London women learn to self-defense after crimes against women
Londoners are learning the skills of confronting a violent attacker.
AFP
Sarah Everard was kidnapped by a policeman in London, then raped and murdered.
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A number of Londoners are beginning to learn martial arts, after a wave of crimes targeting women has garnered wide media attention.
New participants abound in the lessons held at the "Urban Fet and Feruls" club in south London to teach the "Krav Maga" technique for close combat.
Among these participants, Laura Thompson, who said in a statement to Agence France-Presse that "a lot of women are traumatized at the moment, especially those who live in London."
The 29-year-old accountant, who was participating for the first time in a training session, noted that many of her friends "talk openly about their fears, or speak out about their insecurity."
The case of the disappearance of the 33-year-old Londoner Sarah Everard, who was kidnapped by a policeman in London last March, while she was returning to her home in south London, then raped and killed her, caused a great shock in Britain, and revived the debate about the availability of safety for women.
Less than a year ago, sisters Pippa Henry and Nicole Smallman were stabbed to death in a park northwest of the capital.
A few months later, teacher Sabina Nyssa was murdered while on her way to meet her friends five minutes from her home.
take back control
Hannah Weiner, 31, decided to pursue self-defense courses, due to the murder of Sarah Everard.
"I don't feel safe in London at the moment," the young woman said.
"I grew up there, but it's the first time that I don't feel safe on the streets," she said.
"I should have done something and regained control," she added.
Throughout the course, in which two-thirds of the 26 participants were women, the idea that these techniques could one day save a life was vividly attended to.
"Put your weight on me, hold my neck," trainer Patrice Bonavo told one of the volunteers, showing her how to break free from trying to be pinned to the ground.
"Putting someone to the ground makes women imagine the worst case scenario," the coach explained.
He stressed that he does not want to bring up painful memories, but rather wants "to keep the lesson interesting."
He explained that it is not uncommon to record an increase in the number of women participating in lessons, following violent incidents.
He reminded that "women's great interest in self-defense has existed for a long time," and noted that the number of women learning "Krav Maga" has increased dramatically in recent years.
"If" You Learn Sabrina
Patrice Bonavo revealed that an increasing number of mothers of teenage girls are contacting him to learn about the details of the lessons he provides, considering that these contacts are directly due to the fears raised by them in the killing of Sarah Everard.
He said that "the man being a policeman shocked some of the people," explaining that the mothers then thought that they should do something to protect their daughters in light of the mistrust of the police after this crime.
A wave of testimonies recently given by female students who were drugged without their knowledge by means of injections in nightclubs have contributed to the feeling of insecurity.
De Leibovitz, who runs another self-defense course for women in Vauxhall (south London), also reported that there had been a "sharp increase" in calls to inquire and request information about the courses.
"A lot of the students want to learn to defend themselves," explained Leibovitz, who trained in Krav Maga during a trip to Cambodia to protect herself.
Now or in the future.
"If (Sabina Nyssa) had attended some lessons and learned how to kick or how to push (her attacker), would that change anything?" said this former teacher.
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