San Diego Reader

Vault Combat Academy on Newport Avenue offered a free self-defense class on October 11. Women who had been to an O.B. Woman's Club meeting and a citizens’ patrol meeting earlier in the week showed up in response to recent sex crimes.

Owner Phillip Gordon started the free classes so women of O.B. can walk the streets and feel safe. He taught such strategies as situational awareness and that you strike first and you have to be willing to fight. He said that 95 percent of any attack can be prevented with five non-combative considerations: proximity, isolation, control, posture, and clothing.

Gordon passed around a five-page handout and taught that if you are attacked, think eyes, groin, face as areas to strike. He talked about the South Park woman in the news this week who defended herself against an attacker with just her purse. She was willing to fight back, Gordon pointed out. He then got the women present on the mat and showed them the moves he had been talking about.

Vault will be offering the free self-defense classes to women every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Vault is located at 4976 Newport Avenue, in the back of O.B. Surf and Skate.