Barnegat women seen kicking, punching and choking other

On Sunday, June 30, a group of local women were seen kicking, punching and choking each other at Hanu Yoga, located in downtown Barnegat. The incident was led by Frank Kellogg, 25, of Little Egg Harbor Township.

Photo by Jack Reynolds
Frank Kellogg, 25, of LEH helps Carol Lomberk,
64, of Barnegat perfect her punching skills during
a women's-only self-defense class at Hanu Yoga.

Don’t worry; no one was hurt. Kellogg, who has been practicing martial arts for the past 11 years and received his first degree black belt in taekwondo at the age of 18, was teaching his students how to properly defend themselves against an attacker. The women’s self-defense class, which benefited the Barnegat Food Bank, was the first of a series set for this summer at the local yoga studio.

Kellogg, who said he was bullied in middle school and needed discipline, began teaching self-defense classes about five years ago after training in Israeli Krav Maga, the official self-defense system of the Israeli Defense Forces.

“If I had learned self-defense when I was being bullied, I would have been able to defend myself,” he said. “It’s mentally, physically and spiritually empowering. It helps you walk confidently.”

Kellogg has trained at North Plainfield Fight Club with Michael Gilliam, who has won hundreds of championships throughout his career, and at Nava’s Martial Arts Academy with Israel Nava, a fifth degree black belt recognized by the World Taekwondo Federation in Seoul, Korea.

“I love it. This is my passion,” said Kellogg while warming up for the class.

Photo by Jack Reynolds
The martial arts instructor critiques the
womens' self-defense stances during a
quick footwork drill.

“It’s not going to be rough at all, and you’re going to enjoy it,” he added, directing his attention to the students.

After some basic head-to-toe stretching, Kellogg began the class with a fundamental footwork drill, explaining, “Before any defense can be done, we need to be centered on the ground.” A closer stance, he said, makes a person more mobile, yet less stable; a wider stance creates stability but hinders mobility.

“You don’t think about stuff like this,” remarked Tracy Piana, 38, of Barnegat.

Kellogg also introduced the class to the traditional jab and encouraged the women to protect themselves by keeping their hands open and not in fists, which can be seen as a threat. He also acknowledged eye gouging if need be.

“You want to do things to debilitate a big attacker. You have to know yourself and be able to adapt,” he emphasized.

Kellogg also spoke about deflecting and redirecting an attack, saying, “If two people are fighting and the fight is going nowhere, the stronger person wins. Sometimes you’re not stronger.”

The class ended with the good, old-fashioned choke. Paired up and laughing at the awkwardness of it all, the women practiced the different deflection techniques. Afterward, they all agreed they had learned a lot.

“I never thought of fighting as being very structured. I thought you’d just kind of go crazy,” said Rebecca Maxwell, 32, of Barnegat. “It’s always best to know how to defend yourself, especially as a woman. I just hope I remember how to do it right when I go try this on my husband,” she joked.

Kellogg’s upcoming women’s self-defense classes will further explain the different self-defense techniques. Classes will be held on Sundays, July 28, Aug. 11 and 25, from 12:15 to 2:15 p.m. Classes cost $20 each. Call 732-552-6178 to register.

Kellogg will also lead a Kick Fit class on Thursdays throughout the summer at the Island Wellness Center, located in Spray Beach on Long Beach Island. The class begins at 7:15 a.m. and is open to men, women and children. For more information, call 609-492-4906 or visit http://iwc.massagetherapy.com/beach-yoga-schedule.  

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.