Teens Learning Self-Defense Before College
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Nearly 20 percent of college women have been the victim of rape or attempted rape.
It’s a scary statistic, one that a local Montgomery personal trainer is all too familiar with.
Wednesday evening, she held a self defense class for college bound women.
If anyone knows a thing or two about self defense, it’s Katrina Shaw.
Many of you may be familiar with her. She owns Box Mania Fitness here in Montgomery and is second degree black belt certified.
Katrina Shaw is prepping young women for college, but she’s not using books.
Instead, she’s teaching them how to use their bodies to fight off predators.
“I do realize the importance of preparing your kids for college and something I think that we sometimes overlook is talking to our daughters very seriously about how to protect themselves.”
It’s timely advice for the girls. According to a study in the Journal of Adolescent Health, one in five women has been the victim of rape or attempted rape during their freshman year of college.
“I just thought it would be cool to come and learn some self defense stuff since I’ll be heading off to college soon,” said Anna Lee Croles.
Croles is bound for Vanderbilt in the fall. Her friend Mary Grace Burks is headed for Auburn.
“Not that we feel like going on the Auburn campus or going onto the Vanderbilt campus, we do not feel unsafe but just to know what to do if we are put in that situation, what our first instinct would be or to at least even have an instinct,” Burks said.
The girls spent time learning tips and techniques that could harm or even kill an attacker.
“When someone is approaching you or they’re attacking you, most of them are not expecting you to fight,” Shaw explained. “So the element of surprise is huge, that you have a plan and that once you decide to fight, you’re going to win.”
Katrina Shaw offers both self defense and fitness classes.
If you’re interested, the number to call is 334-399-2004.
