After a string of violent attacks in Melbourne’s south-east, including a recent school stabbing in Berwick, residents flocked to a seminar in Emerald to learn how to survive knife and machete encounters.
Led by Contemporary Martial Arts Gym (CMAG) on 29 November, the session aimed to equip community members with practical skills to protect themselves in knife-related attacks.
Grant Oaklands, senior coach and owner of CMAG, said the seminar was a direct response to this rising threat.
“It was just a demand from my members, from families, mums and dads of the children, my peers, and other clubs,” Oaklands said.
“It crept out into the suburbs near where I live… and that influenced getting this started when we did.”
Some participants had themselves been victims of knife attacks.
“Some had a knife pulled on them and luckily they were able to get out safely,” Oaklands said.
“Some reacted aggressively, others calmly, but had to give up on something. That experience made this seminar even more urgent.”
Attendees learned a variety of strategies designed to increase their safety:
– Proactive preparation: adjusting behaviour, choosing routes, and being mindful of surroundings before leaving home.
– Situation awareness: recognising potential threats and responding effectively.
– Verbal de-escalation: avoiding confrontation through calm, controlled communication.
– Physical skills: last-resort techniques using improvised knives and controlled engagement — all practised in a safe, supervised environment.
Oaklands stressed that the seminar’s purpose was not to turn attendees into fighters but to teach survival.
“The misconception is that people believe they can tackle the knife or snatch it out of someone’s hand,” he said.
“Violence is chaotic, explosive, and unpredictable. We focus on simple, repeatable actions to survive, not complex moves.”
While the training provides practical tools, Oaklands cautioned that no one should rely solely on physical defence.
“Self-defence in these scenarios is almost impossible. The far better way is proactive skills: being prepared, vigilant, and aware before any threat arises,” he said.
Participants left with a sober understanding of the risks, rather than false confidence:
“They came away humbled by the threat and danger,” Oaklands said.
Beyond physical techniques, the seminar reinforced broader life skills, including self-control, respect, and decision-making.
Oaklands said self-defence education could play a larger role in community safety, complementing police and government efforts.
“If self-defence brings about protective behaviours, awareness, and the ability to regulate under pressure, then it’s a worthwhile pursuit,” he said.
The seminar reflected a growing appetite for self-defence education, particularly in schools and community groups.
Recently, a private girls’ school reached out, saying their students were terrified and wanted guidance on how to protect themselves.
Attendees reported being shocked by the speed and intensity of realistic scenarios, which included verbal aggression, sudden threats, and chaotic conditions — far from the controlled, sterile environments of traditional martial arts classes.
“The feedback was that people realised how quickly things happen and how much their decision-making is affected,” Oaklands said.
Encouraged by the response, CMAG plans to run future workshops tailored for schools, workplaces, and community groups.
“Most people said they wanted to do another session,” Oaklands said. “We’ll look at which situations concern them most and tailor the training accordingly.”
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