Nearly 40 girls between the ages of 10 and 17 attended a free self-defense class on Saturday in Monaca.
MONACA — Empowerment was the goal set forth by juvenile probation officer J.T. Engle when he decided to organize a self-defense class for girls.
It all started in March when Engle learned of an attempted abduction of a local teenager. He knows the family of the teen, talked to the parents and shared their concerns. Engle has spent his professional career helping children, and, as an observer of the criminal courts system, knows the severity of the situation.
Human trafficking can happen in Beaver County, he said. Engle isn’t sure if that was the goal of the attempted abduction, but he does know it’s possible. He has a teenage daughter of his own, he said, and he wants to know that she and her peers are aware of the dangers they may encounter.
“I thought, well, what if we were to empower these young girls,” he said.
Engle organized a free self-defense class held on May 26 at the C.J. Mangin building in Monaca. About 38 girls between the ages of 10 and 17 attended the three-hour-long event and learned tactics for how to protect themselves.
It wasn’t all encompassing. As Engle put it, they didn’t walk away knowing how to break an assailant’s arm 20 different ways. But the class taught the girls the basics, and they learned to trust their instincts and to always be aware of their surroundings. In addition to teaching the girls how to fend off an abduction, Engle said they learned how to get themselves out of a lot of different situations.
The class was serious, but also a lot of fun, Engle said. Some girls who attended plan to take lessons with the instructors who volunteered at the event and expand their participation in martial arts.
“They all loved it,” he said. “They had a great time.”
The event was free, thanks to the help of several people who volunteered space, time and equipment, Engle said.
“I believe we had a very good success,” he said.
He is hoping to put on the event again, and possibly make it a bi-annual event. He said he was happy to make a positive event out of a scary situation.
“I have a lot pf praise and thanks for the people who made it a success,” he said, including the parents and families of the participants who care so much about helping to keep young girls safe.