Although Macon County, for the most part, is considered a pocket of peace in a topsy turvy world, the FBI’s crime statistics, “based on reported data, show a violent crime occurred, on average, every 25.9 seconds in 2024.” Therefore, a working knowledge of and skills in self defense might very well come in handy should the situation arise.
At FX Self Defense in Franklin, the gym buzzes with focus and intensity as determined people concentrate on their next move to reach the goal of submitting their opponent. This is not just a gym, it is a place where people are building confidence and finding themselves, one class and one spar at a time.
FX Self Defense is owned by Rocky Frizzell, a seasoned martial arts and self-defense instructor. Frizzell’s journey with martial arts and combat sports goes back many decades, and his gym now offers Franklin a broad selection of self-defense classes and martial arts programs. FX Self Defense provides training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga, Muay Thai, Kick-Boxing, Kali, and a variety of practical courses such as pepper spray training and Stop the Bleed classes.
Frizzell first entered the world of martial arts with judo at the age of 16. After being bullied in school, Frizzell wanted to ensure he could protect himself and others in similar situations. His passion for self-defense grew into a lifetime mission to help others build their confidence. After learning judo — a Japanese martial art that focuses on throws and ground techniques – he transitioned to traditional karate and earned a second-degree black belt in Shotokan and a third-degree black belt in Okinawan-style karate. He later earned a black belt in Krav Maga, a practical Israeli self-defense system based on real-life scenarios.
Krav Maga originated as a military system created by Imi Lichtenfeld, who essentially combined boxing, wrestling, and gymnastics with street fighting experience to protect Jewish communities from violence and anti-semitism. Frizzell also holds a fourth-degree brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which he has been practicing and teaching for 13 years.
Frizzell, who works full-time in the VIPER communications division of the Highway Patrol, opened FX Self Defense in Sylva in 2018. He decided to expand to Franklin after seeing a steady stream of students and instructors travel to Sylva to attend classes. FX Self Defense now has more than 300 students across both locations.
“I really think anyone and everyone can benefit from learning basic ways to protect themselves,” he said. “Having the knowledge and ability will never be a bad thing, and the hope is that you’ll never have to use it.”
Importance of self-defense
Frizzell’s passion for accessible self-defense shows in the community programs FX Self Defense offers. One key initiative is the monthly women-only workshop, taught by experienced female instructors. These classes aim to provide a safe space for women who may feel uncomfortable training in co-ed settings.
“I’m fully aware that some women are seeking a way to defend themselves because of past trauma,” noted Frizzell. “We provide an avenue for them to come in and be comfortable with other women and learn ways to defend themselves, so we have certain classes with that in mind.”
These particular workshops combine functional Krav Maga, Muay Thai, and jiu-jitsu techniques. Participants can attend a single class at a flat rate or choose a monthly membership.
“Self-defense is like anything else — the more you practice, the more it will be like second nature if you find yourself in a dangerous situation,” said Frizzell. “Your muscle memory will kick in even if your adrenaline causes your brain to freeze.”
He also emphasizes that environmental awareness is the first line of defense. Being aware of one’s surroundings is the key to preventing an attack.
Frizzell extends his training beyond martial arts to include safety-focused courses like Stop the Bleed and pepper spray training. He became a certified Stop the Bleed instructor after realizing how vital this knowledge could be. “Most people hear ‘Stop the Bleed’ and think of someone getting shot,” said Frizzell. “But more common situations would be something like a chainsaw accident at home or a kitchen knife injury. Knowing how to control bleeding until medical help arrives can save lives. In counties like Macon, where everything is so spread out, it can take 10 to 15 minutes for help to arrive — and a lot can happen in that time.”
Frizzell and his entire family completed the training, and the experience inspired him to teach others. He also teaches a course on how to properly use pepper spray.
“A lot of people carry it on their keychain but have never tried to use it — or they don’t even realize it expires,” he explained. “In our course, people get the chance to actually deploy pepper spray at targets so they can practice. You don’t want the first time you use it to be in a life-or-death situation.”
Children’s classes are a key focus for Frizzell. He believes the earlier a child learns to protect themselves, the better equipped they will be to handle conflict. “We as parents tend to teach our kids to protect themselves in some areas, like learning to swim so they don’t drown, or wearing a helmet to ride a bike. Unfortunately, the most dangerous thing they will encounter in their lives is probably going to be another human, so we just believe that all kids deserve to know how to protect themselves in that regard as well,” Frizzell explained. “It just gives them this huge boost of confidence. Obviously, we always hope they will never be in a situation [where they have] to use their martial arts skills.”
A local mother of two daughters who train at the gym said, “The best thing about having your kids, especially daughters, learning from these instructors, is that it takes away so much of the worry. Even as they get older and are out of the house more often, I am never worried that someone is going to overpower them in Walmart or try to grab them out somewhere. You can’t put a price tag on that kind of assurance as a parent, knowing that your children can totally handle their own in a world that can be dangerous.”