"Jiu-jitsu is the art of yielding. You don't attack, but you appropriate the opponent's strength to defend yourself. We've been offering training programs like 'Safe Woman' for a few years now, holding sessions with the local police and other organizations," said Stefano Mucignato, technical director of the Jiu Jitsu Team Vicenza. "At this moment, we want to bring our art to the residents of Santa Bertilla, hoping that this series of self-defense lessons can help them."
The neighborhood successfully launched its free self-defense course, which, in its first session at the Calderari school gym, saw over a hundred residents eager to learn personal defense techniques. The initiative, promoted by the committee 'Let's Help Defend Ourselves,' is supported by city councilor Nicolò Naclerio (FdI), who stated: "We are forming various committees in areas of the city where we are contacted because the situation is complicated. We are not discouraged by thefts, vandalism, and robberies; those have always been there. What will change this time is that we are forming a group of people who support each other and feel united." "While the shop shutters were coming down," he continued, "we were there taking our evening walk to alleviate the fear of walking alone in the streets after dark. This is the first of a series of demonstrations that will involve the committee of residents and shopkeepers of Santa Bertilla, and we hope it can be expanded to other areas." The course, led by instructor Stefano Mucignato, offered a practical and everyday approach to personal defense.
The main goal is to provide residents with tangible tools to feel safer while out on the streets without fostering distrust toward others. "I believe this fantastic discipline can serve primarily as defense for individuals but also as a philosophy to practice over the years to improve one's life," commented Luca Scarpa, a member of the Jiu Jitsu Team Vicenza for many years. Lucia Toffanin, a resident of Santa Bertilla who decided to participate in the course, observed: "It's important to be united and to make an effort to feel safer. I'm certain that this course can be very useful to us." The self-defense course aims to continue engaging and educating the local community in the coming weeks, with the goal of increasing the level of safety and trust among the neighborhood residents. "It's not just a way to learn to defend oneself but also to strengthen the sense of solidarity and cohesion among the residents of Santa Bertilla. 'Let's Help Defend Ourselves' is a means for us to engage the community and to prevent unpleasant things from happening in a time when crime is prevalent," added Alessandro Ambrosini, coordinator of the province's committees. He further adds, "As a first step, there is the certainty of finding in others a certain help and a warmth that warms the heart."
(GdV, sabato 9 marzo)