It is all systems go as Edenvale’s first ladies-only self-defence workshop, which hopes to provide essential skills to women, is set to take place.

The workshop aims to help women by teaching basic self-defence techniques to protect themselves during emergencies or crises.

The brainchild of the Edenvale Community Police Forum (CPF) and concerned stakeholders within the community, the idea for the workshop developed after femicide in South Africa was recently thrust into the spotlight when numerous bodies of murdered women were found in the greater Ekurhuleni area.

To conduct the workshop, the CPF will be teaming up with War Dog Combat and TPGN Fitness.

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Chairperson of the Edenvale CPF Sheryl Damerell said although this workshop is fully booked, she hopes this will be the first of many to come.

“The incidents in the greater Ekurhuleni, specifically the murders in Kempton Park, once again highlighted a serious problem in this country.

“Gender-based violence and femicide is a pandemic in South Africa, and the recent murders of women highlighted that again.”

Damerell explained that as much as providing advice to community members and women is useful, it is not always as helpful as intended.

She said sometimes the audience does not receive the information or they become overwhelmed from receiving the same content repeatedly.

“To get past this obstacle, we thought how could we do something different, while providing women with essential information and skills to potentially save their lives.”

Trevor Burger from TPGN Fitness explained that when Damerell approached him and the team from War Dog, they immediately jumped at the opportunity.

“As gentlemen who all live in the area, we feel passionately about this initiative, and we feel that men need to take responsibility to address GBV and femicide in South Africa.”

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He explained that after spending some time at War Dog Combat, he can attest to the abilities of women who have undergone training.

“It comes down to practice and honing your skills,” he said.

Tyrone Boreham of War Dog Combat explained that among all of the instructors there is more than a total of 45 years of experience.

He said that over the years, War Dog Combat gym has helped train techniques to anti-poaching units.

“The idea is to teach women the basics so that they will be able to get away from their attackers,” said Boreham.

Damerell explained that the idea is to stop the panic and get the mind and body speaking at the same time so that there is one less statistic.

She laughingly said the idea is not to create forms of vigilantes.

Damerell said although this workshop is fully booked, there are plans for more to be held in the future.
“We’ve already received enquiries from schools and corporates.”

The workshop will be held at 7A Terrace Road on October 3 from 09:00–11:00.