By Matt Koper/ne news editor

Women can learn how to better defend themselves in an upcoming workshop.

Instructional associate Shane Whitehead will present Women’s Self Defense 10 a.m.-noon March 16 in the Larry Darlage Center Corner (NSTU 1615A) as part of Women’s History Month on NE Campus.

Whitehead, who has a fourth-degree black belt in Gasan Ryu Kenpo, said they will work on lots of different things.

“What we are going to lay out is kind of a set of skills, awareness being primary, just being aware of our environment,” he said. “We will work on verbal skills, trusting your instincts and, then, also some standup and physical foundations of self-defense.”

What the class covers varies on participants, Whitehead said.

“Each class is always different based on the individuals that are in there,” he said. “So we have a basic framework and depending upon the needs of the class is kind of the direction we try to take it.”

Whitehead said he will teach participants basic strikes and ways for addressing a larger threat and “techniques I would use personally.”

The hands-on practice students get in seminars and classes is invaluable, Whitehead said.

“The reason why I think seminars are important and classes are important is that you’re actually working with another person,” he said. “So there’s a lot of dynamics that go into place. It’s very fluid.”

Whitehead said his favorite technique is the zipping your lips sign.

“So many times situations escalate because people are verbal,” he said. “There’s a difference between using verbal skill sets as opposed to the road-rage thing where you’re cussing somebody out. So they’re different.”

A Q&A session will be part of the workshop, and participants will receive an information packet on self-defense.

For more information, contact Whitehead at shane.whitehead@tccd.edu or at 817-515-6910.

Women’s Self-Defense

NE Campus
10a.m.-noon, March 16
NSTU 1615A