Top Kick Offers Women's Self-Defense Class, Ponders More

in the Southern Walk shopping center offered a women’s only self-defense class last Friday night, an alternative to the classes offered by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office that fill quickly.

Karen Chavez, a five-year veteran of the martial arts center, taught the class.

Chavez said she came up with the idea to teach the class after learning that one of her co-workers at a different Top Kick facility was attacked.

“She was getting into her car and out of nowhere she felt this rushing toward her,” Chavez explained. “Suddenly she was stuck between her car and this man who was threatening her and demanding money.”

The co-worker knew the basics of self-defense, so after the initial fear her instincts took over.

“She had the impulse to directly punch him in his face and push him off and get in her car and drive away,” Chavez said, adding that the co-worker’s Top Kick training helped. “Her instincts kicked in, had she not taken the class she said she wouldn’t have known what to do.”

Chavez said she was inspired to organize a class to teach basic skills, confidence and empowerment.

The dozen or so participants were taught the best self-defense is confidence.

Kevin Wilson, Top Kick’s operations manager, assisted Chavez, and compared an attack to a lion hunting for food.

“The lion isn’t going to go after the strong, confident zebra,” Wilson said. “He’s going to go after the one with the broken leg or the slower one. He’s looking for an easy target.”

Maria Roberts, who holds a red belt in Taekwondo, said she took the self-defense class because she felt it was important for women to know how to protect themselves.

“Unfortunately, because of our stature, our height, our weight, we are more at risk for an attack,” she said. “Learning self-defense techniques makes a big difference. It makes me feel more confident.”

Roberts added that a lot of the practice is mental.

“When I go for a walk, I think, if someone came up behind me what do I need to be doing? Or how is my phone going to be a weapon?” Roberts explained. “Not that we have to be thinking about it all the time, but it’s good to recall it every so often.”

Chavez and Roberts both said residents generally are safe here in Ashburn, but it’s good to be prepared with a little self-defense education.

Preparedness is key, especially since, according to one statistic, acquaintances commit two out of every three assaults.

Chavez said self-defense skills rely less on physical strength than knowing what to do.

“I’m small, very small, and I approach it like any martial arts would have you, and that is to channel your energy into the point of impact,” Chavez said. “If I am striking with my palm I am putting everything into that, I’m turning my shoulder into it. If someone is on me, I’m going to use their weight against them. It’s figuring out their weakness and using my training to exploit it.”

During the class, Chavez pointed out that when an attack happens, fear and panic set in quickly.

“You will freak out, but you need to take a breath and clam down, and remember what you have learned and get out of there.”

Kevin Wilson said he was pleased with the turnout at Top Kick’s first women’s only self-defense class and that more could be offered in the near future.

“For a first-time class I think it went great,” he said. “The ladies looked awesome. We are going to meet and go over what we did tonight and what we think we can do better and discuss if it’s something we can do more often.”

Check out Top Kick for self-defense or other classes.