Outside the stadium Tuesday night, Evan Forman flipped through the air and landed on his back.
The 23-year-old UF chemical engineering graduate student was flung over Brandon Fung’s shoulder during a judo technique demonstration.
Fung, a 20-year-old UF marketing junior, faced about 15 participants during Throwdown, one of the several Asian and Asian-American cultural events taking place throughout the month as part of Asian Kaleidoscope Month. Fung and Forman, both members of the UF Judo Club, came to the event with other club members to teach participants basic self-defense techniques.
"I really wanted to create an event where participants could walk away feeling empowered and safe," said Vicki Le, a 20-year-old UF applied physiology and kinesiology junior and one of the event’s directors.
During the event, the Judo Club members taught participants about the history of different ways of fighting, such as clinching and striking. They provided demonstrations of the techniques and then had the participants partner-up and practice.
This was Nancy Nguyen’s first self-defense class.
"I thought it was very interesting," said the 19-year-old health science sophomore.
Le said the event was mainly intended to showcase the importance of martial arts in the Asian culture and build a connection with the participants.
"Culture is very important to us," Le said.
Le was also motivated to host this event because of her experience at a self-defense class.
"I thought it was very empowering, so I thought that would be a good event to host," Le said.
John Kammer, 66, teaches students the basics of judo Oct. 13, 2015, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium during Asian Kaleidoscope Month’s Throwdown event. Kammer has been teaching judo for 43 years. He instructed students on basic techniques of striking, clinch-fighting and breaking grips.
Brandon Fung (right), a 20-year-old UF marketing junior, flips Evan Forman, a 23-year-old UF chemical engineering graduate student, over his shoulder at Asian Kaleidoscope Month’s martial arts workshop. Both students are a part of the UF Judo Club and were demonstrating various judo techniques Oct. 13, 2015.
Jessica Lim Liwag (right), a 20-year-old UF health science sophomore, teaches John Ferrer, a 20-year-old UF health science junior, a judo technique called a standing armbar. Asian Kaleidoscope Month hosted the free event to show students how to protect themselves.
Carolina Sepulveda (left), a 17-year-old UF biology freshman, is taught a wrist lock hold by Emily Phan, a 19-year-old an electrical engineering sophomore.
