Matilda Byrne, 30, never imagined she would find sparring with a stranger empowering.
But curiosity — and concern — drove the Alice Springs local to sign-up for a six-week self-defence course centred on grappling and wrestling.
It has transformed her confidence.
"I thought, if I was to ever come up against someone bigger and stronger than myself, I'm not really going to stand a chance with the skills I know," Matilda said.
"[Now] I feel 10 times more confident in myself and who I am."
The transformation has kept Matilda, and women like her, engaged in a sport of defence, power and thrill.
The beginner self-defence program is run by local Brazilian jiu-jitsu and grappling enthusiasts Lukas Blom and Cameron Cornell.
This weekend, they will start the third round of the course.
More than an introduction to wrestling and sparring, Lukas and Cameron walk participants through what to do if they find themselves in a vulnerable position — and how to take action.
Early sessions work through strategies to verbally diffuse hostile situations, before progressing to physical sparring and grappling skills.
"We didn't want it to be a fluffy and silly course, where you go away and then you're not any safer," Lukas said.
Lukas, who holds a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, hopes to pass on his knowledge of the sport to empower participants.
"We designed the course around easing people into combat sport. Hopefully, they love it, and continue that practice for life," he said.
"They gain a better understanding of personal protection and self-defence, rather than a false confidence from just kicking and screaming."
Demand for personal safety training
Personal safety and self-defence courses have been a fixture in Alice Springs for a number of years.
Both Neighbourhood Watch NT and Victims of Crime NT have and continue to facilitate personal safety programs in the area.
Neighbourhood Watch NT's executive director Chris Brack said equipping locals with the tools to avoid harmful situations was increasingly important.
"We really push situational awareness being the best way to keep safe," he said.
While the organisation has always advocated for personal safety, ongoing conversations about crime in Alice Springs led to the development of a personal safety program of its own in 2020.
"We have noticed demand is strong for [a] community and safety message," Chris said.
"It's always going to be a message that hits home."
Preparing for the unknown
Local nurse Brenda Bruce, 40, and her husband Ben, 39, decided to sign up for the beginner course after watching their children — who take part in the kids' program — grow to love the sport.
Not only did Brenda find a sport she loved, but she felt a sense of accomplishment, and preparedness for the unknown.
"It's about having the tools in your tool belt to know what to do if you are ever in that position," she said.
"If I was ever in that situation, I actually feel like I could physically get away from a larger, stronger attacker."
The life lessons for her family keep them coming back.
"They talk about using kindness and being empathetic to other people," Ms Bruce said.
"It's not all about strength."
