Self-defense, where students take safety into their own hands

Self-defense, where students take safety into their own hands

Pairs of shoes lay sprawled on the floor outside the gym mat, where students sit crossed-legged along the inside edge and watch as martial arts teacher Ethan Kreiswirth demonstrates how to defend themselves against an attacker. Student Alex Valle, 18, had been in fights in the past. That is why he joined Kreiswirth’s Combative Arts and Self-Defense class. “Just in case, if somebody tries to fight me, then I have to defend myself,” Valle said. (L…