ONTARIO — Reneta Music doesn’t believe women should feel helpless.
“Weapons are not allowed everywhere, but everywhere someone can be a victim,” the veteran karate instructor said Monday.
That’s part of the reason she and her husband, Gary, are offering a self-defense class for women Sunday afternoon, sponsored by the City of Ontario Recreation Department.
“These seminars teach empowerment during the time of fear and uneasiness,” said Music, the chief karate instructor at the Mansfield YMCA, where she has taught self-protection classes for the past 12 years.
“We teach people how to protect themselves with empty hands and feet and how to escape a dangerous situation.”
The three-hour session — from 1 to 4 p.m. at the city hall Community Room at 555 Stumbo Road — is not limited to just appropriate physical responses to aggression.
“Attendees will be taught how to become more self-aware of their surroundings, how to avoid (potentially) dangerous situations and recognize those situations before they happen,” Music said.
Gary Music has taught self-protection in north central Ohio since the 1980s, including his own karate school.
The husband-and-wife team has taught these kinds of seminars around the region for years, including Shelby, Ontario and at the Mansfield Y. Renata Music also teaches self protection in schools, including Discovery School, where she teaches physical education.
“This method of self protection originates from Okinawa,” Music said. “It was practiced by palace guards protecting the king in a setting where weapons were not allowed.”
Music said it’s a great class for high school or college-age females to help ensure they are safe while working or attending school. It’s designed for all females, ages 14 and up.
The cost of the seminar is $30. The deadline to register for the class is Wednesday, Sept. 15. To register and pay online, visit https://campscui.active.com/orgs/CityofOntario#/selectSessions/2948043
For more information, call 419-631-6344.
“The world is an ever-changing and terrifying place,” Music said. “Knowing how to keep yourself protected and safe will improve your piece of mind in uneasy dangerous situations.”
