BAKERSFIELD, CA. - October is domestic violence awareness month and one in three women in the US have experienced physical violence from a partner, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Advocate organizations across Kern County are encouraging more women to know how to protect themselves in case they are ever faced with a violent situation.
Dave Woods, the owner and an instructor at Bakersfield Elite Martial Arts, offers free and low-cost self-defense classes to women once a month from 6 p.m.to 9 p.m. at the Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault center.
"It's a constant attack to the vital targets: eyes, ears, throat and groin. Those are vulnerable no matter who you are and doesn't take too much strength to cause so damage there, said Woods.
The Alliance says self-defense is always good for women to learn because they never know when they may need the skills.
"Anything you can do to even the odds because we have a smaller woman and a bigger man," said Carolann Wooton of the Alliance. "That's why women really need to do these kinds of skillsets because you never know when you may find yourself in that kind of situation. Anything you can do to get away, to even the odds, is a good thing."
Anyone who is in a violent situation can call the Alliance 24 hour hotline at 661-327-1091. Alliance also has emergency shelter services and walk-in crisis intervention help.