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Empower Self Defense, LLC "Empowering Women In Today's World"
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Support Ovarian Cancer Research Katie Turyna - Ovarian Cancer Survivor
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About Us...
Haganah: Currently Studying the F.I.G.H.T. System at All Star Karate and Kickboxing in Hagerstown, MD. Pa Kua Zhang: 2 years; Studied under Sifu Greg Hatza in Catonsville, MD at the Chinese Boxing Academy. Karate: Shotokan - 1 year Seido - 5 1/2 years (1st degree black belt) My interest in the martial arts began by taking a self defense class while studying at Towson University located in Towson, MD. After taking only a few classes, I was able to drop a fellow male student to the ground. It was at this point that I realized I had the strength and ability as a woman to protect myself. Talk about feeling empowered! Having been the victim of sexual assault, all I knew is that I wanted to learn more. The rest is history. Through karate training I developed a strong knowledge of the basics when it came to punching, kicking, and physical defense. My reflexes also gained speed. Through repetition comes the ability to react quickly without any thinking, otherwise known as 'no mind.' This certainly comes in handy when objects come falling or flying at you when you're least expecting it! After earning my black belt in karate, I began training in Pa Kua Zhang under Sifu Greg Hatza. During the time I was studying Pa Kua I had the opportunity to attend an AWSDA seminar in Ashville, North Carolina. The American Women's Self Defense Association is an organization which promotes the fact that "every woman has the absolute right to defend themselves." That seminar really got me fired up to teach women's self defense. One day I had the good chance to sit and talk with fellow student Sheryl Gallagher. Seeing that we both had the goal of teaching women's self defense, we teamed up to create Empower Self Defense / Women Fighting Back. Through teaching others how to defend themselves, I learned there was another side of training that I wanted to study. In my search for a quick and effective street training method, I discovered Haganah - the combat ready form of Krav Maga. We learn not only empty hand techniques, but also how to successfully defend against gun and knife threats. It was love at first F.I.G.H.T.!
Tae Kwon Do (Black Belt) Aikido, Ninjitsu, Tai Chi Pa Kua Zhang: 1999-current (Formal Disciple); Studies under Sifu Greg Hatza in Catonsville, MD at the Chinese Boxing Academy. Sheryl Lee Gallagher has been studying the martial arts from the very young age of five years old. Even though she never received formal instruction until much older, Sheryl was always reading books studying different techniques and different styles. Sheryl suffered when at the early age of sixteen, her father went to prison. This led her to formally seek training in the art of Tae Kwon Do in 1991. After just three and a half years of training Sheryl earned her black belt and is registered with the Kuikiwoon of Korea. After studying Tae Kwon Do she took time off to explore Aikido, Ninjitsu, and Tai Chi. During this time she also discovered Pa Kua, an internal Chinese style of Kung Fu that involves both martial arts and chi training. Sheryl has been studying Pa Kua since 1999, and now is a formal disciple. All throughout her training, Sheryl has had a passion for helping women. In July of 2004 she started Empower Self Defense - Women Fighting Back with fellow martial artist Katie Turyna. Their first seminar was for a Mothers and More group in Harford County. Currently, Sheryl is teaching women's self-defense at Harford Community College.
Empower Self Defense: 2004 - current AWSDA Seminar 2004 Born at the manufacturing plant of Crown Gym Mats, Hank lives for the tough life. According to Katie 'For myself, it was definitely love at first punch.' Hank, who is known to 'take a licking and keep on ticking', is a favorite among all who meet him. Participants love practicing with him as it gives them a real feel not only for what it is like to hit something solid, but also allows instructors to gauge the strength of the their techniques. |
