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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A recent spate of sexual assaults in Yellowknife has left women across the city fearing for their personal safety.

Quinlyn Chiasson, left, and Bella Dance studio owner Lina Ball practice wrist-evasion techniques under the guidance of jujitsu athlete Michael Lalonde at the studio on Saturday. Ball had asked Lalonde to come in and teach a few of her dancers some techniques in light of recent violence in Yellowknife. - Candace Thomson/NNSL photo

With the RCMP admitting it doesn't have the capability to do foot patrols every day, some women are wondering what they can do to protect themselves.

Luckily, mixed martial arts instructor Darrel Ouellette is offering a course to help women take matters into their own hands.

"Women were contacting me regarding women's self-defence courses. There's no way I could have said no," said Ouellette.

Ouellette, who runs Cage Fitness, has been offering women's self-defence courses in Yellowknife since 1996. However, this was the first time he has been approached by women and specifically asked to put on a course.

"A lot of them are genuinely scared," said Ouellette. "They just don't feel safe."

Julie Normandin was one of the woman who took the course. She said she has been attacked by a man three times in her life, once in Mexico and twice in Yellowknife, where she was born and raised.

"I don't want it to ever happen again," said Normandin.

She said the three-hour course taught her some valuable skills and increased her confidence.

"I was able to escape in the past, but now I feel like I'm more educated in getting away," said Normandin.

Of the 15 women who showed up, at least four had had their homes broken into, while several others had been assaulted at some point in their lives.

One woman, who asked to be identified as Sarah, said she was shocked when she heard what happened to Racquet Club owner Kelli Hinchey, who lives on the same street as her. She feels especially threatened because she has three daughters and her husband works at one of the mines.

"He works two on two off, so six months a year I'm alone," said Sarah.

Sarah said two weeks ago she started locking her doors for the first time in 20 years. She decided to take the self-defence course to be able to protect herself and her daughters.

"There's no guarantee but I give myself a chance," she said.

Ouellette said the first thing he always teaches is awareness - it is better to avoid dangerous situations than to have to fight.

"Sometimes the world doesn't work like that though," Ouellette said.

During the three hours of instructions, Ouellette and several assistants taught the women how to escape common situations, including being struck, choked and tackled to the ground. The training emphasized using your opponent's weaknesses to your advantage, focusing on "soft areas" such as the eyes, throat and groin.

"This is survival at its worst and also at its best," said Ouellette. "It's reality-based self-defence."

Ouellette has received a lot of positive feedback from the women who took the course and said he plans on offering additional courses in the coming weeks.

This Saturday, Ouellette will also be putting on a course for free at the Racquet Club, but space is limited to 14 people due to the size of the venue.

"As long as women keep asking for it, I'll keep offering it," said Ouellette.

Sarah said she would not only attend the next course, but that she was going to bring her two older daughters along with her.

"I want more classes, I want to learn to kick some ass," said Sarah.

Normandin also said she plans to keep training with Ouellette in the future.

"It's kind of empowering. It makes you feel equal, like you can do something," said Normandin.

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