Patrolman Preston Crafton works with Lily Hines on self-defense skills.
Submitted photo
GREENFIELD – Young women about to head off to college, their moms and friends gathered for self-defense workshops in July.
The free events were so popular that the Greenfield Police Department and Lona Self Defense plan to offer them once a month to instruct women on how to be aware of their surroundings and how to protect themselves.
The agencies partnered to bring the community classes to Greenfield Fitness in downtown Greenfield. Misty Moore, owner of Lona Self Defense, said she’s eager to teach more and encourage women to continue to practice what they’ve learned.
“We really emphasize and talk about how the moves we teach them are very simple, but the repetition and practice of them help their muscles and their minds to remember those things,” she said. “A lot of times when they freeze and panic, a lot of those things go away…. We always encourage them to make it part of their exercise routine, and show their friends and family what they’ve learned.”
A total of 22 women attended two classes on July 15. The classes were designed as a way for moms and daughters to spend time together before school starts again in the fall, said Chuck McMichael, deputy chief and spokesperson for the GPD. But the class is for anyone 12 and older and can teach basic skills.
“Lona Self Defense has a great program and is designed for everyone,” McMichael said through email. “They teach more than just physical techniques like being aware of your surroundings, not walking with your face on the phone, traveling safely and others. The physical techniques are simple and easy to learn and remember. This is critical when faced with a scary situation – the harder the technique, the less likely you are to remember them. So basic is better.”
The next class is coming up at 10 a.m. Aug. 26 at Greenfield Fitness and more may be on the way each month, Moore said. Women heading off to college for the first time need to know the basics, she added, because they’ll be on their own for the first time and need to know how to protect themselves.
They need to be aware of their surroundings at all times, she added, because predators use surprise to attack. If women can eliminate that element of surprise, they are more prepared
Participants received a self-defense striker and a pepper spray, donated by Highsmith Guns.
Moore is a mother herself, and has taught these techniques to her kids – 20-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter. Sometimes her daughter will come to classes with her, Moore added, having learned these techniques since age 12.
More advanced classes might be on the horizon, McMichael said, but meanwhile he encourages people to sign up for the basic techniques class.
“These classes are important for women to take as it gives them the tools to protect themselves, but it also gives them confidence to stand up for themselves,” he said. “They realize they are more powerful than they may think and realize that, regardless of their size, they may have the ability to defend themselves against an attacker. You don’t have to spend hours in the gym to learn and utilize the techniques being taught.”
Fore more, email [email protected] or visit GPD’s social media page at facebook.com/GreenfieldPoliceDepartment or facebook.com/iamlonabymisty.
