Sudbury martial arts studio offers free women's self-defence class

Have you ever hadthe feeling that you're not safe? Or that you might need to protect yourself? A Sudbury martial arts studio is offering a free self-defence course for women this weekend and so far, 85 women have signed up.

Jenn Joncas and her husband Steve own theSudbury Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai Academy.

She said self-defence training isn't necessarily about learning how to kick and punch: it starts with identifying a potential threat, and "establishing boundaries" and "trusting that instinct".

"You get this all the time, there's questions [because]there's that funny feeling, but you're not sure ... 'Are they coming towards me? Is it me that they're targeting? Am I overreacting?'," Joncas said of how women sometimes second-guess themselves.

"Establish your boundaries:[say] 'Stop. You're getting too close.' ... People want a victim. They don't want somebody that's going to be a fight."

Joncas who's been training on the mat for nine years said the two-hour seminar on Saturday is about "concepts and ideas" rather than intensive combative training.

"But it's awareness... and then taking that next step to build your amour."

Listen to the complete interview with Jenn Joncas here.

Morning North8:29Free self-defence seminar for women in Sudbury

A martial arts academy in Sudbury is hosting a free self-defence seminar. Jenn Joncas and her husband are owners of the Sudbury Brazilian Jiu-Jisu And Muay Thai Academy. She joined us in studio to talk about the benefits of self-defence training.