Martial arts champion helps women regain confidence

Dedicated. Supportive. Compassionate

Carly Reasbeck is a former Australian martial arts champion, but little compares to the pride she feels when helping women regain their confidence after domestic violence.

Carly is a self-defence trainer at Got Your Back Sista and teaches women and girls how to protect themselves, which also improves their physical fitness and emotional wellbeing.

“I am passionate about women's rights and empowering women through my work,” says Carly, who is a confidant, role-model and mentor to her students.

Her lessons support the organisation’s goal of helping women to lead socially connected lives free from violence.

Carly is “over the moon” to be voted a Westfield Local Hero and is grateful to the community for seeing what she does as important and worthy of support.

A significant number of Carly’s students have experienced, or are living with, the trauma of domestic violence. By the time they complete her course, they can confidently assert and protect themselves.

They can also identify red-flags for a dangerous situation or relationship, which may help them avoid being threatened, attacked or abused.

“I’ve seen many of these girls transition from being reserved to being able to realise their capability. I’m always encouraging women to be themselves and able to practise in an environment where there is no judgment,” she says.

“My purpose is to teach valuable skills to reduce the risk of being threatened or attacked, as well as promote harmony and social wellbeing,” says Carly, who has been the NSW Tae Kwon Do Champion 15 times and the National Champion 12 times.

She was also a reserve Olympic athlete for the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and an Olympic Program Squad member for Athens Olympics in 2004.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation.

Got Your Back Sista will use its grant to hire an instructor to accommodate more women and girls in self-defence courses.

“This will allow more women and girls to complete the programs. To me, they’re the ones that inspire me,” says Carly.

__For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here. __