By Geoff Smith (@smithco on Twitter)

Women seeking self-defence lessons after attack

Oct 11, 2016 | 10:47 AM

LETHBRIDGE — It appears more people want to learn to defend themselves, in the wake of an attack on a 25-year-old Lethbridge woman.

Dan Walton of Savoy Six Advisor Group says more than 30 women have expressed an interest in his next self-defence class. A typical class size is 10 to 12.

“There’s a time and a place to talk, and we always suggest that you try to get away,” Walton said. “But if that isn’t an option it’s good to at least know something to at least defend yourself.”

Walton has been teaching self-defence for the last seven years, following his retirement as a police officer. The last several of his 28 years saw him teaching use of force and control tactics to recruits.

He explained the first thing anyone should know is to be aware of their surroundings.

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“When you’re walking around don’t have your head in a cellphone. Don’t have your headphones or your earpods in. And look who’s coming at you and who’s walking behind you,” he said.

It’s a very personal subject for Walton. When he was ten years old he was the subject of an attempted abduction in Edmonton.

“I did everything my parents had told me to do if someone tried to grab me, and I was able to get away,” he recalled. He says you can’t use brute force to defend against brute force. What he teaches is techniques to escape.

“Anyone can do it as long as they’re willing to do what they need to do to get away. But that choice is ultimately up to them.”