TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - In honor of Realtor Safety Month, an annual self-defense workshop marked its fifth year by opening its doors to the general public for the first time.

Originally created to protect real estate professionals navigating vulnerable situations, the free event expanded into a community-wide session focused on building confidence and situational awareness."When I started it, it was geared toward just realtors because we do put ourselves in compromising positions a lot," said event organizer Lacy Turner.

She emphasized that the primary goal is not mastering martial arts, but equipping people to trust their instincts and react effectively under pressure."It's not necessarily about learning how to fight," Turner explained.