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Local female residents gathered in Inwood this week to learn and practice self-defense techniques taught by Sensei Milton Oliver, martial arts instructor, in a class sponsored by State Senator Adriano Espaillat.
Story and photos by Marisol Rodríguez
In a classroom overlooking Isham Park, a group of women dressed in gym clothes came together this past Thurs., Sept. 1st to learn a valuable tool of empowerment: self-defense.
Sensei Milton Oliver, martial arts instructor and member of the Guardian Angels, led a free workshop for women sponsored by local State Sen. Adriano Espaillat as a response to the recent crimes targeting women in Washington Heights.
“The idea is to take a proactive approach,” Ibrahim Khan, Sen. Espaillat Deputy Chief of Staff said at the evening class held at Northeastern Academy in Inwood. Khan also mentioned the Senator’s plan to soon organize a civilian patrol or “block watch” as another safety initiative.
About 50 women were in attendance to learn the self-defense techniques demonstrated by Oliver and his trained assistants, which included his wife Silvia Oliver and colleague Ulises Al-Amin. The instructors modeled moves women can use in different “attack” scenarios, such as someone forcefully grabbing their hair or wrist. Women practiced the moves with each other, switching role of “aggressor,” and consulting the instructors for help.
In addition to the self-defense maneuvers, Oliver offered numerous safety tips throughout the workshop including having 911 on speed dial, checking safety mirrors before entering a hallway or elevator, and having keys, which can be used as a weapon, in hand while walking to your apartment.
Another tip, scratch and even bite your attacker, he said.
You get DNA samples and now your attacker can be recognized by the scratches on his face, Oliver explained.
Migdalia Santos, who lives across the street from where a school teacher was allegedly raped by an off-duty police officer in late August, came to the self-defense class because of a rise in neighborhood crime. “Every summer there is a wave of rapes and muggings, but this year it seems to be over the top.”
Santos, an Inwood resident for 30 years, said despite this, she still feels safe in her neighborhood and won’t let any criminal change that. “When you start to feel unsafe, it’s like they are taking over your neighborhood,” she said.
Handling an attacker with a gun was another topic covered at the workshop. While Oliver demonstrated techniques to use in this situation, his first piece of advice was to hand over any possessions. “Don’t put value in valuables,” Oliver said. “Value your life.”
Even with the ability to physically defend yourself, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
He added, “It’s all about having sanchin, what we call total awareness,” Oliver said. “Everywhere you go.”
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