While there are fewer people on campus during the summer, crime can and does still happen. The Hwa Rang Do Academy, 1508 N. Cunningham in Urbana, is trying to help keep students from becoming victims through self-defense class.

The academy specializes in self-discipline, martial arts and relationship-building and is offering free self-defense classes each month on selected Saturdays.

While participants in some of the academy’s classes have the potential to learn over 4,000 offensive and defensive martial arts techniques, chief instructor Steve Lavigne keeps things simple for the self-defense classes.

Despite what is seen in movies or TV, Lavigne said self-defense is something people have misconceptions about.

“A lot of people think they are going to learn the Bruce Lee moves right away,” he said.

For Lavigne, martial arts — which is different than self-defense — is truly an art. He described techniques seen in Bruce Lee films and others like “The Karate Kid” as “complicated and beautiful.”

Self-defense, on the other hand, is practical and used simply as a means to flee from your attacker.

“You should only want to do enough to get away,” Lavigne said.

And that is where the legal ramifications come into effect. Lavigne said everyone has a right to protect themselves.

But once a person uses their hands as a weapon to kill or intentionally hurt someone, jail, fines and even death can be the ultimate cost.

“Most people think of self-defense as kicking and punching to defend themselves … this is actually the last resort,” Lavigne said. “The main thing about self-defense is that you escape.”

In Lavigne’s self-defense classes, the fist is never drawn in response to an attack. Instead, a thrusting open hand is used to disorient an attacker if they are close enough.

The palm can be used to strike the nose, neck or throat. Some other techniques include the hammer fist, soccer kick, trachea choke, head butt to temple or nose and ear pop.

“(You should) be able to strike the most vulnerable part of the human body,” Lavigne said. “The weak points are the places where there aren’t any bones.”

Jodi Matheson, 36, assistant professor of veterinary clinical medicine said she has been taking martial arts and self-defense classes since she was a child.

“My parents were never worried about someone trying to snatch me … I learned to be alert and focused at a young age,” Matheson said.

University employee Laura Hayden said she never walks around campus at night but believes self-defense could be beneficial if people take advantage of the classes.

“I am pretty familiar with the safety options on campus and the emergency phones on campus … I am always aware of my surroundings,” Hayden said.