The Karate Club and Gamma Lambda Rho cosponsored a self-defense seminar Feb. 17, which was attended by 43 Iona students and was instructed by Karate Club Sensei Joel Gonzales, a sensei in Japanese Go Ji.

“It was good that they cosponsored because they would draw more girls to come to the event as self-defense, while it is important for everyone in today’s world, it’s very important for girls,” sophomore Alessandra Armetta, secretary of the Karate Club, said.

The Karate Club puts on the seminar every semester to offer a chance for the rest of the campus to have chance to learn how to take care of themselves. People outside the Karate Club may not have the resources to learn about pressure points or what to do when you get grabbed.

“Knowing how to remove oneself from those types of situations is essential,” senior Emily Forman said. “I thought the self-defense seminar was not only really important but also empowering.”

This allowed for everyone to be able to experience what it is like to be grabbed, or attacked by another person in a safe space. It was seen as an important skill by both groups sponsoring the event. All in attendance learned for the event and found it a fruitful learning experience.

The Karate club meets Mondays at 8:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. For more information, email Christopher Armetta at [email protected].