The Agents of the Local Police of Arrecife, specialized in Martial Arts, have started a project to give self-defense classes to women victims of Gender Violence, which takes place in a private room at the police station. An idea that has had the help of several associations such as Mararía, who have been in charge of providing them with "a list with the victims" who wished to participate in the project.
These classes, which are given "once a week for four hours" and "are more individualized", aim to ensure that these women "try to gain confidence and security", says José Miguel Gutiérrez, one of the members of the Minor and Family Unit, UMEF. "That they regain their self-esteem and feel comfortable," he explains.
The victims who attend these courses, initially, "are very afraid", he says. But after "a continuity, which is what we want the project to have, and the help they are going to receive, they manage to stop undervaluing themselves", he points out.
Jeremías Lasso, the person in charge of "the technical part" of the training and agent of the Local Police of Arrecife, reveals that "almost everything that is done in self-defense works." In addition, in the classes, you must start "from the base", since "the profile of the students" is "not having trained in self-defense".
"Having a resource that will make the difference between getting out well or badly during a confrontation"
Although we always recommend that "the first way out is to run", they must "know other techniques", such as "knowing how to fall, move or identify a threat", which is with "the basics that you start with". The most important thing about the classes is learning what is necessary to "have a resource that will make the difference between getting out well or badly during a confrontation" that normally occurs "inside a home", he makes clear.
The first class we had "has been a first contact", he says, knowing that "a single session is not useful" to achieve the objectives that "help them in a real situation, therefore, "you have to keep remembering what you have already learned", recognizes the instructor.
"If you learn a technique on Saturday and don't practice it again, you may forget it," says José Miguel Gutiérrez.
"They are very happy, they have let us know from the associations"
"They are very happy, they have let us know from the associations", says Rubio. Also, "seeing each other and seeing that they are in the same situation, awakens their interest in training in this matter", confesses Lasso. So much is the interest, that "the women have asked us for a space to be able to train during the week", says Rubio. "And thus be able to combine it with the classes that are given to them on Saturdays", he acknowledges.
These trainings are "a boost of self-esteem and security" for these women, "which makes them walk down the street without looking at the ground" and with "a body attitude that can help them not to be the target of aggressors", confirms Lasso.
"If we manage to plant the seed so that they try to see the dangerous situations and avoid them, for us the workshop would be a success." In addition to, "if you have to face your partner or ex-partner, that you learn to give a push, to break free, etc", Gutiérez points out.
"We have had the collaboration of the headquarters of the Local Police at all times, happy that they continue to support this type of project", he appreciates.
