Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructors Lisa Rush and Brooke Cochran chuckled while demonstrating grappling positions for women at Carson Fight & Fitness Thursday.
With one knee planted on Cochran’s stomach and another straightened for balance, Rush practiced striking her partner as their students watched.
“From here, I can just wail on her,” Rush said to the class as Cochran attempted to crawl out of Rush’s hold amid laughter. “She can move, but that’s fine. I can move with her.”
For Cochran, who has practiced jiu-jitsu for eight years, that laughter under pressure represents comfort on the mat.
“Most women don’t want to be that close to another person. The minute someone gets close to you, it’s uncomfortable — let alone a strange man,” Cochran said. “This gets you used to being in that space and laughing in it so, if that ever happens in real life, you’re comfortable.”
When high-profile crimes against women happen in the community, interest in mixed martial arts seems to increase, Cochran said. That’s why their east Tulsa gym offers jiu-jitsu classes specifically for women.
“Everybody starts talking about it. What you should and shouldn’t do (if you’re attacked). It starts on social media,” Cochran said. “Then my jiu-jitsu friends and Facebook friends start sharing. ‘Be safe, come to our gym and try a class.’ Then you have people who come in — people who want to be safer.”
Those conservations started this summer when, within a month, there were three attacks against women at Tulsa parks. In July, a woman was stabbed while jogging at Turkey Mountain. Jesse Brown, the suspect, is charged with assault and battery with a deadly weapon. Then, in August, a woman reported a rape at the same park.
Jeff Edwards, executive director and CEO at River Parks Authority, said Turkey Mountain only receives a “handful of calls for service related to crime each year.” But RPA, which oversees operations at Turkey Mountain, upgraded security at the park after those attacks. Dozens of volunteers also signed up to become “hiking buddies” for those afraid to be on the trails alone.
“To further enhance safety and peace of mind, we’ve more than doubled the number of surveillance cameras across the area, with plans to expand the network by approximately 15 additional locations throughout the 750-acre preserve,” Edwards said. “These cameras are strategically placed to support public safety, deter misconduct and assist emergency response teams when needed.”
A few days after the rape at Turkey Mountain, a woman was attacked and sexually assaulted by a man at Hunter Park. Police arrested someone soon after, but the district attorney’s office dropped the charges last week because the man had an alibi.
Leah Mueller, communications officer at the City of Tulsa, said the City installed more cameras at Hunter Park and deployed more patrols at parks.
“We are continuously evaluating our security protocols and will make additional adjustments as circumstances warrant,” Mueller said.
Back at Carson Fight & Fitness, self-defense is top of mind. Brazilian jiu-jitsu strategy centers on using leverage, technique and pressure points to maintain strong positions. Ideally, this allows lighter, weaker fighters to protect themselves against larger, stronger opponents. However, it takes time to build confidence and technique, Rush said.
“That’s why one off self-defense classes don’t work. You go and get some level of confidence, which you really don’t have, because you don’t really know how to fight,” Rush said. “You haven’t practiced, you haven’t done the muscle memory, you haven’t been pressure tested.”
Rush and Cochran encouraged those looking to equip themselves with self-defense acumen to join a class.
“Come to class. Get consistent. Stick with it,” Rush said. “It’s a combat sport. You’re going to get hurt. It’s going to be uncomfortable, but it’s necessary.”
Cochran said some students have referred to class time as “church.”
“People like to go to church and have that community,” Cochran said. “You get that community here too. It’s just different.”
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