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WILKES-BARRE — A self-defense class Wednesday taught women to “take the power back.”

Robert Thomas, of Tsunami Self-Defense Academy, held a 90-minute class for 42 women ages 13 and older at Elite Spine and Sports PT in Wilkes-Barre. Thomas taught women how to mentally and physically escape harm through several different techniques.

“He’s going to teach mind-set, strategy and physical skills,”said Jack Digwood, co-owner of Elite.

Thomas explained his way of taking down an attacker should be different than another person’s.

“We can’t have a cookie-cutter approach (when attacked),” Thomas told the women.

He instructed them to not insult, not threaten or ask questions when approached.

“Take the power back,” he said. “De-escalate.”

Digwood and his wife, Kristen, decided to bring in Thomas because they know some of their clients are runners and “don’t run in the safest place.”

Best friends Maddison Black and Kayliegh Wardle wanted to “tackle this together” because they always do things together. Their mothers were also in attendance. The Plains Township pair was having fun testing techniques on each other.

“We’re just learning how to protect ourselves,” Wardle, 20, said.

Ann Marie Montagna, of Pittston, attends Elite and decided to sign up after seeing a news report about a woman being attacked. Montagna said the techniques she learned would come in handy if anything happened while walking or going from a parking lot into a grocery store.

“You never know when you’re going to have to protect yourself,” she said.

During open-handed strikes, Montagna received praise from Thomas.

“I saw what others were doing and I decided I was just going to hit him hard,” Montagna said.

Thomas told the class there are two types of attackers: those who people know and those who are unknown.

“And the sad reality is that more times than not you are are going to be harmed by someone you know,” he alerted the women.

The money raised to participate in the class will benefit the Domestic Violence Service Center, Digwood said.

Kathy Perlucke, 60, of Nanticoke, practices self defense with instructor Robert Thomas at Elite Spine and Sports in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. 3/22/17. Sean McKeag | Times Leader
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL032317selfdefense1.jpg.optimal.jpgKathy Perlucke, 60, of Nanticoke, practices self defense with instructor Robert Thomas at Elite Spine and Sports in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. 3/22/17. Sean McKeag | Times LeaderSean McKeag | Times Leader

Instructor Robert Thomas shows self defense to a group of women at Elite Spine and Sports in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. 3/22/17. Sean McKeag | Times Leader
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL032317selfdefense2.jpg.optimal.jpgInstructor Robert Thomas shows self defense to a group of women at Elite Spine and Sports in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. 3/22/17. Sean McKeag | Times LeaderSean McKeag | Times Leader
Women encouraged to ‘de-escalate’

By Melanie Mizenko

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Reach Melanie Mizenko at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TL_MMizenko