Lily Shields, 20, is teaching women how to identify dangerous situations and protect themselves throughout Geelong.
The Drysdale woman is a black belt in karate, which she had been doing since she was four, and launched the free self-defence program Punch Like a Girl on June 23 at the Geelong waterfront.
Lily said recent issues of violence against women across the country had inspired her to start up the program.
“Even when you’re at school and there’s girls bullying other girls, or you go out and there’s girls talking about other girls, it’s just not nice. We need to be supporting and empowering each other, not bringing each other down” she said.
“I do (karate) with my brothers, and our dojo is a close family. We all are so supportive of each other. It’s a fun and enjoyable environment, and I love being able to feel stronger about myself.
“I wish we didn’t have to, but it’s important to have an idea of how you could protect yourself. Basic skills will help you if you are ever in a dangerous situation so you can protect yourself or others.
“Being able to read a dangerous situation, avoid dangerous areas and situations where you might feel unsafe, and just being confident in yourself is definitely a very important thing for a woman.”
Lily said she hoped the program would create a social group for women to feel comfortable and safe around each other and be who they want to be.
“We just focused on the basic punch, just the punch to the face or throat, broke it down and just slowly worked through it, just to get the basics,” she said.
“I didn’t expect so many people to show up on the first class, but there was over 30 people there and it was amazing. I can’t believe how much support there’s already been for it.
“It’s quite fulfilling knowing that I can make a difference to one person and be able to teach one person how to do this. It’s just an amazing feeling, and it’s very rewarding.
“If I’ve got the knowledge and the skills, then I don’t know why I wouldn’t want to share it with others and help others…and it would be amazing to see a change happen.”
The program will run fortnightly sessions at various locations around Geelong, with the next session taking place on Saturday, July 6, at the Geelong Botanical Garden at 9.50am.
Contact Lily at punchlikeagirl.geelong@gmail.com to confirm attendance for the Punch Like a Girl’s sessions, with participants encouraged to bring a drink bottle and yoga mat.
