Prof. Steve McLaughlin, instructor of the Kupale Assault Prevention Program, demonstrates self-defense and protection techniques and maneuvers with personnel of the Philippine Consulate General and their family members
(27 March 2018, Honolulu, Hawaii) - “The average woman who gets assaulted in Hawaii is between 18 and 26 years old. And most attacks on women happen at home. The numbers vary from 70 to 80 percent.”
These were just two of the statistics shared by Professor Steve McLaughlin during the two-hour Kupale Assault Prevention Workshop for personnel and family members of the Philippine Consulate General on 26 March 2018 at a martial arts studio Prof. McLaughlin runs next to the Daijingu Shinto Temple in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Said activity, which was organized by the Consulate’s Gender and Development (GAD) Section, was held as one of its activities in celebration of National Women’s Month and in observance of 14th Women with Disabilities Day.
Considered to be the Hawaii’s Number 1 women’s self-defense and empowerment course, the Kupale workshop, (Kupale is Hawaiian term for “to defend”), was developed and taught by Professor Steve McLaughlin, who has over 40 years of women assault prevention and self-defense teaching experience. Aside from holding black belts in several martial arts disciplines which include judo and jujitsu, Professor McLaughlin, or Sensei Steve to his students, is also an acupuncturist, locksmith and a computer expert.
The techniques presented during the session were simple, practical, effective and could be accomplished by anyone with little or no previous training. The workshop consisted of 40% assault prevention lecture and 60% self-defense and self-protection techniques.
The Consulate staff and family members, led by Madame Araceli C. Jimeno, were taught how to assess, avoid and escape many dangerous situations such as kidnapping, attacks and abduction; to settle fear and panic with proper breathing; as well as survival skills and road and vehicle safety. Also included in the workshop were question and answer sessions, and lectures followed by hands-on demonstrations.
Prof. McLauglin also provided tips on how to avoid trouble:
- Avoidance. This may sound simple but many women walk into harm’s way without looking twice
- Educate yourself in personal safety. Learn to protect yourself from yourself before you try to defend yourself from someone else.
- Escape. When in doubt, get out.
- Intuition. Follow your gut instincts - they are always right.
- Prevention. Contrary to popular belief the best self-defense is done without fighting.
The primary goal of the said activity was to equip the Consulate’s personnel with basic skills and techniques to prepare them for any situation that may bring harm to them, as crime incidents both in the Philippines and in the United States are growing at an alarming rate. (END).
The Philippine Consulate General personnel and family members, led by Madame Araceli C. Jimeno (2nd row, center), pose with Prof. Steve McLaughlin (2nd row, 6th from right) after the two-hour Kupale Assault Prevention Workshop by the Daijingu Temple, Honolulu, Hawaii
