A recent attack on a woman jogger at Whangarei's Hatea Loop walkway sparked increased demand for a self-defence class and now Whangarei parents are wanting classes for their children.
A Safe for Life self-defence class was held at NorthTec recently, following the attack on April 30, and some parents who attended have shown interest in their children being taught self-defence and see schools as a good place to hold them.
Dean Baker, senior instructor at Choong Mu Taekwando, said the class was originally only going to be held for NorthTec but due to the sexual assault of the jogger, many women in the community were requesting a class to be held - so he organised another class for the public.
According to international director and founder of Protect Self Defence Phil Thompson on both days the course he was running was packed to capacity.
Diana France, a mum of two young children, attended this course and said if her children were older she would definitely want them to attend a class. She said it provided the knowledge to be able to protect yourself and to be more alert and aware.