LOS ANGELES -- April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month — a time to highlight the fact that in the United States sexual assault remains a serious and widespread issue. In fact, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, nearly one in every five women in the U.S. has experience an attempted rape or rape.

In an effort to empower women with the idea that prevention is possible, Krav Maga Worldwide is sponsoring a Sexual Assault Awareness Seminar on Saturday, April 27.

The group holds daily self-defense and fitness classes at its headquarters in West Los Angeles. That’s where you can often find the head of instructor development, Kelly Campbell, a third-degree black belt who has trained in Krav Maga for over 20 years.

“Krav Maga was created for you,” Campbell said. “If you don’t have a lot of time to train and with every day’s busy life, you’re not going to have 10-15 years to train in something.”

“Your awareness is your best form of self-defense, so the more you heighten those skills, you’ll be able to be a harder target.”

During the seminar, Campbell said women can expect to learn fundamental self-defense moves like punches and kicks, as well as situational training. And while taking a class or seminar can’t completely prevent an attack, Campbell is confident that taking precautions like this will help reduce risk.

“It’s not being paranoid, it’s being prepared,” she explained.

You can find more about Krav Maga Worldwide and the self-defense classes offered on their website.