Jacksonville karate business offering firefighters free self-defense training

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Firefighters are trained to save lives, but not all of them are taught how to protect themselves when a patient turns violent.

A former firefighter with the Jacksonville Fire Rescue and Department said they don’t receive self-defense training.

It could have come in handy this week when two firefighters were brutally attacked while trying to help a patient.

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The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said 38-year-old Tony Harris stabbed Captain Latorrence Norris repeatedly with a box cutter in the back of a rescue unit.

Police said engineer Vincent Harper stopped the vehicle and intervened, and he too, was stabbed in the struggle.

Following the vicious attack, Karate America in Neptune Beach is offering firefighters three free weeks of self-defense training.

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“We heard this happened, and we wanted to help out the firefighters, as well, because they’re a big help in our community,” Chief instructor Ryan Martinez said.

Martinez said spontaneous violence can be hard to predict but this can teach firefighters to protect themselves.

“No firefighter expects to go save the day and someone attacks them,” Martinez said.

Martinez said they will teach firefighters techniques like getting out of a chokehold and knife defense.

Cox Media Group