Your Stories

Every week, two women are killed by their partner or by their ex. And for women under 45, domestic violence is more lethal than breast cancer.

For those lucky enough to escape an abusive relationship, the first port of call is often a women's refuge. Here, out of harm's reach, they can look to rebuild their life and sense of self worth.

That's where Frank's Karate classes comes in.

Last year, Sport Relief paid for Frank Nezhadpournia, a traditional Shotokan Karate instructor, to teach refuge residents how to defend themselves against physical aggression - and to fight back.

"Karate does teach self defence but really I'm teaching self confidence. They get to slap me and push me around - it's all part of building and empowering the women," says Frank.

"Some of them ask me to re-enact the situations that they've experienced and I find that they sometimes get quite emotional. But once they've done it they fell they have actually accomplished something and can close the chapter on it and move on."

Comfort

Kathy suffered emotional abuse during a long-term relationship and, after contacting Women's Aid, was placed in a refuge in Kent.

There with her three kids for six months, Kathy found comfort in sharing her experiences with other women and in taking out her aggression on Frank.

"You sit there and you wallow in self-pity if you've got nothing to do but it [karate] gives you motivation and encourages you to get out of bed in the morning," she says.

"I can walk down the street now and hold my head up high. It makes me smile - I've done my 6 months in refuge, I did my self defence. Thanks to Sport Relief I've done that and hopefully if they can get more funding they can help more people in the future."

Kathy now has an orange belt and, recalling her early lessons with Frank, breaks into a broad smile: "we've punched Frank everywhere!"

Running the self-defence classes for victims of abuse has since enabled Frank to publish two books on the subject - with a percentage of the sales going back to the refuges in which he has worked.