Women learn the best defense
Warwick On the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 7, 43 women from ages 16 to 60 were harassed, hassled, and disturbed in the Shoprite Plaza. But there was no need to call the police. The women were attending a women’s self-defense class, taught by Master Teresa Ciarfella, co-owner of the United Martial Arts Center in Warwick. The “attacker” was actually an instructor trained by Ciarfella to help students experience being pushed out of their comfort zones into an environment that’s safe - physically and emotionally - and empowering. “Even a trained martial artist can be at a disadvantage in a street situation if they haven’t learned how to cope with the adrenalin rush,” Ciarfella explained. “And if you aren’t a martial artist, there are simple ways to avoid trouble or, if it’s inevitable, to deal with it successfully.” She noted that about a fourth of the students in the class were working toward their black belts in the Korean martial art of Taekwondo. The others were women from the community looking to enhance their knowledge, safety, and confidence. According to recent F.B.I. statistics, one out of every three women will be a victim of assault. It’s a reality Ciarfella knows well. 15 years ago, before she began training in Taekwondo, she was attacked by two men in a mall parking lot. Fortunately, she had taken a self-defense course from her husband, a co-founder of the center in Warwick, Master Edmund Ciarfella. What she had learned enabled her to turn a dangerous situation around. Her attackers wound up on the run, and she emerged, both unhurt and determined to help others learn the skills that had saved her. Now with a fourth-degree black belt, she regularly offers special classes in self-defense. In an atmosphere that was supportive, sometimes intense, but often filled with laughter, the women learned the ABC’s of self defense: “A” for awareness, so they can stay out of a potentially dangerous situation; “B” for boundaries, so a potential attacker never gets a chance to do harm; and “C” for confrontation, when necessary, so simple, effective methods quickly face and end a physical confrontation. To find out about future women’s self-defense classes, or martial arts training for all ages, call 987-1853.