Going “badger” for personal defense
The Normans with their four kids who inspired the passion project of Going Badger, classes that teach women simple and effective self defense techniques against a sudden attack.
The best self-defense strategies and techniques work equally for men and women; however, statistically women are assaulted more than men. The numbers indicate that one in three women will be the victim of some type of violent attack in her lifetime. Women also endure more incidents of verbal and sexual harassment than men.
Jeff “Gunny” and Marcie “The Mauler” Norman wanted to teach women to learn how to decisively stop and steer away from an attacker because evading an attack is almost always superior to blocking one.
After 20 years in the Marines, including accomplished martial arts and combat training, Jeff took those skills and became an associate instructor at a martial arts dojo. Jeff attended a dojo class when in walked Marcie, a native Coloradan, who was a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and Jujutsu. A match made on the mats, Marcie kept beating Jeff up until he proposed, and they forged a beautiful life in Happy Canyon Estates.
Parents to four adult children – three of whom are daughters, the Normans created their passion project and formed the business, Going Badger. Why Badger? These animals become wickedly ferocious when cornered by a larger attacker, and according to the Normans, that is what one needs to momentarily become if attacked.
The couple wanted to develop simple and effective techniques against a sudden attack. Holding their first class in July, they taught women practical awareness and avoidance tips; how to develop a necessary “badger” mindset to fight back; realistic ways to defend against common attacks; and how and where to strike without injuring oneself. According to the couple, “Going Badger is an instantly usable, life-skills guide for women who do not have a ton of time to train in self defense but who would like to know how to kick butt if and when that ugly moment comes.”
The Normans are also musicians. Jeff writes all of his music and Marcie plays the keyboard. Jeff’s picture can be found in the corridor of the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Currently, their music is streaming on Spotify as Julia Bryan and The Last Flight Out.
To learn more about the Normans or to sign up for classes, visit goingbadger.com.
Jeff writes his own music and performs with Marcie as Old School Heart at local spots.
By ViVi Somphon, photos courtesy of Marcie Norman
