Seniors from San Francisco all the way to Boston are learning to defend themselves through classes amid anti-Asian hate crimes.
Law enforcement and self-defense instructors teach the elders to arm themselves with pepper spray and alarms. Other classes, such as one in Dorchester, Massachusetts, teach the elders to use their fists and canes for protection.
“Merely being aware of your surroundings will not protect you,” retired Oakland Police Capt. Frank Lowe told KTVU. “You should have some type of action already ready in your mind.”
Teaching elders to use an assortment of items prepares them for any situation.
Although elders have been encouraged to learn techniques by law enforcement and self-defense instructors, other elders decided to take these classes for more personal reasons.
“Our close friends got hit and we feel so threatened,” San Francisco class attendee Betty Chan told KTVU. “I think it’s very necessary for us to learn how to protect ourselves.
Boston instructor Mai Du immigrated to Boston when she was 8 years old and has practiced martial arts for over 30 years, The Boston Globe reports. On March 16 of this year, Du’s father died due to a long-term illness. That same day, a shooter killed eight people in an Atlanta spa, six of which were women of Asian descent. This incident encouraged Du to teach others to stand up for themselves and fight back.
Although the classes’ main purpose is to instruct self defense, some elders also see it as an opportunity for sociability. The Boston Globe states that many of the learning elders came to the United States as refugees, bearing war traumas. Many of the elderly refuse to speak about their mental health to others. Some are unable to do so at all because of their children losing their mother tongue to communicate with them. After a long year of pandemic isolation, elders are relieved to feel more sense of community.
When a session is over, many students stick around and converse with one another, including 88-year-old Linh Mat. The 88-year-old is an instructor herself for senior strength and stamina classes. She believes that the self-defense class goes along well with her strength and stamina class.
Despite being grateful for the self-defense classes, Mat, like many other seniors, prays that they never have to use their learned practices.
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