Brisbane woman Stephanie Simmons who was held hostage along with her colleagues in 2016 is now using the experience to empower other women. Ms Simmons says she felt helpless and terrified during the siege which led her to take up martial arts. Ms Simmons is now an instructor and says martial arts has given her confidence. A free self defence class for women was held over the weekend at the Mattfides-Martial Arts Club on the Sunshine Coast which she helped run along with club owner Ryan Canavan.