Springfield TopKick Teaches Children How to Stay Safe

All anyone could hear when stepping into TopKick Martial Arts studio were twenty-one eager children defiantly shouting, “No!”

On a recent Friday, TopKick at Kings Park hosted its third Child Safety Seminar that was designed to teach both children and adults the importance of personal safety.

Instructor Sam Podobed, a second-degree black belt and lead instructor for the seminar, discussed safety rules for playing outside, crossing the street and meeting new animals. However, Podobed primarily spent the one-and-a-half hour event focusing on self-defense techniques against strangers.

“Schools place a lot of emphasis on bullying,” said TopKick member Stacy Weina. “But I do not think they teach anything about safety with strangers.”

“Strangers look like regular people, just like you and me,” Podobed told the children, who all responded with surprised, confused expressions.

To get his point across, Podobed conducted a role play activity in which he asked the adults to be the “bad guys.” At first, the children had a difficult time saying “no” to the “bad guys” because most of them were their parents, but Podobed pointed out that many “bad guys” might not be strangers.

“A majority of kidnappings and attacks on kids are actually from people they already know,” Podobed said.

Students learned how to display confidence through their body language, use of words and tone of voice in order to keep unwanted people away.

“Confidence is key,” Podobed said. “You must step back, firmly extend your arm forward and yell, ‘No! Stop! I said get back!’”

“I am glad Instructor Sam highlighted the fact that it is ok to say ‘no,’” said TopKick member Patricia Cosby. “Too many kids are embarrassed to say ‘no’ to people they don’t know.”

Students also learned how to perform the hammer fist, palm strike and front snap kick – three easy, yet vital moves that could potentially save their lives if they were attacked.

By the end of the seminar, the children and adults agreed that the lesson was beneficial.

“My favorite part was the techniques,” said Alex Cosby, 6. “But one of the most important things I learned was that it is ok to say ‘no.’”

Weina, whose five-year-old daughter was excitedly showing off her palm strike to TopKick masters and instructors, said, “I definitely will bring my black belt son to another one of these seminars because it is never too late to learn about safety.”

Podobed said that the next child safety seminar is April 15 at 4:50 p.m.

"We try to schedule them pretty regularly," Podobed said. "If someone wants to sign up who's not a member, they can give us a call."

Podobed said the age range in the class is generally 6 to 12 years old.

"Some of the younger kids are too young to really understand it," Podobed said. "Once they're six, they're old enough to understand the basics."

TopKick - Kings Park
703-503-0101
8932 Burke Lake Road
Springfield, 22151