BEA BRUMBACH
APRIL 8, 2017
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Talk about a waay cool chick who knows how to stand up for her self and be a positive person... I'm overjoyed to share this week's #FridayFeature!
Bea Brumbach recently joined our Southwest Valley, Az Shooting Chapter of The Well Armed Woman. While I've only met her recently, I've learned a lot from her and enjoy her enthusiasm and passion for self protection. In her Q&A, she explains the abuse she survived and how her community came to her rescue on one particularly scary night. They became my family. Ever since then I have wanted to give back for the kindness that was shown to me. If I can help just one woman defend herself it will all be worthwhile. |
THANK YOU, Bea, for all you do. I hope our community enjoys your feature as much as I have. And I still look forward to that ride in the convertible!
Q. Where are you from and how did you decide to move to Estrella?
A. We moved here from the San Francisco Bay area, Fremont first, then Tracy. I grew up here, so when my husband was laid off from his job in Silicon Valley, we thought it was a good place to come back to. I lived in Scottsdale, went to Coronado High School, and my husband is from Pennsylvania. We came here to Estrella because it was affordable and I was able to transfer with my job as a manager with Barnes and Noble. I helped to open the Goodyear store. We also liked the High school for our boys.
A. We moved here from the San Francisco Bay area, Fremont first, then Tracy. I grew up here, so when my husband was laid off from his job in Silicon Valley, we thought it was a good place to come back to. I lived in Scottsdale, went to Coronado High School, and my husband is from Pennsylvania. We came here to Estrella because it was affordable and I was able to transfer with my job as a manager with Barnes and Noble. I helped to open the Goodyear store. We also liked the High school for our boys.
Q. Please tell me a little about yourself and your family.
A. I was born in the states, but moved to Europe at a young age, around 3 or 4. My father is from Holland. We lived in Belgium and then in Germany. I grew up speaking French Flemish, German, Dutch and English. My parents divorced and my Mom moved us to Scottsdale. I would have to travel back to Europe every summer to spend with my father who stayed in Germany. After my divorce from my 1st husband I met my current husband, Henry, we will be married for 30 years this August. We have lived in California and Utah, we have two wonderful boys and now two great Dobermans.
A. I was born in the states, but moved to Europe at a young age, around 3 or 4. My father is from Holland. We lived in Belgium and then in Germany. I grew up speaking French Flemish, German, Dutch and English. My parents divorced and my Mom moved us to Scottsdale. I would have to travel back to Europe every summer to spend with my father who stayed in Germany. After my divorce from my 1st husband I met my current husband, Henry, we will be married for 30 years this August. We have lived in California and Utah, we have two wonderful boys and now two great Dobermans.
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Q. What led you to getting into self-defense courses?[
A. My 1st husband was abusive, so I took a free class offered by the Scottsdale PD for Women’s self-defense. I took to it like a duck to water. My 1st Sensei (teacher) was a police officer and noticed all the bruising, he told me if I ever needed help, he and others would be there for me. One night it got really bad, and I defended myself with the things I was taught in the class as well as the Judo I was then taking. He went to strike me and I threw him, hard !. I believe he had a concussion from it. I locked myself in the bedroom and called my Sensei, he and 3 other police cars showed up at my house in 2 minutes flat with lights and sirens. They all helped me to pack up all the things I needed into the patrol cars and put me up in his own family’s home until I had enough money to go out on my own. They became my family. Ever since then I have wanted to give back for the kindness that was shown to me. If I can help just one woman defend herself it will all be worthwhile. |
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Q. What are you certified in?
A. I hold blacks belt in Judo, Dan Zan Ru Jutisu,and in Krav Maga.I am a certified Judo Coach, and am certified in teaching Goshinjitsu-no-Kata, Ju-no-Kata, Katame-no-kata, Nage-no-Kata. I have been certified with-in Krav Maga in long and short gun take away, as well as knife, long stick and believe it or not hand grenades J. I am one of less than 200 women Judo Regional Referee’s in the United States, as well as a Senior Rank Examiner. I also am a certified Refuse to be a Victim Instructor. I was a Judo competitor for many years, then as I got older and more brittle, I caught the teaching bug and have been an instructor ever since. Q. I understand your husband is part of the biking group here in Estrella... can you tell me a little about that and the friendships created through that group?
A. He is part of the Estrella bicycle group. They go out every Thursday night and ride all over the desert. You might see them sometime in the night. It’s an eerie sight to see all these lights in a row in the desert. They get together and build and maintain all the bike trails all over Estrella, as well as FINS. He has made a lot of friends and I have made a few with the riders wives. They are a great bunch of guys, a bit crazy to ride at night, but great guys. |
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Q. Motorcycles and convertibles! Sounds like you are very active. What do you enjoy doing in Estrella?
A. No motorcycles any more, too old and broken for that, as I said my husband enjoys the bike riding and I take my dogs out to walk the lakes in the mornings. In the cooler months I have a large scooter, made by a company in Washington state to train mush dogs. I hook up my two Dobermans to up and we take off. They can go for about 8 miles with speeds of up to 12 to 15 MPH. It’s a blast and they LOVE it. Great way to exercise your dogs. I would love to see a few more people and scooter dogs here.Now that would be something to see. For about 7 years I was in a Belly-Dancing Troupe. We danced all over the valley. My favorite was dancing with swords, my specialty was dancing with two. I don’t dance any longer, but it was a fun way to get exercise at the time .About 3 years ago I was rear-ended by a drunk driver, and hurt my back quite badly. I had to have my back fused, so no more dancing or Judo for me any longer. Now I teach self-defense when I can, and shoot at the range. |
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Q. You are a member of the Southwest Valley Shooting Group of The Well Armed Woman. How did you decide to take this next step in self-defense?
A. My boyfriend in High school and I would go out shooting in the desert all the time, 22’s, 9mm, shotguns you name it we shot it, I also was into archery. I was in the Army National Guard and had to learn to shoot with the M-16.So I have always been around and shot guns most of my adult life. But was never “formally” taught. So I joined to learn more and to meet new people. I feel that there is always something to learn and new people to meet. And with this group I am able to do both. In the few short months with the group I have learned so much about firearms, safety and shooting, and look forward to all the fantastic classes and range shoots coming up.
A. My boyfriend in High school and I would go out shooting in the desert all the time, 22’s, 9mm, shotguns you name it we shot it, I also was into archery. I was in the Army National Guard and had to learn to shoot with the M-16.So I have always been around and shot guns most of my adult life. But was never “formally” taught. So I joined to learn more and to meet new people. I feel that there is always something to learn and new people to meet. And with this group I am able to do both. In the few short months with the group I have learned so much about firearms, safety and shooting, and look forward to all the fantastic classes and range shoots coming up.
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Q. What is your advice to anyone moving to Estrella?
A. Make sure you don’t mind the drive! It is a long way to anything in the valley, but well worth it to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the city. Q. What would you like to see in Estrella over the next 5 years?
A. I would love to see more restaurants go in up here. It’s so limited what we have right now. I would also like to see the Mall go in that was promised 12 years ago when we first moved here. If and when it ever goes in I think you will see so much more in the west valley. More restaurants, shopping, entertainment, the works! |
