Gym and tonic: women fighting back

AS A martial arts champion, Jess Fraser can look after herself, but when Jill Meagher's body was found in Gisborne South, it triggered a two-day anxiety attack.

By InvestSMART · 8 Dec 2012

By InvestSMART ·
8 Dec 2012

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AS A martial arts champion, Jess Fraser can look after herself, but when Jill Meagher's body was found in Gisborne South, it triggered a two-day anxiety attack.

"Hearing about Jill Meagher's body being found really broke me," Ms Fraser said. "I thought I was probably not the only one feeling that way and I better do something."

A champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Ms Fraser came out of teaching retirement to run a free women's self-defence and awareness workshop in October. She was overwhelmed when 600 women responded and the one-off workshop turned into a series at local gyms. About 300 women have taken part.

"It is about empowering us again so we don't feel overly scared going about our normal lives," Ms Fraser said.

Ms Fraser, who founded Australian Girls in Gi (gi is the uniform worn by martial arts practitioners), said women needed ways to deal with the rare attack by a stranger. But it could also be someone known to them, which was far more common.

A self-defence business, Guardian Defence, Brunswick, had 200 calls in the days after Ms Meagher's body was found. A fortnight later that figure had risen to 500. A regular week before then would have yielded five to 10 inquiries. Guardian Defence's co-owner, Zunami White, said businesses, such as Coles supermarkets, had also wanted courses for employees.

Josh Feggans, of Coburg, wanted the course for his partner, Jo Spurling, after Ms Meagher's death. "He wanted me to be able to defend myself," Ms Spurling said.

West Footscray neighbours Leah Akritidis-Smith and Sharna Wilkins had no links with self-defence, but after Ms Meagher's body was found they started (f)Empower - which has arranged free self-defence classes with nine gyms and self-defence groups around Melbourne. Advertised through Facebook, 200 women have already taken a free class, and more are planned until February.

Last week, 80 women city workers took self-defence sessions through the Wing Chun Bing Fa Kung Fu Academy.

"Leah and I were both feeling bad about what had happened to Jill Meagher, and we felt a bit lost about what to do," Ms Wilkins said.

"We wanted to make something good from something bad."

The Martial Arts Industry Association's president, Walt Missingham, pointed out that Ms Meagher had been a Tae Kwon Do student, and that martial arts did not necessarily help. "Rushing out to do a martial arts course doesn't give you a get-out-of-jail pass," Mr Missingham said.

People who felt under threat needed to be aware of their environment.

Meanwhile, police are trying to determine if a serial sex offender has struck again in Melbourne's east, the ninth in the past four months.

On Thursday, November 29, a Hawthorn woman, 29, left Camberwell railway station and was walking home about 10.30pm.

When she came to the intersection of Burke Road and Leura Grove, she was approached from behind and indecently assaulted, police said.

The man then ran away.

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

How big was the spike in demand for women's self-defence classes after Jill Meagher's body was found?

The article reports a clear surge: Guardian Defence in Brunswick saw enquiries jump from a normal weekly 5–10 to about 200 calls in the days after the discovery, rising to 500 within a fortnight. A free workshop run by Jess Fraser initially attracted 600 responses and about 300 women have since taken part in the follow-up series. (f)Empower’s Facebook-advertised free classes also drew about 200 women, and 80 city workers attended sessions at the Wing Chun Bing Fa Kung Fu Academy.

Which organisations and self-defence providers benefited from the post-incident interest?

The article names several groups: Jess Fraser and her Australian Girls in Gi sessions, Guardian Defence (Brunswick), (f)Empower run by Leah Akritidis-Smith and Sharna Wilkins which organised free classes with nine gyms, and the Wing Chun Bing Fa Kung Fu Academy. It also notes businesses such as Coles had expressed interest in employee courses.

Does the article say this increase in self-defence demand will become a long-term business opportunity?

The article does not claim long-term sustainability. It documents an immediate spike in interest following the high-profile incident but also quotes the Martial Arts Industry Association president, Walt Missingham, cautioning that taking a martial-arts course isn't a guaranteed solution. For investors, the piece suggests the increase was event-driven rather than proven as a permanent market shift.

How can free workshops and community classes affect a self-defence business’s growth?

According to the article, free workshops generated strong community engagement: Jess Fraser’s free event turned into an ongoing series and (f)Empower’s free classes attracted hundreds. These activities can raise awareness and build a potential customer base, though the article doesn’t provide data on conversion to paid memberships or long-term retention.

What warning or limitations about martial arts instruction does the article highlight for investors to consider?

The article relays Walt Missingham’s warning that martial arts training isn’t a ‘get-out-of-jail pass’ and that people should stay aware of their environment. For investors, that underscores a limitation: demand may be driven by public fear, and the perceived effectiveness or public debate about outcomes could influence future enrolments and reputation.

Why might corporate interest, like Coles asking for employee courses, matter to investors in self-defence services?

The article notes businesses such as Coles wanted courses for employees. Corporate or workplace training contracts can provide steadier, potentially larger revenue streams than one-off community classes, so growing corporate interest could be an important signal for investors assessing business stability and scalability.

What local safety incidents mentioned in the article helped drive demand for self-defence classes?

The immediate trigger was the discovery of Jill Meagher’s body, which prompted community anxiety and action. The article also mentions police investigating a possible serial sex offender in Melbourne’s east and a Nov. 29 indecent assault near Camberwell station — incidents that contributed to heightened concern and demand for training.

What practical metrics should everyday investors watch if they’re tracking self-defence or martial-arts businesses?

Based on the article’s coverage, useful metrics include enquiry volume and trends (e.g., the jump from single-digit weekly inquiries to hundreds), class attendance and repeat participation (Jess Fraser’s 300 attendees, (f)Empower’s 200), conversion from free to paid programs, corporate training contracts (interest from employers like Coles), and community reputation or media attention that can drive short-term spikes.