Mendocino County Takes Action: Teen Self-Defense Course Launches in July

The following is a press release issued by CrossFit Firefly:

First 5 Mendocino and CrossFit Firefly with IMPACT Bay Area are proud to present their first self-defense and situational awareness class for teen girls on July 29 and 30 from 1-6 p.m. each day. This offer is in response to three teenage girls being approached downtown in January 2024 and countless other incidents our community faces regularly. Due to the lack of security protocols in the region and the increased number of border crossings, we are motivated to assist the community in the area of ​​self-defense and situational awareness. This course is generously supported by the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the VOCA Grant in an effort to assist victims of crime.

This initial course will be taught by highly qualified IMPACT instructors and will be aimed at all gender-identified women, ages 12-17. Eight of the places on this course are reserved for victims of crime. We will offer another course for boys ages 12-17 in early fall. IMPACT's highly trained instructors focus on preventing violence from strangers and peers while empowering students to understand, respect and defend their own boundaries. The course will give participants realistic ways to handle various attacks while using the full force of their strength to resist. This course also helps teens overcome their freeze response by simulating realistic attacks in a safe environment with the proper protective equipment and highly trained trainers.

The long-term vision is to raise awareness of the situation and self-defense of all ages and communities, who would benefit from this valuable knowledge. As citizens, we cannot wait for our leaders to address the growing problems we face every day. We hope to engage the community and teach everyone excellent self-defense and proper response through Impact's incredible trainers and programs.

For more information, please contact Tracy Thieriot at [email protected].