WILTON — Self-defense classes are in demand lately in Wilton, where a martial arts class for women filled up within days.

The class at the Universal Kenpo Federation Regional Training Center was created in conjunction with the Wilton Police Association after Police Chief Brent Hautanen said he received several phone calls asking for one.

“We were getting quite a few requests and there seemed to be a lot of interest in a class like this,” Hautanen said.

Martial arts instructor Vinny Anfuso, who is teaching the four-class series, said part of the recent interest is likely based on recent events.

“Since the Mont Vernon tragedy people have been asking me, almost on a daily basis, if I could do something like this, Anfuso said. “The police department and I decided now might be a good time, even if it just helps ease peoples’ tension and give them a sense of security.”

The women’s self-defense class, which meets Mondays at 6:30 p.m., has been so popular that Anfuso said he had to cap it at 31 students.

“I got another call today, and I had to tell her that we’re full,” he said Tuesday.

To keep up with demand, Anfuso has started taking names for a second series of classes, which will begin Feb. 8. So far, about a dozen people who missed out on the first series have already signed up for the second, he said. The first series was free, with a $30 suggested donation to go to local food pantries. The second series will cost $10 a class, Anfuso said.

None of the women at Monday’s class specifically mentioned the Mont Vernon murder of Kimberly Cates, but Amanda Cheney, who was there with her daughter, Maddie, said she hoped the class would help both of them be more prepared.

Anfuso demonstrated basic Kenpo techniques and had students practice on each other during Monday’s 90-minute class. American Kenpo is different from other forms of martial arts because it focuses on attacking the human structure rather than focusing on pain-based deterrence, Anfuso said.

“If you twist someone’s wrist they going to comply until the pain is gone and then they’re going to come at you again. If you break their knee they can’t run after you regardless of if they feel pain or not,” he said.

Many times students ask Anfuso how they could defend themselves against a much larger or stronger opponent. He said the key is to learn the physics of the body.

“You can use levers and fulcrums in your body to generate more power. For example, how does a 135-pound woman fight against a 235-pound man? You have to learn how to utilize leverage to create extra strength to make up for the size difference,” he said.

The class is about mental preparation as much as it is about the techniques, Anfuso said.

“I try to teach a woman that they don’t have to be the victim, they’re not the prey. They can be the dominant figure. The fact that they know they have the ability to take control of their environment is a big factor in terms of confidence, and of course that affects their tension or stress level,” he said.

Lately, Anfuso said, many people have also been asking him about using mace and firearms, two other defensive methods he teaches. At the end of the four-week course students will see a demonstration on the effects of Mace when a fellow officer will spray Wilton police Lt. Eric Olsen.

“We’re going to show how to use it and to demonstrate that when you hit someone with Mace they don’t magically disappear,” Anfuso said.

Women interested in signing up for future classes can contact Anfuso by e-mail at Greenfieldforge@myfairpoint.net.