The Oxford Park Commission is hosting a free self-defense class at the Oxford Activity Center on June 24. The class will be led by Norbert Woods, an Ole Miss alum and a black belt in three different systems of martial arts.

The class will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Both men and women are encouraged to attend. Participants must be at least 15 years old.

Woods is a grandmaster in karate with 36 years of experience. As a youth growing up in Arkansas, Woods was inspired to learn various disciplines of Karate by martial arts legend and pop culture icon Bruce Lee. More specifically, Woods first took interest in martial arts from the 1966 television show “The Green Hornet.”

“Bruce Lee was in it and I just decided that I wanted to do it,” Woods said.

Woods earned his first black belt in 1985 in Tae Kwon Do. He then mastered and achieved ninth degree black belt status in Isshinryu karate and even developed his own system in which he achieved a tenth-degree black belt, the highest ranking possible.

Woods encourages individuals to take a self-defense class.

“Personal self-defense is very important. You never know when anything is going to happen,” Woods said. “Being prepared is something I think is very important.”

Woods also stressed that martial arts are more than just fighting. It has a more substantial meaning.

“It’s really about health and being healthy”, Woods said. “Most people think it’s about fighting, but it’s really about controlling the way you handle the situation. So yes, there would be a lot of discipline involved and self-control.”

The self-defense class is part of Oxford Park Commission summer instructional programs. OPC also offer various other activities such as gymnastics, tennis, fencing and outdoors activities.

For more information call the OPC at 662-232-2380 or visit their website at www.oxfordparkcommission.com.