Galaxie Studios (www.galaxiechicago.com) played host to Chicago's first workshop
of “Women's Perfect Protection” (WPP) the
new women's aggressive defense product
from the International Guild of Danse de Rue Savate. Some thirty women braved
sub-zero chill on Sunday, January 6th to hear Initiateur Patrick Gavin and
members of the Chicago Police and Fire Departments conduct lectures and
workshops on awareness, rape & assault prevention, legal processes, and (of
course) how to use the body's natural weapons against determined sociopaths.
Material covered included fear and anger management, assailant identification,
the weak points of the human body, and how to target them with the most ruthless
weapons of Danse de Rue Savate. The thirty female guests took turns on
mannequins and pads utilizing
open hand strikes, eye gouges, elbows, knees,
hammer strikes, and low kicks - with full force and extreme prejudice.
After a brief explanation of the moves and how to use them, a very motivated
group was off and running. While some attendees took to the drills readily,
other women expressed hesitancy at first. “Women are raised to be
non-aggressive, polite, and accommodating. Learning to start a fight and hurt
someone is a bit uncomfortable at first. But the alternative
is much worse,”
commented one participant.
The Illinois Savate Salle (the Chicago affiliate of the International Guild of
Danse de Rue Savate) plans to offer (3) more of these workshops during 2008. As
always, tuition will be free of charge. According to affiliate instructor
Patrick Gavin, “The Guild wishes to serve the community by offering these
courses to at-risk populations. Self defense is a human right. That is our
belief and that is the ethic of the International Guild of Danse de Rue Savate.”