For the second year in a row, members of the Bristol Police Department left it all on the field while making sure the women of Bristol had an opportunity to learn how to defend themselves from attack, at a self defense seminar held last Friday, Sept. 29, at the Quinta Gamelin Center.

“The seminar is designed to empower women to feel like they can defend themselves; to have the knowledge and pre-training to react and get away,” said Lt. Steven St. Pierre. “We aren’t trying to make the next Bruce Lee, but we are sharing basic skills to employ muscle memory and the framework to respond appropriately in the right situation.”

The program was designed and executed by Sgt. Brett Estrella. It utilizes the techniques taught in Krav Maga, a system of self defense developed for the Israel Defense Forces that borrows techniques from aikido, judo, karate, boxing, and wrestling. Several members of the Bristol Police Department — including those who participated in the seminar — currently train in Krav Maga.

The seminar ran a little over two hours and included lessons on vigilance and situational awareness; how to choose the best defensive posture for each situation, and how, where, and when to strike effectively. They ran drills that created scenarios that women, unfortunately, might find themselves in.

“You want to disorient and distract, then make space to get away,” said St. Pierre. “Participants throw strikes and knees and land hits — that’s where the empowerment comes in, when you see that it can really work.”

“It was great,” said participant Julie Pirri. “The officers were all so professional and supportive. They gave us the confidence that if we need to, we can kick, punch, respond quickly and then get out…It was intense, and real. It hit home physically, mentally, and emotionally.”

The program is for women over the age of 16, and there is no upper age limit, providing you have the strength to throw a punch. But it is physically demanding. “I’m so sore I can’t move,” reported Pirri, three days after the event.

It’s physically demanding for the officers, too, who dress up in red pads donated by America’s Best Defense to spare them from the worst.

“They all did so well,” said St. Pierre of the participants. “We’d love to do more — our goal is to get to two a year.”

Officers too, seemed to enjoy the work. “Everyone had a good time. You do take a beating but it’s for a good cause.”

“Sgt. Estrella does such a good job with this program — he manages to teach women how to be aggressive in a manner that’s not off-putting.

“I was just there to get beat up.”