Abilene Woman Takes Self Defense after Family Member was Attacked and Murdered
By: Kristin Anderson
Updated: September 18, 2012
Candice Gomez has quickly learned how to take down an attacker.
"I don't stress. I don't worried. I'm not scared," she said.
With only six months under her belt, Candice says the self defense classes have already made her more sure of herself.
"I feel like if somebody came up behind me, I could at least get him off of me," she explained.
Ten years ago, one of Candice's family members was attacked and murdered in their apartment, and Candice says that self defense could have saved her. And that was a factor into her signing up for the class.
"I guess a little bit in the back of my mind," Candice said.
But that she simply wanted to make sure she could protect herself.
"You can think you know your surroundings, and you can know everyone around you. And you don't. Something can always happen," she said. "And when you feel the safest, could be when something happens.
And her instructor agrees: It's always being prepared that is the best defense against an attacker.
"It's important for us to be able to protect ourselves as a state of readiness. And you never know when something bad is going to happen, so you want to be in a state of readiness, ready to protect yourself no matter what's going on," said Larry Fields, instructor.
Though she can maneuver her way out of multiple attacks and has the confidence to protect herself, she's going to continue the classes for as long as she can.
"Because it's fun and it teaches you. And when you walk out the door at night, you're not as scared as you would be," she explained. "And if somebody is under your car or in your car, you can at least get free and get out of your car."
"I don't stress. I don't worried. I'm not scared," she said.
With only six months under her belt, Candice says the self defense classes have already made her more sure of herself.
"I feel like if somebody came up behind me, I could at least get him off of me," she explained.
Ten years ago, one of Candice's family members was attacked and murdered in their apartment, and Candice says that self defense could have saved her. And that was a factor into her signing up for the class.
"I guess a little bit in the back of my mind," Candice said.
But that she simply wanted to make sure she could protect herself.
"You can think you know your surroundings, and you can know everyone around you. And you don't. Something can always happen," she said. "And when you feel the safest, could be when something happens.
And her instructor agrees: It's always being prepared that is the best defense against an attacker.
"It's important for us to be able to protect ourselves as a state of readiness. And you never know when something bad is going to happen, so you want to be in a state of readiness, ready to protect yourself no matter what's going on," said Larry Fields, instructor.
Though she can maneuver her way out of multiple attacks and has the confidence to protect herself, she's going to continue the classes for as long as she can.
"Because it's fun and it teaches you. And when you walk out the door at night, you're not as scared as you would be," she explained. "And if somebody is under your car or in your car, you can at least get free and get out of your car."
