Jacksonville self defense instructor shares tips after Memphis teacher’s abduction and murder

The abduction and murder of a Memphis teacher gained national attention during the week.

Eliza Fletcher was jogging early Friday morning when police say Cleotha Henderson abducted and killed her.

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The attack has women concerned about their safety and looking for ways to protect themselves.

Action News Jax spoke with a local self defense instructor in Jacksonville on Wednesday.

Chris Oklevitch says Fletcher did nothing wrong. He says if you are out exercising or just out and about -- especially when it’s dark -- he suggests going with a buddy, as you’re far less likely to be attacked.

Oklevitch has been training women to fight off attackers for a decade.

“A lot of people don’t think, ‘Hey, it’s gonna ever happen to me, I’m never going to be involved in that situation,’” he said. “Unfortunately we end up having a lot of students that come to us after terrible things have happened.”

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Fletcher’s murder is exactly why Oklevitch trains women to fight.

“It’s never the victim’s fault. You should be able to do anything you want at any time, wear whatever you want, and go wherever you want in life. It’s never the victim’s fault – it’s the person that decided to carry out that crime,” he said.

Oklevitch adds that awareness is key.

“The headphones and the earbuds are big no-no,” he explained. “Use one or use an external speaker so you can hear that music, but you can still hear everything else that’s going on around you.”

He says awareness will also give you a moment to pick up on something or someone that’s not right, and to come up with a plan on whether to leave, get help, or decide how to fight back.

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“If I can’t get out of that situation, and somebody comes into my personal space, I become the attacker, not the other way around,” he said, adding that you want to make the attacker afraid of you.

Oklevitch says a “fight stance” involves putting your dominant leg back, and turning your body a little toward the back leg - but still looking at the attacker.

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“We’re gonna step back into that fight stance, our hands are gonna come up nice and high, and we’re gonna say ‘no’ like we mean it,” he explained.

Oklevitch says to go for an attacker’s vulnerable targets like the eyes, nose, ears, throat, jaw, or ribs.

He says even just one self defense class can help women gain the skills and confidence needed to stay safe and become empowered.

Oklevitch also suggests carrying pepper spray or a defensive keychain when out and about.

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