The success of charity self defence classes at a popular St Albans gym has resulted in a follow up course.

Kevin Archibald, a martial arts expert from the area, ran the first course back in October, and has launched a second set of lessons following its success.

The woman’s only sessions will teach participants self-defence techniques that differ from usual self-defence courses.

Kevin, who has studied martial arts for more than 30 years, said: “We will be sharing a handful of all round techniques that will be repetitively drilled and will work in many scenarios.

“However the most useful lessons will come from our way of stress testing the group. We will simulate real stress through fatigue before real attacks being used all with full protective clothing.

“This experience of stress and having to fight back is what will stick in people’s memories and allow the training to come back to them in a real situation.

“This is the same way that they prepare soldiers, swat teams and anti terrorist units around the world where they only have a few weeks of training before having to be doing it for real.”

Attendees are required to pay £20 for the whole course up front. All the proceeds will be donated to Refuge, a domestic violence charity for women and children.

Kevin donates his time free of charge and hopes to raise money for the charity in the process.

He said: “I hope that this will be successful and becomes a regular event in the St Albans calendar as the more people we can train the better.

“In order to benefit more than the 40 people that will be able to attend, we are also looking to raise some money for Refuge.

“I often see people raising money for charity by taking on some task and gaining sponsorship, well lets commend the ladies that take this step to complete my course.”

To sponsor Kevin and the women taking part, you can donate by clicking here.

The sessions will take place at Westminster Lodge and start on 24th April, running every Friday from 7pm - 8.30pm until 29th May for females aged 16 and over.

The junior sessions – for ages 11 to 16 – will start/finish on the same dates and take place every Friday at the earlier time of 6.15pm -7pm.

For more information, click here, or email Kevin: archibaldkevin@hotmail.com.