CANANDAIGUA – The Wellness Department within UR Medicine Thompson Health will host a women’s self-defense class – for ages 13 and up – on Thursday, Feb. 28, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Held in the Thompson Conference Center (TCC) on the ground floor of Thompson Hospital, 350 Parrish St., the class will be led by Gary Evarts, a seventh-degree black belt in Kuk Sool Won, a Korean martial art.
Evarts, who has more than 40 years of experience in martial arts and is the head instructor at Kuk Sool Greater Rochester in Ontario and Williamson, was in 2011 and 2012 invited
by coaches to train Olympic athletes in coordination, strength, agility and focus. He also trains New York State Police in fitness and self-defense techniques and is an adjunct professor at Finger Lakes Community College, teaching defensive tactics.
During the Feb. 28 women’s self-defense class at Thompson, Evarts will teach participants how to prevent attacks through awareness skills, how to diffuse a situation with verbal skills, how to use “real-world” self-defense techniques and how to build the confidence needed to protect themselves.
Loose workout clothing is preferred, and no prior experience is necessary. The cost is $20 per person and must be paid in advance. To sign up, call Thompson’s Wellness Department at (585) 396-6111.