Latina
Black Belt
Grab, Twist, and Pull

by Shihan Candy
Mi Abuelita said things like:

1.  Never leave a drink unattended, someone might slip
you a pill.  Now known as date rape drugs.

2. When going out on a date, always have enough
money for a taxi.

3. Never trust a stranger that is being too friendly.

4. Carry your money in your bra, world’s oldest purse.

These self defense moves were my first introduction
into the World of Martial Arts, and made me curious as
to the fighting ways and was one of the things that  
started me on the path to becoming a Latina Black Belt.

Today I enjoy being one of the highest ranking female
Martial Artists on the East Coast in Miyama Ryu Ju
Jutsu.  I give thanks to Mom and Abuelita for handing
down these moves that have helped me to stay safe,
and have helped me to help others to stay safe.  

I encourage all Latinas to learn some form of self
defense and hand it down to the females in their family.
I encourage all Latinas to support each other and watch
out for each other.  There is strength in numbers.  And
a small army may be the best defense - second only to
grab, twist and pull!
La Diva Latina™
Color Me Latina
Fall 2006 Issue
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I am a Latina Black belt but it was my mother who taught me my very first self defense moves. In one move she said that to get away from a man “le cojiera las bolas” (grab him by the nuts) and, then she said to “grab, twist and pull”. Nowadays whenever I teach a class, I teach this move. I always give credit to Mom who in turn always gives credit to her Abuelita who raised her, and taught her and her aunts this move and many more.


It appears that although Abuelita never set foot in a dojo/karate school, she knew a great deal of self defense moves. She was a Taino warrior, and learned from her mother who probably learned from her mother and so on.


Mi Abuelita knew how to take out an eye, give a bloody nose, and of course the famous “grab, twist and pull”. Abuelita knew much, and shared many words of wisdom with my Mom and her aunts.  Many of her teachings I still use today in my F.A.S.T. program (female alternative street tactics) because these tried and true self-defense tricks still apply in 2006.