Georgia Civil Defense Academy Offers Self-Defense Classes Using Filipino Techniques

COLUMBUS, GA - July 13 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Kent Newland, martial artist, founder and owner of the Georgia Civil Defense Academy, believes that martial arts is about much more than just kicking and punching.

"The martial arts are about developing discipline and a sense of community, as well as good self-defense skills," Newland explained.

The Georgia Civil Defense Academy is a school that focuses on realistic self-defense skills combined with the artistic aspect of Filipino martial arts. During classes, students will learn and acquire the skills of awareness and self control; they will also learn self-defense techniques that are highly functional under duress.

Each student is required to understand and absorb the martial-art material that is provided; knowledge and skill are then cultivated.

During classes, students practically apply all of their skills, as they are required, through a variety of scenarios and drills.

"In most cases," Newland said, "the students will discover dramatic results in a very short period of time; these results translate into improved athletic and social skills. It's amazing how some students blossom and bloom when given small bite-sized tasks to complete each week."

Newland believes that after a student has spent a year in his program that he or she is equipped to become a leader in every facet of their life.

The main focus at the Georgia Civil Defense Academy is Citizen Self-Defense. This self-defense program is about more than just martial arts. It combines Filipino martial arts and recent studies into psychology and the science of violent confrontations.

"Violence should never be the first tool that a student reaches for," Newland explained. "Instead, the student first has to know how to de-escalate a situation and keep it from getting out of control. Only when diplomacy fails, should a student resort to violence."

The students in the Citizen Self-Defense class practice a variety of scenarios on each other. These scenarios can be applied to everyday situations that may occur; they range from the mundane, such as an individual trying to pick a fight in a public locale, to the truly frightening - being robbed by an armed mugger.

First, students are taught non-threatening posture - hands up and fingers spread.

"This is a good position to be in," Newland said. "It allows the student to protect himself, while simultaneously giving the image of fear and submission."

At any given time, if a student feels he is in imminent danger of being attacked, he is encouraged to strike first. According to Newland, the first strike can be the key to successfully escaping a situation, unscathed.

Newland adds that if the student has an opportunity to escape after the first strike, they are instructed to do so.

"None of us need to be heroes here," Newland stated. "At the end of the day, we just want to be able to go about our business without worrying about potentially dangerous individuals."

The Georgia Civil Defense Academy will hold its first class on Friday, July 14th at 7 p.m.

Contact Kent Newland at: (706) 615-7534, via email at knewland @ civil-defense-georgia.com, or visit the school's Web site at www.civil-defense-georgia.com for more information.

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