Women's Self-Defense Class Makes an Impact - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

"There are a lot of women who just don't feel safe. They really feel that North Dakota is changing and it's not as safe as it used to be. And so they feel threatened. And part of it is just the influx of a lot of people from a long ways away. A lot of young males from a long ways away. Especially in the Western part of the state," said instructor Beth Bakke-Stenehjem.

IMPACT offers a full-contact and full-impact class.

It is not for the faint of heart.

Real-life scenarios and strong language are used to prepare students for the unexpected.

Scenarios include rape, attack, and face-to-face confrontation.

But despite the graphic nature of the class, it is a class one student says every woman should take.

Nancy Overson works in an area where she no longer feels safe.

She signed up for IMPACT because she wants to be able to protect herself.

"I feel very empowered. I feel very strong. I feel like I can hold my head up high and not be as afraid as I was," says Nancy Overson.

Registration is still open for a session in August.

For more information, visit NDImpact.org.