The Huron Expositor, 1995-05-31, Page 3News and Views
Self-defence, empowerment learned
BY TIM CUMMING
Expositor Editor
Some girls from Scaforth
schools, ranging from grade six
to OAC, are discovering thcy
have more power than they
realized.
A company offering self-
defence courses recently
tauught two afternoon courses
in self-defence and personal
empowerment at Scaforth Dis-
trict High School. .
Walter Cecchini has
instructed the self-defence
course for about a year. He has
trained in martial arts I'or more
than 10 years.
The Personal Protection
Systems (PPS) course, says
Cecchini, is designed specifi-
cally for women and girls.
"You don't need a lot of
upper body strength to initiate
this," he said. "You can escape
from an attacker who may be
stronger than you."
The course attempts to teach
school-age girls how to fend
off an attacker but it also
strives to create self-confidence
in the girls taking the course.
"It helps them escape (from
an attacker) but it also deals
with building self-esteem."
The course includes methods
to prevent 'freezing' in the
case of an attack. The courses
teaches the girls to 'never stop
lighting.'
"Even if they forget all the
techniques we teach them,
(they team) the premise of
always fighting and standing up
for yourself and getting up
quickly," said Cecchini.
He says the premise of stand-
ing up for oneself includes
preventing psychological
attacks as well as physical.
It was student Sarah
Johnston's idea to bring the
self-defence course to Scaforth.
The OAC student at Scaforth
District High School took the
course while serving as a camp
counsellor at Olympia sports
camp.
"It was such a life -changing
experience for Inc I wanted to
bring it to my school and help
other kids the way I was
helped," she said. "I've known
TIM CUMMING PHOTO
SELF-DEFENCE, SELF-ESTEEM - Local girls gained confidence along with a basic
education in self-defence during a course offered recently at Seaforth District High School.
Here, a participant in the course fights off instructor Walter Cecchini, who is dressed in full
body armour. The other girls, meanwhile, cheer heron.
since the beginning of the year
I wanted to do this."
Fifty-two girls enroled in the
course at a cost of 515 each.
At first, the course was offered
only to high school students
but when spaces were still
available elementary school
students wereinvited.
Johnston emphasizes the
course is not only about self-
defence but about personal
empowerment.
"It didn't just deal with
physical moves," she said.
"One of the most important
things developed is the bonding
between the girls."
Before taking the course
many girls don't realize the
power they have.
"A lot of the time (society
says) it's not very ladylike to
be powerful," said Johnston.
"People never realize their full
potential, they can become a
lot more confident if anything
like a this every happens."
The girls are taught not to
blame themselves for the
actions of others.
"Many girls around here
shoulder the blame and guilt
for a lot of things that go on
when they shouldn't," said
Johnston.
The graduating student at
SDHS hopes one of the partici-
pants in this year's course will
bring the self-defence program
back to the school next year.
4-H begins `battery blitz'
The Huron County .4-H
Leaders' Associatibn has again
organized a battery recycling
blitz for the months of Junc
and July. This is your chance
to clean up your local environ-
ment, make it a safer place for
family to work and play, as
well contribute to the Huron 4-
11 program.
The batteries will be col-
lected at eight sites and sold to
a recycling company in
Mississauga. They recycle up
to 98 per cent of the used !cad -
Public meeting
to be held
Hullett Council passed a
(notion at its May 16 regular
meeting asking the Huron
County Planning Department to
set a date for a public meeting
for an amendment to the
township's secondary plan
regarding surplus residential
severance policies and
minimum lot arca.
At a regular meeting May 16,
Hullett Council set June 20 at 8
p.tn. as the date for a public
meeting on an application for a
zoning bylaw amendment at
Concession 8, Lot 2 in the
township.
acid batteries you donate. The
proceeds will be used to help
fund 4-H events and programs
in Huron County.
The sitesof collection will be
Becker's Farm Equipment,
Exeter; Edwards . Fuels,
Goderich; Hill and Hill Farms,
Varna; Lucknow Co-op,
Lucknow; McGavin Farm
Equipment, Walton; Townsend
Tire, Londesboro; Vincent
Farm Equipment, Scaforth; and
Watson Hardware, Gorrie.
Please exercise caution when
handling and transporting these
lead -acid batteries. They con-
tain sulphuric acid which can
burn skin, cat holes in clothing
and cause blindness if splashed
in the eyes. You should wear
protective clothing whcn handl-
ing these batteries.
Thank you for properly dis-
posing of your spent lead -acid
batteries and for contributing to
the Huron 4-H Program.
For furthcr information call
the Battery Blitz Chairperson,
Gerda Vanden Hoven, (519)
522-1130.
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Although Johnston says she
has seen other self-defence
courses, "this is the only one I
can say has changed my life."
As one component of the
course the girls gather in a
circle. Each girl has a chance
to attack the instructor, who is
dressed in body armour, and
they "realize how powerful
they are." The crowd of girls
supports the one taking on the
instructor with cheers and
clapping for support.
The PPS self-defence course
has been developed by Ron
Yamanaka.
The head office of PPS is in
Markham. The phone number
is 1-800-977-4777.
Tender
accepted
The proposal of McLellan
Recycling for services in Hul-
lett was accepted by the
township's Council at its
regular meeting May 16.
TNR HURON EXPOSITOR, May 31, 111H-3
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