Martial arts studio to host Kids’ Safety Day Saturday
Senta Scarborough
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 27, 2003
MESA - A martial arts studio is teaming up with police and firefighters to give kids a fighting chance to protect themselves on the streets. The Power Black Belt Academy is hosting a free Kids’ Safety Day on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the academy’s studio at 1350 S. Clearview Ave., Suite 101. Academy owner Susan McFarland, a fourth-degree black belt, and Mesa Detective Rich Milburn will show children ages 6 to 15 techniques to protect themselves and prevent a possible abduction. Parents must attend the workshop with their children. Using role-playing demonstrations, kids will learn the basics of dealing with strangers and strategies for escape and will practice physical resistance and self-defense. “You can’t be there every minute of every day,” Milburn said. “The class is designed to teach kids to put themselves in a safer environment when they are out of their own houses. If it makes one less kid a victim, then we have done our job.”
One of the academy’s students, 8-year-old, black belt Dakota Cavanagh, will be part of the defense demonstration and will receive an award from the Mesa Fire Department for rescuing a younger child from possibly drowning over Memorial Day weekend.
“Dakota’s recent rescue of another child exemplifies the responsibility and quick reactions that are keys to helping kids stay safe in every situation,” McFarland said. “We hope to emphasize these keys to the children of our community through our presentation on Kids’ Safety Day.” At the safety day, kids can check out a Mesa police SWAT van and team, get an inside look at a Southwest Ambulance, climb a Mesa firetruck and see motorcycle police in action. Mesa bike officers will perform a bike rodeo and teach children bicycle safety at 9 a.m. Children must bring a bicycle and helmet and register for the workshop. Mesa firefighters are also teaching a safety class, including topics such as general first aid, adult and infant CPR, drowning awareness and water safety.
From 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., the American Heart Association will teach a CPR certification class for $15. For more information or to register for the bike rodeo, call (480) 380-0404.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0627safetyday.html
That will teach all kids who think they are hot shot because they take some pathetic martial art all over USA that MARTIAL ARTS DOESN’T MAKE THEM IMMORTAL OR TURN THEM INTO JET LI OVERNIGHT!!!