Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Burwood offers free self-defence classes

A Burwood martial arts school is offering free self-defence classes to women enrolled at university ahead of orientation week.

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Burwood is offering free self defence classes for female university students this month. Picture: Andrew Tauber

A Burwood martial arts school is offering free self-defence classes to women enrolled at university ahead of orientation week.

Any woman enrolled at a tertiary institution is eligible to train for one month for free at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Burwood in its Women Empowered program, which teaches physical and psychological methods of self-defence.

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The one-hour classes cover techniques to physically ward off attacks, as well as mindset discussions around the phases of different types of attacks.

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Burwood is offering free self defence classes for female university students this month. Picture: Andrew Tauber

Owner Robbie Singh said the classes also covered ways to identify grooming behaviours that led to incidents.

Mr Singh said he was offering the free classes because orientation week was known as the most dangerous week at university.

“We hope discussions and participation in techniques linked to defending against a sexual assault help make women on campus feel safer as they venture back to campus,” he said.

Owner Robbie Singh has been teaching his student Melinda Hooper for 12 months. Picture: Andrew Tauber

Mr Singh said a lot of the school’s 100 female members were students and came from across Melbourne to learn martial art skills that could be used in a real-life context.

He said a number of them had already faced assaults.

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“Some members are survivors and find it beneficial as a rehabilitation tool.”

The school has about 500 members, including multiple police officers.
Details: graciejiujitsuburwood.com.au