WESLACO – A local police department continues its effort to teach women how to defend themselves.

The Weslaco Police Department recently offered a workshop where dozens of women learned some self-defense techniques.

Another workshop is lined up but the events’ organizer said it’s never too late to learn these helpful moves.

Progressive Scientific Fighting instructor Ruben Rodriguez leads the training.

“They went through some of the basic techniques that we use on self-defense. We explained a lot of things of what they can do and use, and, of course, awareness and everything that’s required when you’re out in the street and out and about,” he said.

Rodriguez said knowing how to defend oneself is an important tool.

“Violence can happen to anyone – men, women, child – and it can happen any place, any time, especially women. When it comes to self-defense we like to empower them,” he said.

Rodriguez said self-defense is not like the MMA-style fighting many see on television.

“We call this real world self-defense where we actually use – we attack like the eyes, the throat, the groin, the shin area, the knee. Anything that’s vulnerable to the attacker, that’s what we’re going to attack,” he explained.

He said anyone is capable of defending themselves regardless of their physical makeup.

“There’s still techniques that are functional for the overweight person, the skinny person and the smaller person,” he said.

Rodriguez said knowing these techniques are key.

“It’s like having car insurance, you know. We have it, we don’t need it but it is there if you have an accident. It’s the same with martial arts. We hope we don’t need it but if we do need it, we got it there to back us up,” he said.

He said he’s ready to help women be prepared for anything that could come their way.

The Weslaco Police Department will hold another free self-defense class Thursday, May 25 at First Baptist Church in Weslaco. The event will start at 6:30 p.m.