KCC hosts community self-defense workshop

KLAMATH FALLS — Tabitha Baines wanted to give her two daughters some basic coaching in self-defense.

Renae Frye would feel safer in her counseling job if she knew some defensive moves.

All of the woman who attended the second self-defense workshop on the Klamath Community College campus Saturday, Oct. 5, came away with a little more knowledge on how to fend off an attacker.

“Know your options, be aware of your environment,” said Ben Klecker, instructor from the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. “If you are in a parking lot and feel threatened, the best defense is to use the parked cars as a barrier.”

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Klecker and law enforcement personnel from the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office, Klamath Falls Police Department and Oregon State Police volunteered their time for three hours Saturday to give tips and training on self-defense moves.

Christy David, director of the Klamath Advocacy Center, said about 45 attended the free training session. It is the second time KCC has hosted the training on campus. David said there was a good mix of the public participants and some clients from the Advocacy Center at the workshop.

The nonprofit Klamath Advocacy Center has been serving victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking for over 30 years.

“We work to support victims however they may be in need,” David said. The center provides shelter, with support during home visits, help filling out restraining orders, navigating through the Department of Human Services or court systems, or whatever else a victim may need to be able to find safety. It has a 24-hour crisis line at 541-884-0390.

Self-defense is just one of the topics the center focuses on.

“I am often alone with clients who are on probation or in corrections,” said Frye, who is the director for Sacred Sol Healing Institute. She often does one-on-one trauma counseling, working with clients from all walks of life and wants to feel safe in doing so.

“I want my daughters to know how to defend themselves,” said Baines of the training.

David said the center will continue offering the free training twice a year, with the next one tentatively set for March.

Klecker said, “Our main goal was to have the class members walk out feeling more confident than when they started, I know we accomplished this. I am very impressed by our local law enforcement personnel, many of whom volunteered their time to help at this event.”

The following local law enforcement professionals and instructors participated: Klamath County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Shane Mitchell; Patrol Deputies Justin Deese, Jasmani Melgoza, Chad Golden, Ashley Ensminger and Woody Lugo (retired KCSO sergeant); Klamath Falls Police Department Captain Rob Reynolds; police officers Alex Davenport and Connor Thun; Oregon State Police Sergeant Kyle Torres and Trooper Cody Dykstra.

Klecker added, “Thanks a bunch to Christy David and her team with Klamath Advocacy Center. I can’t highlight Klamath Advocacy Center enough for their important work within our county. Thanks to Kyra Letzing and her staff with Place2Heal counseling services for being available if anyone needed a professional to talk with. Thank you to Klamath Community College for allowing us to use Building 10 for this community event. The popularity of this event seems to be growing each time we hold it. This is a great example of what we can do when we pull our resources to give back to the community.”

For more information about KCC and its programs, visit www.klamathcc.edu.