Bob McKenna offers FREE self-defense classes for Grand Valley women

Bob McKenna gives his mother credit for his passion for volunteering, and respect for women.

“My mom taught me the loving and respectful way to treat women,” said McKenna, 67. “My goal is to reach every woman in the Grand Valley and teach her self-defense for free before I die. If I save one person’s life then there’s my ticket to heaven.”

Raised by an incredible single mom who worked two jobs and took the bus everywhere, McKenna learned to respect women at a young age.

“The lack of respect, devaluing of women and ‘if I want it I take it and I can get away with it’ direction our society is going in is why it’s important for me to give empowerment to ladies today more than ever before,” he said.

McKenna’s passion is also a living tribute to his wife of 34 years, who helped him teach self-defense classes until she died from ovarian cancer five years ago.

 

Rough beginnings

Growing up near a rough neighborhood in Pueblo, Colorado, McKenna was often bullied as a kid. He got beat up a lot and learned to run away fast. Eventually, he found boxing as a way to stand up to the other high-spirited young men and joined a team.

Now, McKenna is a nationally certified black belt karate instructor with more than 35 years of experience. He is also proficient at Judo, Jiu Jitsu and Tai Chi and fought martial arts in the ring for 10 years.

McKenna moved to the western slope in 1978 and spent most of his career in health care, where he found a new need for his particular skill set.

“Working mostly with women over the years, they told me horror stories of being abused physically, emotionally and mentally, even by doctors,” he said.

That's when he decided to teach self-defense beginning in the 1980s.

 

Safety first

Participants in McKenna's self-defense class include employees of St. Mary’s, Community and VA hospitals, the Department of Energy, as well as HopeWest physicians, nurses and social workers. Church groups, senior organizations, friends and neighbors have also taken him up on his free classes. McKenna will teach any woman 18 years or older, either one on one or in groups of up to 24 women.

The time and place of each class are up to the participants. Front yards, back yards, living rooms, garages, office meeting spaces or a park: McKenna has done it all.

No athleticism is required. McKenna emphasizes pressure points, joint locks and vital point techniques. And safety always comes first.

“I’m not going to teach you to kick and punch. I’m going to teach you how to get away," said McKenna. "That appeals to women because, for the most part, they aren’t brawlers, they just want to feel safe.”

 

A little R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Unfortunately, fear and past trauma bring many women to his classes. At least a few women in each of his classes have experienced rape, date rape or spousal abuse. Most situations involve alcohol and family members, friends or neighbors.

McKenna believes that the key to helping women, especially if they have been abused, is self-respect.

“If you have self-respect, you’re not going to tolerate someone doing something inappropriate to you,” he said.

McKenna also believes in changing women’s body language to send a message of confidence. Women want to communicate to potential assailants that they are able to defend themselves and that they should be left alone. When they walk out of his class, he wants them to have a presence that sends the message, “Don’t mess with me.”

“There is a change in people from the time they come to my classes to when they leave,” said McKenna. “It’s a subtle thing, but they are now telling themselves, ‘I don’t have to be a victim.’”

For questions or to schedule a class, call McKenna at 261-2445