An Astoria jiu jitsu studio is doing its part to help women in the community feel a little bit safer. NY1's Leisha Majtan introduces us to our latest Queens People of the Week.
Having peace of mind is priceless. That's why Kelly Borges and Eduardo Santos offer free monthly self-defense classes for women at their jiu iitsu studio.
"We never know what's gonna happen to you when you leave your home," said Kelly Borges, one of NY1's Queens People of the Week.
The husband and wife duo own "Gentle Art Studio" in Astoria. Santos started practicing the martial art when he was a kid, and he says that over the years, the sport helped him physically and mentally.
"I started to see myself better and, like, becoming more confident, and everything I learned in jiu jitsu, I brought into the rest of my life," said Eduardo Santos, one of NY1's Queens People of the Week.
Santos and his wife want others to feel the same. The two-hour course teaches basic tactics to women who could be at risk of becoming victims.
"In jiu jitsu self-defense, you really learn how to control a person through leverage, by actually using the weight of the person against them" said Borges.
Santos says the the key is preventing attacks in the first place.
He and Borges also teach women to be on their toes at all times, to walk in well-lit neighborhoods, and to always have their keys handy.
"Anything can happen any time. It can happen in the supermarket, can happen in the street, can happen at home, and they see how easy it is to escape when you use these techniques," said Santos.
One student says the class is giving her courage she never realized she had.
"It's given me confidence when I go outside now and I view the world like I'm not going to be a victim, like I can help someone else if they're in need in the street or something," said student Sylvia Lugo.
And so for giving women the tools they need to feel safe, Kelly Borges and Eduardo Santos are NY1's Queens People of the Week.
For more information about the free classes, head to gentleartstudio.com.