Keeping strangers at bay

Working towards a safer society, Butokukan Shoryin-Ryu dedicated an entire week to child protection.

This coincided with National Child Protection Week from May 31 until June 7, with the theme, Working Together to Protect Children.

During this time, residents were encouraged to bring their children to the dojo at Newcastle Senior Primary School for basic self defence classes.

“We didn’t just teach the children karate to defend themselves, but also how important it was to recognise danger,” Sensei Frik Willemse said.

He taught children the basic skills to ensure their survival in a dangerous situation. “We taught them what to do and what not to do,” he emphasised.

Possible dangers posed by strangers were discussed and parents were urged to teach their children all emergency phone numbers.

The children were also taught the concept of “No, Go, Yell, Tell”.

“Children are taught to say no to a stranger who is trying to lure them away, then to go away from the adult, yell if necessary and to tell an adult they can trust what had happened,” said Sensei Willemse.

Butokukan will continue self defence lessons on Youth Day, June 16.

Children are invited to attend the class, free of charge, from 8am until 10am at Newcastle Senior Primary School.