Seniors can be easy targets for purse snatchers and other thieves. Especially during the busy holiday shopping season. The San Diego County Department of Aging and Independent Services wants seniors to learn how to defend themselves. Yesterday at the Vista library, seniors got some practical tips from a 69-year-old black belt in karate. KPBS Reporter Kenny Goldberg has the story.
Mary Davis stood in front of a roomful of seniors in her crisp, white karate uniform. A black belt was tied around her waist.
(Photo: 3 rd degree karate black belt Mary Davis teaches self-defense to seniors at the Vista Library. Kenny Goldberg/KPBS)
Davis tells the audience when it comes to self-defense, you have to go all the way.
Mary Davis : Some of the techniques I'm going to show you, are a little bit graphic, and you know, can I really do this? But if it comes to your body, your life that you need to protect, you need to be able to do these things 100 percent.
But before Davis shows some moves, she tells the crowd the fundamentals of self-defense are the four A's.
Davis: And the first A is attitude. All right, everybody say attitude. Attitude. Okay. So you know that when you're walking down the street, your attitude tells a lot about you. So when you're out walking, you want to walk with your shoulders up, your head up. People coming at you, look at them.
Davis says it's important to make eye contact. Don't look away, and don't look scared.
She says the second A is aware. You just want to be aware of your surroundings, and pay attention.
Davis: So you see something that doesn't look right, you see this, Joe's coming here and he's looking a little suspicious. And I'm getting very uncomfortable with Joe coming toward me.
That brings up the next A. Assess. Davis says seniors need to assess the situation. Can they simply turn around and walk back in the store? Can they get in their car and drive away?
Or do they need to implement the last A? Act.
Davis : So I put my hands up like this, I don’t want to fight, just back off! Back off! And he's not going to be expecting a little old lady like me to be yelling like this, right?
Davis points out a senior's strongest weapon is their voice.
If that doesn't work, Davis says it's a good idea to hit an attacker with the palm of the hand.
The eyes, nose, and chin are good targets. So is the throat. She shows the audience the proper way to throw a punch.
(Photo: Davis demostrates how to throw a proper punch. Kenny Goldberg/KPBS )
Then, Davis gets a volunteer to come up and take a couple of shots.
Davis and volunteer: So, first thing you do is you is put your hands up. Back off, back off, nice loud voice. Back off! Back off, back off. Person comes at you and I want you to hit that with the palm of your hand. Good! Very nice. Two more punches. Everybody likes to hit. Good! Okay very nice. Okay. Who else wants to try, come on.
Davis gets a couple of more people on stage, then wraps up the class.
(Photo: A member of the audience practices with Mary Davis. Kenny Goldberg/KPBS )
Afterwards, seniors grab a bag lunch and mull over what they've learned.
Patricia Abbey lives in San Marcos. She says self-defense training is a great idea.
Patricia Abbey: I think everybody should know about it as they get older, I really do. Especially since crime is increasing right now, it's really bad. And every time you open the paper there's a home invasion, or a carjacking, or something.
Kenny and Abbey: So if you're at a store in a couple of weeks and somebody comes up to you, what are you gonna do? Scream like mad, ha, ha. I'm very aggressive, you know. And then run like hell if nobody comes after me with a knife or something, you know.
There will be another self-defense class for seniors later this month at the County Library in Spring Valley.
Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
Davis: So you may need to go palm strikes palm strike palm strikes knees to this person, but whatever it is you're doing, you're doing 100 percent.
