Zürich, 09 December 2017 – The Philippine Embassy in Berne organized a workshop on self-defense in support of the campaign to end violence against women (VAW). The workshop, held at Maria Lourdes Church in Seebach, Zủrich, was conducted by the Arnis Club Switzerland led by its founder, Master Jefferson Panes and his team.

The workshop, which aimed to teach the participants with both the theoretical and practical approaches to self-defense, was attended by Embassy personnel and family, as well as some interested individuals.

Before the actual demonstration on self-defense, Instructor Ms. Antonia Dürisch gave the participants a brief but concise lecture on the typical safety and prevention against street violence and rape, including description and definition of a typical victim, legal framework of self-defense, precautions and measures, attack responses and where to go for help. 

Ms. Antonia Dürisch giving a brief presentation about self-defense

After the lecture came the actual workshop wherein participants, children and adults, men and women, were taught basic self-defense techniques, how to fend off attackers, and responses in cases of attack. In conducting the workshop, Mr. Panes was aided by his team of instructors of various nationalities: main instructors Messrs. Denny Jenni and Marco Zeller, and assistant instructors Messrs. Justin Ferriere, Adrian Zeller, Stefano di Blasi and Alain Styger. 

Instructors and participants during the actual self-defense workshop

The Arnis Club Switzerland is an independent, non-political organization composed of several Arnis Clubs founded by Master Jefferson Panes in 2009. The club aims to propagate, preserve and promote Filipino martial arts and the Filipino culture in Switzerland and serves as a center for cultural exchange in the community. END