Yuma Top Team MMA hosts its Women’s Self-Defense Seminar

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Yuma Top Team MMA Studio is offering its Women's Self-Defense Seminar.

The training is led by an all-female coaching staff and is open to any and all women who would like to learn the practical skills to protect themselves.

Monica Figueroa, a Coach and Owner at the gym, says learning self-defense for women is necessary, but can often be intimidating.

"Giving tools to females on how to defend themselves, usually self-defense is more linked towards males… and just put them in an environment where it's safe for them, as well, where there are no males around so they don't have to feel shy or anything like that," states Figueroa.

She shares the importance of events like this.

"Any MMA gym you go to, it is male-dominant, and I think it's important for females to know that they are able to learn self-defense, simple techniques… Just learning 3 techniques goes a long way,".

No experience is needed to participate.

Coach Monica and her team are providing all the tools.

"We're going to be teaching a little bit of striking, standup… Ground techniques, and we're going to have Coach Sarali teaching a combination of both," she adds.

The gym collaborated with Amberly's Place in putting on the event.

The local family advocacy center is specially trained in dealing with victims of abuse.

Figueroa says "We have already previously offered a self-defense class and we got a lot of good feedback from women so then that's when Coach Erica spoke with the director of Amberly's Place and we came together to offer it to the community for women,".

Executive director at Amberly's Place, Tori Bourguignon, shares what she likes most about this event.

"I think my favorite part about this is that anytime we can empower people to learn some skills to keep themselves and their families safer it's a good thing," she says.

She also expresses her thanks.

"We're truly honored to partner with the Yuma Top Team to have these classes in self-defense and to encourage folks to learn a little bit more and to get a little bit string and have a few takeaways that maybe will help them to be a bit safer," adds Bourguignon.

The seminar will continue on Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Yuma Top Team gym in the Foothills and is free to attend.

For more information, click here.