Sports
Instinctual Self-Defense Class for College-Bound Females Set to Start July 22
Learn to get out of a 'sticky' situation with confidence and without making a scene. One out of eight women will be assaulted in college nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Some sobering statistics about the number of rapes on college campuses and the fact that Leslie Maltz’s daughter was heading to one, prompted her to start a self-defense workshop for college-bound high school girls at her Tarzana gym.
On Sunday, Maltz will hold a 2-hour workshop to empower young women with techniques to protect themselves from becoming a rape statistic.
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She uses the Krav Maga self-defense techniques and common sense awareness drills to drive home the message that today is a different world than years ago and college is a petri dish of potential rape scenarios.
Krav Maga, which means contact combat in Hebrew, began in Israel during World War II. It teaches striking techniques, wrestiling and grappling and is known for its focus on real-world situations and potent, efficient, brutal counter attacks.
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“It was taught to elementary school children as part of (physical education),” said the petite, muscular Maltz as she sat in her office on Monday. “It’s a fighting and self-defense skill still used in the military.”
But Maltz said it isn’t about the Israel military where every man, woman and child learn the instinct-based martial arts approach.
“It’s not learned. It’s instinctual,” she said.
Maltz said there are two types of attacks: hard and soft.
The hard attack is where you probably send someone to the hospital; unlike the soft attack, where you are getting someone’s hands off your neck, for example, and getting away safely without creating a scene.
Maltz said most women don’t know how to get away from an attacker, so she teaches them verbal self-defense too, especially in how to say, “No” and get that message across to the other person.
“By the time they leave the class, they have very good communication skills in their back pocket. They can pull it out if needed,” she said.
She also teaches students to walk tall and not with their heads down, unaware of their surroundings.
Instead, she says to look into the other person’s eyes and send a message that you don’t want to be their next target.
Maltz said women should keep their eyes and ears open no matter where they are or who they are with. If attacked, it helps to identify their assailant and to get clues for police to catch the suspect.
“I give them a sense of confidence that they carry with them, an invisible shield,” Maltz said. “They walk with a purpose, with their heads up, making eye contact; then, you look less like a victim.”
Maltz said she believes many college-bound women don’t want to be called the “B” word, or have others not like them if they turn down a male suitor.
Instead, she teaches them it’s better to be a b…h and get away from a situation without being hurt.
Maltz also talks to them about practical, potential situations under the umbrella of campus safety.
College drinking is fertile ground for potential attacks by men and women. Girl fights and hair grabbing are on her list of subject matters discussed.
“College-bound students think when something happens to them, there’s something wrong with them. But, it happens all of the time,” Maltz said. “It’s how they handle it, react to it that makes the difference. It’s hard for young girls. If I can give them a little power and confidence that it’s OK to say ‘No,’ then I’ve done my job and they’ll be OK.”
The next class starts on July 22. The fee is $75. Applications will be accepted until July 21.
For more information, visit http://www.tophamstreetgym.com.
Or, call (818) 633-5180 or (818) 881-8830.