By: Camryn Johnson
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – Nearly one in five college women experience some form of sexual assault in their time on campus.
For many years, the University of Arkansas offered free women’s self-defense classes for students to take. But when COVID-19 hit, the courses were canceled and never brought back.
Cole Saugey is the lead instructor for Fayetteville Krav Maga and taught many of the programs at the university.
“We teamed up with the wellness department through Pat Walker Health Center and that’s where we really stuck it out for several years,” Saugey said. “We had great success with that program. We were always filling the classes and we had a lot of repeat students as well. Then COVID hit and it just kind of killed everything for us.”
Krav Maga is a form of martial arts that was designed for the Israeli Defense Forces. However, it also has use for everyday people in everyday situations.
“The idea is to be as violent as necessary so that you can create an opportunity to escape the situation,” Saugey said.
Rachel Robison is a student in the women’s self-defense course. She said she signed up for the program with the intention of becoming better prepared to handle dangerous situations.
“I know in dangerous situations I had the tendency to kind of freeze and I was really hoping this class would help me gain muscle memory to react in a productive way if I ever needed to,” Robison said. “With a lot of practice and support in this class, I feel like I’m developing in that.”
Saugey said there are many students on campus who feel the same way, but they have to come to the studio as opposed to staying on campus since there are no opportunities within the university. However, he said Fayetteville Krav Maga tries to stay unofficially involved through seminars with sororities and other student organizations.
Instructor for the women’s self-defense course Kate Knox said it is important for these programs to be available to students because they help women feel confident enough to protect themselves.
“Over time, it’s helped me take back the power that I felt like I lost in past situations and I’ve just become this whole new person,” Knox said.
While Fayetteville Krav Maga is no longer a full-time partner of the university, Saugey said the studio remains a place for women to develop safety techniques.
“It’s important to give women an environment and an opportunity to train, to help gain some of that confidence and that power back and in an environment that they feel comfortable with.”