Photo Gallery: Free men’s self-defense class for residents at Glendale Police Department

With the assistance of instructor Nelson Nio, Russell Muñoz, 13, of Glendale, strikes the vulnerable arm of Gary Gausman, of Glendale, in a first-time, one-off men’s self-defense class at the Glendale Police Department on Wednesday, June 18, 2014. The class is in response to men asking for a class similar to women’s self-defense classes. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

June 18, 2014 8:55 PM PT

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For years, Glendale had only offered free self-defense classes for women and girls in honor of sexual-assault awareness month in April, but after the National Coalition for Men, a nonprofit group, complained that the gender-exclusive classes violated the equal protection clause of the Constitution, the City Council opened up the training to males, too.

Photo Gallery: Free men's self-defense class for residents at Glendale Police Department

Nelson Nio, of Shield Women’s Self Defense in Santa Monica, introduces self-defense to a first-time, one-off men’s self-defense class at the Glendale Police Department on Wednesday, June 18, 2014. The class is in response to men asking for a class similar to women’s self-defense classes. 14 men and young men attended the class. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

Men practice a ready movement drill in a first-time, one-off men’s self-defense class at the Glendale Police Department on Wednesday, June 18, 2014. The class is in response to men asking for a class similar to women’s self-defense classes. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

Gary Gausman, of Glendale, leans back and absorbs the overhand blow into a punching cushion he is hold for Russell Muñoz, 13, of Glendale, in a first-time, one-off men’s self-defense class at the Glendale Police Department on Wednesday, June 18, 2014. The class is in response to men asking for a class similar to women’s self-defense classes. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

Participant Pete Englander is pulled into a submissive position by his partner in a first-time, one-off men’s self-defense class at the Glendale Police Department on Wednesday, June 18, 2014. The class is in response to men asking for a class similar to women’s self-defense classes. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

Edgar Pakas, of Monrovia, and Mike Toles, of Glendale, work together on a self-defense technique in a first-time, one-off men’s self-defense class at the Glendale Police Department on Wednesday, June 18, 2014. The class is in response to men asking for a class similar to women’s self-defense classes. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

August O’Beirne, 15, strikes down on a punching cushion held by his father Damon O’Beirne, of Burbank, in a first-time, one-off men’s self-defense class at the Glendale Police Department on Wednesday, June 18, 2014. The class is in response to men asking for a class similar to women’s self-defense classes. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

Gary Gausman, of Glendale, strikes down on a punching cushion held by Russell Muñoz, 13, of Glendale, in a first-time, one-off men’s self-defense class at the Glendale Police Department on Wednesday, June 18, 2014. The class is in response to men asking for a class similar to women’s self-defense classes. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)