After a close female friend of ASU alumnus Dan Kessler was attacked last summer, Kessler promised himself to teach women how to defend themselves.
Kessler, who has trained for five years with ASU's American Pankration Club, said he was upset he did not think to teach his friend how to defend herself.
Kessler regretted not showing her, so he took it upon himself to make sure his sister and female cousin were informed how to handle an attacker.
"After [showing my sister and cousin], I was like, I might as well do this and teach a lot of women this."
Kessler now teaches public workshops and private self-defense workshops called "Angels with Attitudes" at the Southwest Institute of the Healing Arts at 1100 E. Apache Blvd. and at the Pure Fitness at Baseline and Rural roads.
In the workshops, Kessler said he first informs about 10 to 15 women per session about strategies to dissuade an attacker before teaching martial arts techniques through interaction.
He said he teaches women how to defend an attack from behind, how to ward off multiple attackers and what to do if a knife is involved.
Various ASU student organizations have participated in the workshop, including ASU chapters of the American Business Women's Association and Students Educating about Race and Violence Everywhere.
Psychology senior and SERVE President Rachel Sherwyn said she was in one of the workshops.
Sherwyn said as a woman she's not encouraged to show physical aggression so it was fun to be powerful.
"It got me really inspired," she said. "It got me to do more, it was very empowering."
Political science sophomore Dylan Fleisch said women should make it a priority to protect themselves.
"It's a scary world and there are weirdos out there, and you never know," she said. "It's always better to be safe than sorry."
Kessler intends on starting weekly workshops in the Student Recreation Complex, and a request is currently flowing through ASU channels.
"There are people out there with the wrong intentions," Kessler said. "Every year many women are attacked and, because of this, learning how to defend yourself is very important."
Reach the reporter at shaina.levee@asu.edu.
