After 49 people were killed in an act of terror at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, a local self-defense group wants to make sure people know how to fend off an active shooter.
St. Johns Krav Maga and Fitness was at the Metro for more than two hours going through different active shooter scenarios.
Dozens were kicking and throwing punches at each other, but it was all for the sake of learning how to fight off an active shooter.
"The first thing we have to do is overcome panic. That's a difficult thing to do because people aren't trained to do it and that mindset isn't built into us," instructor Brannon Hicks said.
Hicks, with St. Johns Krav Maga and Fitness, was teaching survival techniques.
He said it’s his mission to get people in the LGBT community armed with the right techniques.
“The odds of a copycat event or something similar taking place here would probably be higher than at another bar,” Hicks said.
The Pulse shootings struck close to home for Mike Bitar. He used to work at the club that’s now a memorial site.
"It has shaken a lot of people. There's a lot that's happening now. I’m more of a Zen type person, but I’m all about taking preventative measures and knowing your surroundings," Bitar said.
Bitar said he’s hopeful this course will teach him how to defend himself.
"It’s a little unfamiliar. It's a little uncomfortable, but it's kind of a good thing because those things are necessary," Bitar said.
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