VIDEO: Kicking Butt at Belleville's Sovereign Martial Arts

It's a lesson every woman should learn: How to physically defend herself if confronted or grabbed by an attacker. And, believe it or not, all it takes is a quick flick of the wrist and a throaty yell.

Essex County Patch editors recently got a hands-on lesson in warding off potential predators during a free women's self-defense class at Sovereign Martial Arts in Belleville. The hour-long session, taught by Senseis Edgardo Moran and George Lopez, included step-by-step instructions on palm heel strikes (a quick, yet powerful, move that can shatter the nose) and how to quickly escape a predator's grasp.

Being vocal when performing a palm heel strike is key, according to Edgardo, who explained a hearty grunt can increase the intensity – and therefore, the effectiveness – of the move by 5 percent.

Lopez, 43, a West Orange police officer who formerly worked in Newark, shared a few important safety tips:

• Be aware of your surroundings. Scope out the scene, locate emergency exits, take notice of who is around you, a technique Lopez uses while patrolling on duty.
  
• Use critical thinking. Lopez stressed that listening to your gut could potentially save your life. If you see a questionable person on the corner, cross the street, instead of passing him.
• Let it go. If you're ever the victim of a robbery, purse-snatching, or carjacking, do not hesitate to give the assailant what he wants. If your child is in the vehicle, Lopez said to communicate with the attacker, "I am taking my kid out of the car, OK?"
• Don't get out of the car. If you get into a minor car accident in a secluded area or highway, Lopez said, do not exit your vehicle or open the window. Lock the doors and call the police immediately. "A lot of people make the mistake of getting out of the car," said Lopez, in response to a recent in Newark.

Watch the video above to learn how to perform a palm heel strike and escape a wrist grab.