Karate gran, 73, helping women defend themselves

Janet Farrell said she wanted to help women feel confident

A 73-year-old female sensei says teaching women karate can stop them feeling vulnerable.

Janet Farrell has been doing karate for almost 40 years and earned her third Dan black belt two years ago.

She started hosting classes at Millgate Community Centre in Pelham Street, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, six months ago.

Mrs Farrell said it had always been her dream to offer female-only classes, saying "every woman has a lioness in them".

Mrs Farrell said women in their 80s had attended the sessions

The sensei said she started the sessions because she wanted to help women feel safe, confident and empowered.

Mrs Farrell, from Newark, took up the discipline aged 38.

Now retired, she started the classes as she had "nothing left to prove" in competitions, and wanted others to benefit from her experience.

She said: "Women should be able to defend themselves; they should be heard and not feel vulnerable.

"I've had women come to these sessions that maybe have been abused or have had to look after themselves because children are involved.

"I have an 83-year-old woman that comes to the sessions – she's amazing. I'm after spirit and attitude, and she brings both.

"Every woman has a lioness in them, and my job is to bring it out."

Lindsay Dolan said doing karate made her "feel good"

Mrs Farrell said her two sons and five grandchildren supported her in everything she had done.

Among the attendees to the classes, which take place every Monday, is Lindsay Dolan, from Newark, who did karate as a teenager.

As a mum of two, the 41-year-old said going along to the sessions allowed her to make some time for herself.

She said: "I've always wanted to come back, when Janet launched the classes, it gave me the confidence to do so.

"I let out all my anger. It's exhilarating, and it makes me feel good."

Her daughter Tallulah Dolan also attends the sessions and said her punching techniques were getting better by the week.

The 19-year-old added: "It's helped me prepare myself to go out in big cities and protect myself.

"If I go out with my friends, I know to protect them and get out of a bad situation."