Will you be able to keep your head in a tough situation? Even in a strange new town? Potentially hundreds of miles from home? If not, you may want to consider the opportunities available just around the corner.
Senior Jordan Allen has organized a self-defense program for high school juniors and seniors as a part of her WINGS project. The event is titled “ Y oung Women’s and W omen’s Personal Protection.”
The seminar will occur Sunday, May 18 from noon to 4 p.m. at Team Karate Centers, which is located in the Key Body & Fitness facility on E. Broad St.
Allen said she has coordinated with Bexley graduate Kelly Muir, owner of Team Karate Centers, to create the event.
The main purpose of the event is to help college bound women learn personal protection tactics.
Allen said the information will be implemented in a lecture style, with some activities as well as a few samples of self defense moves.
The topics to be covered will include how to identify a predator, how to control fear under stress and how to master the eight basic self-defense techniques, Allen said.
Allen stressed that the self-defense program will not include only physical topics.
“A lot of it is learning how to use what you already have— mainly, intuition,” Allen said. “A woman’s intuition is sort of a reflex of the mind. It’s simple for people to use. They already have it.”
The event is free for high school students and costs $55 for all other women, Allen said.
She added, “It’s made for the girls, and I wanted a lot of interest generated. Above everything else, I wanted to get all the info out there, so money was never really a top priority.”
Allen said enthusiasm and anticipation are running high for the event, even though it’s a while away.
“I am incredibly excited, though a little nervous because it means a lot to me,” Allen said. “I’m apprehensive to see how other girls in the program are going to take it.”
Some students at the high school are already looking forward to the event. Senior Katharine Schleich plans on going to the event and says she is eager to learn, even though she will be a first time participant in any type of self-defense program.
“I’m going be going to school in Chicago next year, so I feel like I need to be able to handle myself if I get into a tough situation,” Schleich said.
Allen agreed with Schleich and said one of the main reasons for creating the event was to spread information.
“I feel like I need to know what’s out there,” Allen said. “Being away from the Bexley bubble is going to be very different, and other girls who feel the same need to be informed about what’s actually happening.”
Schleich, who will be attending DePaul next year, said she appreciates Allen’s efforts.
“I think it’s important for girls to be able to defend themselves and for them not to appear as easy targets,” Schleich said.
As of now, the seminar has one date scheduled. However, Allen said, “hopefully this one goes well and if girls enjoy it, there will be more opportunities in the summer.”
Allen said that although the idea may not turn into an official club, next year she hopes to make it a reoccurring event with seminars being held on-campus at the high school.
Schleich said she would be interested in such an activity next year, even though she’s graduating this year. She added, “I hope other people would be interested, too.”
Published April 2008. Digitized 2025.
