Mr Kirkwood, who owns Kirkwood’s Institute of Karate, is launching free self defence classes for women, the first starting on Saturday.

He hopes the classes can be held twice a year and encourages Maitland women to take advantage of them.

“What makes me absolutely mad is domestic violence. I don’t get it and women have to know how to protect themselves,” he said.

Mr Kirkwood said the classes will cover everything from a legal perspective to the element of surprising an assailant by fighting back.

“Any attacker is not going to expect you to fight back,” he said.

“I want to give women the proper tools to defend themselves. They are not going to get a black belt in the two and a half hour course but they will have the skills in place to know what to do,” Mr Kirkwood said.

“I have had women who have been in domestic violence situations come to me to learn self defence so they can better protect themselves in future,” he said.

“If I can help save one life or make someone feel safer in their own homes or on the street then it’s all worth it.”

Mr Kirkwood said the free classes are suitable for from about 12 years and over.

He will hold the classes at his studio at 315 New England Highway, Rutherford between 1.30pm and 4pm this Saturday.

Inquiries can be made by telephoning Mr Kirkwood on 0414 694 537.