Self-defense class builds confidence
story and photo by Brooklyn Shearer, posted April 7, 2009
Every semester certain classes fill up quickly as word-of-mouth "advertising" spreads through the student population. Without fail, the Women's Self-Defense class taught by Health Education Instructor Renata Maiorino, is one of those classes.
Maiorino has been teaching self-defense since 1974. Some aspects of the course have changed over the years as it moved from an eight-week course, to a one-hour credit course and then during the 90s became a two-hour course. But the one thing that has not changed is the basic concept of building mental confidence along with skills women can use to stay safe.
”[The class] builds the confidence level of women but it also gives them skills to work with and to realize their safety is significant and their life is very important,” Maiorino said.
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Renata Maiorino shows two of her students the proper way to defend themselves against an attacker. Maiorina teaches a popular women's self-defense class. |
Some students have waited two to four semesters to be in the class, she said. The class is a collection of freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors.
Jessica Black, previously one of Maiorino’s students, is now a senior at MU and is one of the teaching assistants in Mairorino’s class.
“Any woman needs to take this class, it’s much more than the physical aspects," Black said. "You learn a lot about yourself and become a more confident woman.”
The two classes are located in the Martial Arts room in the Rec Center. The class is technically considered full when 30 students have enrolled, but Maiorino does make exceptions after the classes are closed on occasion.
“As the student you got to go to the class and, basically, Renata motivated you, and now as a TA I’m really noticing how important that is," Black said. "As the TA, I come to class ready to motivate. I also work a lot on perfecting my skills, so I’m confident about what I’m doing.”
Maiorino once received an e-mail from a student who had gone through a difficult situation in her life and wanted to get into her class, Maiorino immediately responded with a note back saying, "come and see me and I’ll give you an override.”
She wants to help women who have gone through difficult times, even if it means having a larger class size.
“As a teacher I am able to see [the students] think about their lives and see changes, and I think that’s the best part about teaching,” Maiorino said.
