Two violent attacks in Vancouver prompt interest in self-defence classes
Two violent attacks against women in Vancouver last week have renewed interest in self-defence classes after police issued crime alerts and advised residents to attend safety workshops.
A safety workshop will be held Wednesday at Point Grey High School and another one will be held Tuesday at the Strathcona community centre. Last Thursday, a jogger was assaulted near UBC and later that same day, a young woman was attacked in her own home in Strathcona.
The two attacks have prompted renewed interest in self-defence courses such as the one offered by Academie Duello which encourages using every day household items as a means of protection.
Instructor David McCormick with Academie Duello says an umbrella can be very effective as a weapon to ward off an attacker.
"Our umbrella self-defence comes from martial art from the 19th century where both ladies and gentlemen in London would be carrying an umbrella or a parasol or a walking stick when they left the home," he said.
McCormick said when the potential victim knows how to wield the umbrella properly, by tilting it towards the attacker using the force of the entire body, the impact can be severe. The goal when using the umbrella is to strike the attacker just under the sternum.
McCormick also recommends aiming for the eye of the attacker.
The two women who were attacked in the separate incidents both fought back against their attacker.
Last Thursday, at six in the morning, a 30-year-old jogger was attacked from behind by a man who threw her to the ground at West 16th and Discovery Street. She fought him off and he escaped.
Later that same day, a woman was bound and assaulted in her own home in the Strathcona neighbourhood. One man has since been arrested in that attack.
Sgt. Randy Fincham with the VPD said both women and men should know how to make themselves less of a target.
The VPD will hold personal safety and self-defence demonstrations at the two safety workshops.
