"Get vicious:" Teaching women who may find themselves in life-threatening situations how to "attack the attack"

“Get vicious:” Teaching women who may find themselves in life-threatening situations how to “attack the attack”

"Get vicious:" Teaching women who may find themselves in life-threatening situations how to "attack the attack"

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Do you know what you would do if you found yourself in a situation that had the potential to turn violent? Many think the do, but in the heat of what could be a life-and-death situation, some find themselves unprepared. A Milwaukee woman is getting downright vicious, working to help women stand up for themselves and perhaps, save their own lives.

"I promise them they will feel different when they walk out that door. Part of the workout is letting women and young girls feel how incredibly strong they are," Jane Dawson said.

Dawson leads these workouts at the Monkey Bar Gym in Milwaukee's Third Ward.

"You're going to feel different. That's the goal. I want you to feel different -- like you've never felt before. They're going to be doing a little bit of sweating because that's what comes with hitting and kicking and some of the drills that I do. But it's really to inspire them. There's women that seem like they're timid and when I come up to them with a pad and I shove it and I yell at them, they are in it. They fight. And I think it really surprises them and I pull that out of them," Dawson said.

The workouts Dawson leads are centered around the martial art known as "Krav Maga" -- Dawson's specialty.

"Krav Maga is an Israeli martial art. It's a different mixture of the different martial arts -- but I would say it's more of an art form of street fighting. And it is an incredible self-defense system," Dawson said.

Before she became an instructor, Dawson found herself a victim of a violent attack.

"I did go through something -- and this is where that Krav Maga program, the Krav Maga program built me. I am here to rebuild the women who've been through it and prep women and young girls for it," Dawson said.

Because of her experience and the high-profile incidents that have happened in the Milwaukee area, Dawson realized there was more she could do to prevent further attacks.

"I was having women and young girls that have been raped, college rape, domestic violence -- and hearing this, deciding that we need to talk about this more," Dawson said.

Dawson's workout program has a provocative title: "Get Vicious."

For 90 minutes, through kicking and grabbing, women young and old learn what it takes to get vicious.

"I wasn't sure if women and young girls would accept that title, but ideally, that is how you have to be. When the attack comes on -- attack the attack. That is one of the things in Krav Maga. That's how we turned the table," Dawson said.

Dawson helps women develop a toolbox that will help them defend themselves during a violent attack.

"No man, no dog, no police force can protect you 24/7. It's impossible. You are your own weapon. Giving you upper body and lower body tools and teaching you how to use them is important," Dawson said.

The physical aspect is a vital part of the toolbox, but there is a mental aspect as well.

"We're going to talk in-depth about all these issues that they face -- date rape drugs, college rape, domestic violence, attacks on the street. Give them a lot of information that will empower them -- prevention and awareness," Dawson said.

While Dawson is teaching the tools inside of the Monkey Bar Gym, the most important part is how it translates out on the street.

"It's a freight train. It is unlike anything you'll ever experience in your life. So if you feel drained in here and exhausted, it's nothing compared to out there. And that's why I want that awareness. I want it heightened," Dawson said.

Dawson says she wants women and girls to know they're not defenseless when they're facing a life-or-death situation.

"I'm here to teach you how to survive. I don't want women coming to me anymore saying that 'this is what happened.' I want them saying 'guess what? I fought and he fled because I showed I was a lion -- that I was going to survive and he felt that. And he left. He left me alone.' That's what I want," Dawson said.