The floor of Commando Krav Maga Chelsea and Kitchi Toe Kwon Do facility on a recent Wednesday night was filled with women of all ages “learning to fight like girls.”
They were inside the Dexter Township building, located below Ugly Dog Distillery at 14495 North Territorial Road, to learn the art of “Commando Krav Maga,” — reality-based self-defense techniques, from Michael Trester, a certified level 5 instructor.
Their reasons for learning how to fend off a choke, knife or gun attack ranged from “you never know when you’ll need these skills” to “I’m headed off to college and want to feel safe.”
And for Dave Quinn, father of 16-year-old Haley Quinn, who was attending the class, it’s about peace of mind as his daughter goes through daily life.
“I wanted real-life situations for her,” the father said, as his daughter begins dating.
“I’m not so fearful to send her off to college anymore,” he said of the classes his daughter’s been attending for the last seven months.
Trester said the women learn “gross (simple) motor movements,” which will help them defend against “strikes” or punches, chokes, “ground survival” (where forced to the ground), as well as how to disarm someone with a gun or knife.
This class, he said, was begun because he was asked by women for one where they felt comfortable, learning along side other women.
“They wanted something away from sweaty men,” he said, adding, “although chances are, the person they might need to fend off is going to be ‘a big sweaty man.’”
Trester, a Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Officer, and a highly trained sniper team SWAT member, said the class teaches “efficient and confident street survival tactics.”
And, women with experience as well as newcomers are welcome. Classes are $5 for those 12 years and older.
Trester’s been teaching since 2008 and moved into the space, which is about 1,500 square feet, in 2009.
He instructs a number of different Tae Kwon Do classes on all levels, and has completed numerous classes and seminars to achieve his level 5 certification in Commando Krav Maga. Rebecca Trester, his wife, said her husband is just one of 10 instructors in the country with a level 5 or higher certification.
The more intense classes are Mondays at 8 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 9 a.m.
For more information about Commando Krav Maga, click here.
If you’d like more information about these classes, email [email protected] or click here.
