WASHINGTON 鈥� In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month,聽 hosted a women鈥檚 self-defense seminar on Saturday. The cost for the event was a suggested $10 donation.
Jeff Marcus, general manager of Krav Maga Capitol Hill, said they raised about $2,000, all which is being donated to the D.C. Rape Crisis Center. He said nearly 100 women turned out for the event.
Krav Maga is self-defense training that was developed by the Israeli Army. Marcus said it was brought to the U.S. in the early 1980s, but it has only become popular in America in the last 12 to 13 years.
Krav Maga is sometimes called聽鈥渢he art of staying alive.” It’s self-defense that鈥檚 designed to be quick and easy to learn,聽Marcus said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 designed that it can be for anyone from military and law enforcement to a stay-at-home-mom and everyone in between,” Marcus said.
Although this was the first self-defense seminar marking Sexual Assault Awareness month at the Capitol Hill location, Marcus said it will become an annual event. He said the women鈥檚 self-defense seminar has been held at other Krav Maga locations including Columbia, Maryland.
Sam Hanna, a junior at George Washington University, took part in the women鈥檚 self-defense seminar on Saturday, but said she has been taking Krav Maga since she was in high school.
“If someone attacks you, you are the one walking away,鈥� Hanna said of Krav Maga,聽which she describes as, 鈥渟elf-defense but more brutal.”
