Sag Harbor Native Offers Expert Tips on Self-Defense

Tracy Vega, who grew up in Sag Harbor, has made a career in being an expert on self-defense and she will be demonstrating some tactics on an upcoming national television show.

Now a Floridian, Vega and her husband Charley Vega run a program called Simple Self Defense for Women, which is designed for the woman who wants to know a few techniques on how to "Simply escape an attack and not stay and fight." They teach workshops for businesses and organizations meant to empower women. There's no punching, no kicking, no having yourself thrown around.

The couple recently appeared on "The Daily Buzz" and will be on Lifetime’s "The Balancing Act" on Feb. 29, demonstrating how women and children can escape the most common type of grabs.

Since 1 in 3 women are attacked in their lifetime, Tracy said it important for women to be ready to react in a situation, like the one . When a man tried to lead her into his car, she hit him with her iPod and ran.

Charley has 28 years of experience in the martial arts and is a Master Instructor of Combat Hapkido. Tracy is also an experienced martial artist. Her grandfather was longtime Town of Southampton tax receiver George Kenney. For those old enough to remember George Ward ran Ward's Garage with her father Donald and her uncle George.

Tracy, who said she used to live around the corner from Long Beach when she attended Pierson High School and the now defunct Sacred Heart Academy in Sag Harbor, had these tips to offer women about personal safety:

She offered these five tips:

1. If someone suspicious approaches you, put your hand up at eye level. It may make the person stop approaching, while also getting the attention of others around you.

2. Carry pepper spray. It keeps people at bay when you take it out. While we don't recommend guns and knives, pepper spray is not lethal if you do deploy it unnecessarily.

3. If someone approaches you and feel like you are going to be the victim of an attack, throw anything with a little weight -- like the woman in Sag Harbor did with the iPod -- at the attacker's face. It will make them flinch and might give you an opportunity to run.

4. If you are attacked when you have items in hand, throw the items in the opposite direction you are running. You never know, the the perpetrator might be after your goods and not you.

5. The most basic thing I can tell you is when you go somewhere, tell someone where you are going, who you will be with and when you are supposed to be back. This is extremely important.

For a list of places to take self-defense classes locally click .