Students will have the opportunity to learn the art of Okinawan karate defense maneuvers at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

The University Board “Play it Safe” program is a part of the “Teach Me Tuesdays” series where different topics will be featured throughout the semester.

Gustavo Albear, a secondary education professor, will teach students different self-defense moves from the Okinawa culture.

“We will be teaching basic stuff like what to do when someone tries to grab you,” Albear said.

Albear said others who have studied Okinawan karate will assist him in teaching the program, and some members of Eastern’s chapter of the Ekkin Kyo Kan Dojo will join if they have the time.

Albear said he has studied the forms of Okinawan karate for 45 years.

He said he hopes to prepare students to defend themselves in the event that they might be attacked in the future.

The two-hour program will be divided with an hour of demonstration and an hour of practice. Albear said students who sign waivers will be paired together and shown what to do in different situations.

Daniel Turano, the UB chairman, said he thinks this is a good way to get away from the typical events done in the past.

“With the first week of school, there are new students on campus and, not that we are in a high crime area, we want them to be safe,” Turano said. “Especially at night, we want our students to be able to defend themselves in any situation, not just here, but throughout life too.”

Turano said he thinks students will like that it is one of their professors teaching the self-defense class because it goes beyond the regular lecture setting.

He said he hopes students get to see the interest and passion that Albear has for Okinawan karate and that they will be able to share that interest.

Albear said along with being able to defend themselves, participants will also gain self-confidence.

He said he is looking forward to the “eureka moment” when students find out about themselves and find something they are really interested in.

Students do not have to bring anything and should wear comfortable clothing. Safety gear will be provided.

Albear said it is a good way for students to become healthy and learn to pin point violence around them.

“You can’t control society, so we need to learn how to defend ourselves,” Albear said. “For anybody to not defend themselves, they basically become a human punching bag.”

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812 or slmcdaniel@eiu.edu.