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151 Eastern Main Road,
Barataria, Trinidad.
West Indies
Phone: 868-675-1688/
623-7203
Email: prof@wow.net


Hot Tips and Topics for Women

Welcome to the Purple Dragon Women section. Here you can find inspiration stories on ladies just like you, tips on self defense and articles sure the pique your interest.


Sports Woman of the Week!

 

Published on Friday, 02-05-2008  
 
 

Erin Hislop

The Sportsperson of the Week is 17-year old Erin Hislop, a member of the Purple Dragon dojo here in Cayman; she recently earned her black belt under the Don-Jitsu Ryu system of martial arts.

Her father and coach, Sensei Geddes Hislop, a senior instructor at the Cayman Purple Dragon dojo, introduced his daughter to the sport at age 5. She says she didn’t like it at first, “but after Ivan I got back into it.”

Gymnastics was her first love, and she did get involved in football and squash. “I think gymnastics helped me with karate because of the flexibility and balance.”

Currently a sixth-form student at Cayman Prep & High School taking A levels, she says the classes are hard but is enjoying it. “I will only do a year then find a job in the field of my major, marketing.” With her degree she looks to get into event management, inspired by her work at Celebrations.

When asked about the people she has met along the way from her experience in karate, she says, “Professor Don Jacobs (an old friend of her father’s) is the most inspirational speaker I have ever met.”

She has a younger brother, Justin, who is working towards his black belt.

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Self Defense  Tips For Women

Sensei Rosemarie Thomas- 4th Dan Black Belt

Article courtesy the Trinidad Express
written by Erline Andrews

Rosemarie Thomas is a lean, mean, fighting machine, feared by men. No, actually Sensei Rosemarie Thomas is a sweet, patient instructor. She operates her Purple Dragon Dojo in our sister isle Tobago the hot tourist spot that attract thousands of visitors from all over the world every year. She's well-respected and loved by her students. But don't forget the first part.

 

Even when she's just demonstrating it's intimidating to be at the receiving end of those fists.

 

Sensei Rosemarie Thomas is also an example of the roles women can-and must-inhabit today. The news is saturated with reports of murders and kidnappings, and women still face the age-old threat of physical abuse, harassment and rape.

But being a member of the "fairer sex" doesn't have to mean being vulnerable.

 

"The crime situation is definitely giving people the incentive to get up and do something," says Thomas, seated on a steel chair among the exercise equipment in Purple Dragon's gym. There are muffled grunts and yells from a class in the next room. "A lot of women are taking responsibility for their own protection."
 

Sensei Rosemarie Thomas joined Purple Dragon over 16 years ago when, in her final year at the University of the West Indies, (U.W.I.), she was shaken by an experience.

"Walking on campus one night," she says, "I was followed by three guys who started to make intimidating comments. I still remember the anger and helplessness I felt. I wanted to do something. I went home that night and looked through the Yellow Pages and found Purple Dragon."

She has traveled to India, Nepal, Africa, Dubai, England, Venezuela and many other countries conducting seminars for Purple Dragon International, motivating women in the martial arts and representing Trinidad and Tobago.

 

Sensei Rosemarie Thomas got her first degree black belt two and a half years after joining the dojo, one of the top in the world. After 16 years she is now a Fourth Degree Black Belt. There are also three other Fourth Degree Women Black Belts in Purple Dragon, Sensei Nicole Thomas and Sensei Ayana Cooper and Sensei Clara Montoute.

 

In her time at the dojo, Sensei Rosemarie Thomas has seen the number of female students rise. They now form half of many classes. Kick-boxing is particularly popular among women. With Kick-Fit Boxing, you can, literally, gain a leg-up in confrontations with men.

"Martial arts," Sensei Rosemarie Thomas says, "gives you a level playing field."

 

But if you can't see yourself becoming the next Bruce Lee or, more contemporarily and appropriate for these pages, Uma Thurman, don't worry.

"It doesn't matter how old someone is or what size they are," says Sensei Rosemarie Thomas, "everyone can do something to defend themselves. There are very simple techniques they can use."

 

You can fall into a self-defense class.

"The reason self-defense is such a good thing is because you can learn kicks that go with your body structure. Not everybody could kick somebody in the head, but you could kick somebody in the groin, you could do a low side kick to the knee, you could do a finger stab to the eye. It takes confidence."

 

And for women, gaining confidence is often the hardest part.

They can be shackled by self-perceived limitations, says Sensei Thomas.

"Women are socialized to be quiet and lady-like and not make too much of fuss. That's changing, but it still persists, and those are things we have to overcome if we are to survive."

 

A woman who takes some self-defense or martial arts training might actually be surprised by how strong she is.

"When you start teaching a woman some basic punches, she starts off kind of weak," says Sensei Thomas. "But as time goes on you'll see her confidence grow and...look out!"

What some women think is a disadvantage-their size in relation to men-can actually work in their favor.

 

"Because women are perceived by many men to be vulnerable or easily intimidated, a woman trained in self-defense has an element of surprise. They don't expect you to fight back. The attacker is caught off-guard."

But prevention is better than cure.

 

Sensei Thomas urges women not be caught off-guard, particularly during Carnival, a time when alcohol and "good vibes" can cause you to behave in more risky ways. It's also a time when crime, including violence towards women, escalates. Thomas advises women to move in groups of five and be alert. It is also necessary to limit your intake of alcohol.

 

"Use your discretion," says Thomas. "One night of fun is not worth a lifetime of pain, or even your life."

 Sensei Cooper, 4th Dan "Your keys can save your life". 

 Marshalling an art

This is a self –defense tip from karate champion Sensei Ayana Cooper.  Even if you’re now getting involved in the martial arts, says Sensei Cooper, women have many things at their disposal they can use to ward off danger.

 

“Your keys, shoes, bag and  purse could be used as a weapon,” says the Trinidad and Tobago Sensei.

 

 She has over 60 championship wins under her belt, is studying towards a business degree and has aspirations of performing in theater.  And that’s just the beginning.

 

“One of my main mottos,” says the tall, slim attractive Sensei, “is that whatever I’m doing, no matter what it is, I have to give my best of it.  I may not like it but if I have to do it. I have to give a hundred percent. That's the way I learned from my karate teacher Professor Don Jacob."

 

Sensei Cooper says she believes this attitude comes from karate, which she has been practicing the past 20 years at Purple Dragon, run by the legendary Professor Don Jacob.

 

“Karate is not only a sport to me it’s a way of life,” she says.  “Purple Dragon is a home away from home.  It’s only positive energy when you go there, everyone is there to support you.”

 

Cooper has never felt restricted because of her sex.  “Everyone is treated with the same respect,” she says.  “Everyone is allowed to try everything.”

 

The number of women in karate has been increasing, Cooper says.  Right now the majority of students at the Belmont Dojo are women.  But, Cooper says, she still encounters people with misconceptions about women in karate, and what the sport is about.

 

“To them every woman who does karate is very butch, muscular and for lack of a better word, ugly,” she says.  “People tend to think because you do karate you’re always ready for a fight.  People need to know its really a disciplined sport.  We don’t look for a fight.  We try to avoid a fight as much as possible.”

 

Sensei Cooper has never had cause to use her skills on the street but she feels confident that she could defend herself.  Even if you aren’t trained, Sensei Cooper advises that there are some simple things you can do.  For example, when you go to a party, park your car so that you won’t have to reverse out of the car park.  This will make a getaway easier.

 

Lipstick can be used to leave marks on cars, assailants and places, to aid in finding you, or at least as evidence to bring perpetrators to justice.

 

But formal  instruction at a Purple Dragon any School always helps.  “I would advise everyone, women and man, to get involved in self defense in some way,” says the Champion Cooper. 

 

AYANNA COOPER STATS:

 

  • 1998 Won Sport Karate International World Championships in Savannah, Georgia

  • 1999 Won Sport Karate International Championships in Niagara Falls

  • 1999 Won sparring division of the National Black Belt League Super Grand World Games in Niagara Falls

  • 2000 Won six gold two silver medals in Martial Arts World Games in Melbourne, Australia

  • 2000 Won Sport Karate International World Championships in Savannah Georgia

  • 2001 Won Women’s Division at National Championship in San Antonio, Texas, defeated 13-time world champion Regina Thompson

  • Featured 4 times in the US Magazine Sport Karate

  • 2003 South Central Grand Champion

  • 2004 Combine forces Grand Champion

  • 2005 U.S. Open Heavy weight women

  •  


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