledge and ways to get out of a bad situation and ways to avoid bad or serious situations," he said.
Lavas says the classes teach basic self-defense moves that anyone can pick up and can help get women out of a bad situation. He says the classes are also beneficial to kids who are headed off to college. Both of his grown daughters hold black belts in karate.
"For my older daughter, when she was going off to college, I felt very comfortable knowing that she knew some self-defense techniques. As a father it really relieved me."
The free women's self-defense class will be held at 7:45 p.m., on September 12 at Pro Karate, 843 County Rd. 1, Palm Harbor. If you are interested in attending, call (727) 734-9659 to reserve a space.
Pro Karate also offers a four-week self-defense class which costs $100. The next class begins Sept. 26.
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