Former Montreal cop teaching self-defence for decades: ‘I was put on this earth to do this’

Underneath the gear, is a sweetheart –- a jokester.

But his courses –- done in a no-nonsense fashion.

Teaching ‘hands-on’ self-defence in Montreal for over 40 years is retired police officer, George Manoli. 

“Not many people want to gear up and say go ahead, let’s live it,” said Manoli. “Let’s live the attack.”

One of his courses, geared towards woman and teens — this is the “Empowering Program.”

“You’re not going to remember anything during an attack,” he explained. “It’s the animal in you that we need to bring out.”

The one-on-one Empowering Program is about eight sessions long.

It is also offered to survivors of sexual assault and conjugal violence.

Here, the training is funded by the Indemnisation des victimes d’actes criminels (IVAC) — Financial assistance for victims of crime.

“I’m not here to teach techniques,” said the 65-year-old. “You will forget in a couple of weeks.”

“I am here to re-alter your mindset.”

Instead, he helps students gain confidence in their abilities to realistically defend themselves if faced with verbal and physical abuse.

Helping discover how it feels to effectively hit, knee, elbow and gouge someone should a situation arise.

“After each module,” said Manoli. “We do it blindfold.”

“Because there’s nobody coming to help you.”

This scenario, developed to simulate the impression of being alone in the world.

Having applied this technique in a program he created for the Montreal police force –- for officers who might find themselves alone before backup arrives.

The former cop –- worked in crime prevention at Ahuntsic-Cartierville’s Station 27.

He’s also created self-defence programs for Air Canada, Bombardier Aerospace, and ‘Street Smart Kids’.

His workshops, taught in over 12 Montreal-area high schools.

The Empowering Program also branches out to children and teens experiencing bullying.

Here, Manoli and his team would:

• Establish an effective ‘Action Plan’
• Turn the bullying fears into strength
• Work on assertive body language

“I share a lot of what I learned on the street with them,” said Manoli. “Coming from a police officer who’s been there done that.”

“It’s sometimes clearer than mom dad telling them what to do.”

A black belt in both Karate and Judo, when Manoli’s not in his garage turned into a training area for the attack simulations, he’s at his Karate, Anti-bullying and Jiu-Jitsu club at the Beaconsfield Rec. Center.

Empowering in all that he does.

“I think I was put on this earth to do this,” Manoli explained. “This is something I truly believe in.”

“I know it helps.”