The Dojo - A Martial Arts Training Facility

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The Return of the Lil' Dragons
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THE DOJO is proud to be working
with The Guardian Angels in
Washington County, PA
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THE DOJO, A Martial Arts Training Facility in Washington PA is proud to be working with The Guardian Angels as they bring their highly recognized safety patrols to western Pennsylvania.. Begun in New York City in the 1970s as a highly visible, community patrol, the Guardian Angels have spread chapters all around the globe. As their web site states, "The Guardian Angels are volunteers who provide public safety and education in our neighborhood streets our schools and cyberspace."

As unemployment and drug use have increased in many of the former mill towns in western PA, crime has risen. Communities with a high percentage of elderly residents are particularly vulnerable. Some local communities, such as Charleroi have begun neighborhood watches, but something more was needed. While local police forces do their best to stem the growing crime rate, too many times fiscal constraints do not allow for proper coverage.

Charleroi Mayor, Frank Peterra has invited the Guardian Angels to come to western Pennsylvania and to set up a chapter in Charleroi. Other local communities who have met with the Angels include New Kensington, McKees Rocks, the Hill District and Oakland..

The picture at the right shows a preliminary community walk through with Guardian Angels East Coast Director, Frank Lee and some concerned Charleroi residents. Mr. Lee is a fifteen year veteran of the Guardian Angels. The Charleroi chapter has begun recruiting volunteers to participate in Safety Patrols.

These patrols are a highly visible deterrent to criminal activity. In cooperation with local law enforcement and community watches, the goal of the patrols is to let the criminal element know that they are being watched and that there are residents who care about their community. In this way, they hope to make Charleroi neighborhoods less attractive for conducting illegal activities.

While the Guardian Angels are not a law enforcement agency, they are also not vigilantes. The goal is not to arrest or punish wrong-doers, but to watch and report these activities to the police. While on patrol, Guardian Angels can find themselves potentially dangerous confrontations. The Guardian Angel organization has specific training for dealing with these situations. They also recommend training in martial arts self-defense.

This is where THE DOJO comes in. Sensei (teacher) Mick Slider has always been concerned for teaching effective self defense. Many times he as donated his time to provide multi-week self defense classes to women in the community and to the Boy Scouts. When Sensei Slider heard the Guardian Angels were coming to the area, he was quick to volunteer again.

Sensei slider (shown at left with Frank Lee and Scott Snyder) is providing a free, nine-week self defense course for Guardian Angel volunteers. This class emphasizes personal safety and defense of realistic attacks.

Other members of the first class.

Teaching how to properly fall, or brek fall to avoid injury.

Sensei Slider and Frank Lee.

Contact

WE'VE MOVED
Much Larger Facility!
Call or stop by for more information:
THE DOJO
A Martial Arts Training Facility
2055 Jefferson Avenue
Washington, PA 15301
In the old Wolfdale School (around back)
(724) 229-5477
----contact@dojo-arts.com----