Demand for self-defence

Press, 13 July 1988, Page 6

Demand for self-defence

Women self-defence teachers were in demand because of the increased reporting and awareness of violence, said a New Zealand self-defence teacher, Ms Sue Lytollis, yesterday. Ms Lytollis, of Auckland, said she had been inundated with requests for more teachers from all over New Zealand. “Telethon has raised people’s awareness, and the Police Department is showing a huge increase in the reporting of sexual assaults,” said Ms Lytollis. “Many women come up against negative myths regarding self defence, that

say they would be too weak or would anger an attacker in self-defence. This is a load of codswallop. Simple things like turning to look at someone who might be following, responding angrily to an obscene phone caller and yelling strongly at someone trying to enter the house, have proved to be strong deterrents to a violent attack.” Ms Lytollis has a black belt with a third dan ranking in Kendo and first dan ranking in Judo. More than 60,000 women and girls have completed her self-defence courses since she started them eight years ago.