CURRITUCK COUNTY, N.C. - Sheriff Matthew Beickert wants to give women in his county a fighting chance and, so far, they've taken him up on the offer.
The Currituck County Sheriff was inspired by his own daughters to create a women's self-defense course taught by deputies and detectives with martial arts training.
The latest classes, scheduled for Thursday night, filled up in just a couple days, organizers tell News 3.
“It’s been really awesome. The feedback we got has been amazing and the women are leaving the class pumped up," said Det. Jesse Taylor. "They’re motivated, they’re excited about what they just did."
Courses are labeled Phases 1-3, with Phase 1 starting with classroom work before women learn strikes to create distance between themselves and a potential attacker.
A Phase 2 course adds lessons on escaping from someone who comes up from behind and grabs a victim, Det. Taylor says. Phase 3, which hasn't been offered yet, focuses on what happens when an attacker is taken to the ground.
“Currituck County is an amazing place to live and the crime rate here is very low and incidents where they have to utilize these skills are limited, however, you never know who’s coming into your area or when you’re traveling outside of your area, what you may run into," said Det. Taylor.
Courses are offered at the Currituck County Cooperative Extension Center on Community Way and run roughly two hours.
Another class that's scheduled in March is also full, News 3 is told.
For more information about future women's self-defense classes, visit the Currituck County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.
