The Fight Like a Girl self-defense class will be sponsored by the Fort Dodge Police Association and Faiferlick Martial Arts. The class starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Faiferlick Martial Arts, 326 S. 25th St.

“Since COVID, nationwide crime is on a rise,” said Fort Dodge Police Department Officer Joelyn Johnson. “An event like this encourages people to take accountability for themselves to pursue getting themselves the necessary training that they would need to empower themselves and prevent them from becoming a victim.”

Fight Like a Girl was started in 2018 by then-Officer Caitlin Carlyle. Carlyle is now a detective with the Fort Dodge Police Department. Carlyle partnered with Justin Faiferlick, of Fort Dodge, to host the self-defense class.

This class is an eye-opening opportunity, Johnson said.

“There’s a lot of things I think people don’t really consider, especially when young girls are living at home,” she said. “They always feel very protected and their parents are always there looking out for them and taking that responsibility off of their shoulders.”

But as they grow up and become more independent, Johnson said, the responsibility to protect yourself grows as well.

“This kind of gives them a different aspect of trying to be more self-aware and environmentally-aware of your surroundings,” she said. “It also gives them the tools of how they might pursue things on their own to develop skills to protect themselves.”

Faiferlick will be teaching the self-defense class on Saturday.

“We are very fortunate to have him in our community and his training and experience with martial arts and self-defense practices,” Johnson said. “And it’s not about going around with the confidence to attack other people, but to respond when you are attacked.”

The class is limited to 100 attendees, women and girls ages 13 and up.

If you go

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: Faiferlick Martial Arts, 326 S. 25th St.

Cost: $10

Registration is required. To register, email fdpd@fortdodgeiowa.org or call 515-573-1424.