With spring break just a few days away, University students started to prepare for a safe vacation through a personal safety and self-defense workshop in the Union Monday night.
University History Professor Scott Martin has been practicing martial arts for over 30 years. Martin took his wife, University Communications Professor Lara Martin Lengel, to one of Justin Plavic’s self defense classes, which she said more people needed exposure to.
Plavic is the director of Wing Chun—BG Martial Arts School and teaches Wing Chun Kung Fu and self defense classes at Bushido Kai America Family Martial Arts Center on North Main Street. He is a third-degree black belt in Japanese jujitsu and a second-degree black belt in Japanese swordsmanship.
Together, Plavic, Lengel and Martin arranged with several organization sponsors to bring the self defense and martial arts workshop to the University.
“We just thought it would be a good idea for not only awareness of spring break … but also how to not become the victim,” Martin said.
Pavlic said he wanted to focus on getting out of unwanted situations at the workshop, whether that situation is domestic violence, sexual assault or a mugging. The event also focused on being aware of surroundings at all times.
“I can tell you from experience that the stuff he’s going to teach you will work,” Martin said during the event introduction.
Within the first half hour, attendants were on their feet practicing hands-on martial arts.
“This is great to have everybody, but certainly particularly girls and young women, to participate in martial arts, not just for risk mitigation, but for confidence boosting,” Lengel said.
Plavic’s wife, known as Sunshine, helped with the workshop, and didn’t let the importance of martial arts go unnoticed.
“As somebody who has been in a compromising situation, knowing what to do and practicing that is something that is important, because you never expect that to happen to you,” Sunshine said. “Knowing what to do is power — knowledge is power.”
The event specifically revolved around a safe upcoming spring break, including protecting the self along with safe travel.
“That’s (spring break) where everybody wants to let loose, go out and party, and there’s nothing wrong with that … but there are things you need to be aware of still in the back of your head,” Plavic said.
Bay County, Florida, where Panama City Beach is located, has also taken extra safety measures for the upcoming spring break.
The major rule changes include no alcohol on beaches or in parking lots, no underage vacationers in establishments selling alcohol after midnight, no digging holes deeper than two feet and anyone renting a moped or mobile scooter must wear a fluorescent green vest and cannot drive at night.
