FTPD Captain Creates Self-Defense Course For Young Women Entering The World

FTPD Capt. Greg Borlan demonstrates a self-defense technique on Ashley La Selva July 19.

A 23-year veteran of the township police force has developed a self-defense course geared to young women preparing to strike out on their own.

In addition to his experience as a police officer, Capt. Greg Borlan is also a 4th Degree Black Belt in Combat Hapkido, from which he has culled some key defensive moves for his class, called “PINKS,” an acronym for “Preparation Instruction Necessary Knowledge Self-Defense.”

Borlan has run the class every Wednesday in July out of the Millstone Valley Firehouse on Amwell Road. During each 90-minute session, he combines physical self-defense moves with practical advice on how to stay safe.

“This is a real-world class of practical techniques and safety issues to send young ladies out into the world when they become young, independent people” Borlan said. “We talk about things like responsible use of social media, situational awareness, knowing your opponent, knowing your surroundings, following your gut instcintcts. If your gut is teling you that a siutuation is dangerous, it’s probably dangerous.”

Borland said he got the idea for the class through his work with township schools and churches.

“One day it just kind of dawned on me that this is something these young ladies need,” he said.

“We cover all different kinds of topics that they need to know going out into the world, and we keep it real,” Borlan said. “There’s no sugarcoating anything here. I give them articles to read of young ladies who have made poor choices and have paid for those poor choices for the rest of their lives.”

“The world is not politically correct, on the streets it’s just not,” he said. “Someone wil take advantage of you and they wil hurt you.”

Ashley La Selva said she took the class to help her when she moves to China.

“I’m moving to China next month, I’m going to be teaching English in elementary school for a year, so it’s helped me feel a little more comfortable going to a new country by myself,” she said. “I don’t really know what to expect, but I feel a little more prepared for what could happen.”

Borland said at the end of this trial class period, he will re-evaluate the course and make any necessary changes.

“I’m going to try to do it again,” he said. “We had a lot of interest, but this time the class was small, which was good because it was the beta class, I’m evaluating it.”

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