The women’s self defense workshop held Feb.16. Photo by FX Self Defense
This article was orginally published in The Sylva Hearld on March 6 2019.
FX Self Defense and the Sylva Police Department hosted a free women’s self-defense workshop Feb 16. At Sylva United Methodist Church gym with 137 females in attendance.
FX Self Defense is a self-defense school based in Sylva that provides various types of classes including Krav Maga, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, karate, and Muay Thai kickboxing and boxing.
Rocky Frizzell, owner and head instructor of FX Self Defense describes the school as a more reality based self defense school.
In addition to various types of classes offered, they’ve been doing self-defense seminars for women at least once a month since September, Frizzell said.
Before collaborating with the Sylva Police Department, these seminars were held at the FX Self Defense gym which can hold about 25-30 people, Frizzell said.
The Sylva Police Department provided the gym where it took place and Tammy Hopper, Sylva Chief Officer along with several other female officers participated and assisted in the event.
Hooper wanted to create a community orientated event for women that would help protect themselves and their families and provide more confidence as well.
“Hopefully, the ladies took away something, so if something were to happen that they might be able to protect themselves and their families,” Hopper said.
The self- defense seminar is for women ages 13 and up and usually lasts about two hours.
Within the two hours, women learn some basic self-defense striking and how to escape from hair grabs, wrist grabs and arm grabs.
Frizzell classified a wrist grab as anything below the elbow and an arm grab as anything above the elbow.
Women are also taught how to strike different parts of the body without hurting themselves.
Other topics that were covered include vital points of the body that will entice the attacker to want to let go. Also, how to use common objects like keys, purses and flashlights as a tool for self-defense.
“One of the things I cover in these self-defense programs is training the mindset that when something bad happens we have to be prepared to defend ourselves by ourselves,” Frizzell said.
After the success of their latest seminar, Frizzell collaborated with Macon County Sheriff, Robert Holland to host a similar seminar.
The seminar will take place on March 30 at Macon County Middle School.
Another seminar is in the works with Swain County Sheriff’s office and the Sylva Police Department.
The self-defense seminar in Sylva will take place during the summer time. Frizzell noted that the public expressed an interest in a similar seminar being offered for kids, and it’s something they’re looking into.
“It’s important to me for each individual to learn some basic knowledge of self-defense, just as much people put emphasis on riding a bike or learning how to swim,” Frizzell said.
