Practical self-defence and personal safety awareness

Liz Davies and Djamila Swindells

Lotus Defence is the brainchild of Liz Davies, who is a black belt karate and self-defence instructor with 6 years experience. Ms Davies took up karate as a means of self-defence and building her self-confidence due to having previously experienced bullying and domestic violence. Becoming an instructor enabled her in turn help others. Ms Davies’ keen personal interest in self defence combined with seeing the positive and rewarding results of helping her students regain their confidence and self-esteem is what inspired her to take her knowledge out into the wider community with classes on practical self-defence and personal safety awareness.

Ms Davies has also been able to draw upon her 5 years in the Royal Air Force Police and 2 years in The Special Constabulary with North Yorkshire Police. These gave her a wealth of experience, such as civil and military law, the handling of firearms, as well as control and restraint techniques from the RAF. This experience was increased by being involved in the running of Crucial Crew, designed to give children awareness of general dangers in and out of the home; as well as giving talks to communities about Neighbourhood Watch schemes and to primary school children about Stranger Danger Awareness. For a short while Ms Davies was the Domestic Violence Liaison Officer with the Special Constabulary. Two years experience as a Self Defence Consultant, which included a Personal Development Programme has been invaluable.

Ms Davies approached Djamila Swindells, a fellow karate and self-defence instructor, with her vision of taking self-defence classes out to a wider market, understanding that not all women who could gain from their skills and technical ability would partake in a martial art. Ms Swindells also felt many women could benefit from their help due to rising offences against women and the rising crime rates. They decided to combine their complementary personal qualities and experiences to set up Lotus Defence (the lotus flower is a symbol in many cultures, which signifies someone rising up from murky depths to blossom, it represents a hard time in life that has been overcome).

Together they decided to offer a non martial art form, initially as Women’s Self Defence Classes with a view to progressing to work with schools and eventually the corporate market. Doing a public survey, leafleting and running taster sessions have enabled Ms Davies and Ms Swindells to plan and provide classes, which encompass the needs of local women. “Our aim is to see many more ‘lotuses’ rising up from the murky depths and blossoming into strong, confident and outgoing individuals”.

Although both Ms Davies and Ms Swindells are self-motivated, enthusiastic and determined people, they have benefited from the help and support of the Rochdale Women’s Enterprise Initiative. After attending just one networking meeting they were able to secure an office at Acorn Enterprise Factory.