'It's prepared me', Quarry shooting victim credits Krav Maga classes for saving her life

SAN ANTONIO - A lot more happened this weekend at a local gym than just weight-lifting and training. 

STW Krav Maga raised money for its longtime member, Alana Castaneda.

"We all work together," said Henry Hernandez, a coach at the fitness center. "So, this is for her."

The 27-year-old woman was pistol-whipped, shot in the face and left for dead during an attempted carjacking at the Alamo Quarry Market less than a month ago.

Hernandez explained the event, called Burn the Bird, is a fitness training class where members and non-members burn off calories from Thanksgiving dinner. 

"It's actually, mental stress, fatigue, actually, to keep them going. And to work as a team," Hernandez said. "Our job is to try to get our students to understand like, there's a lot more in you."

Everyone is pushed a little bit harder Saturday because of Alana Castaneda.

Money raised at the workout will go back to the 27-year-old as she focuses on recovering.

"I’m living vicariously through others because I’m in the recovery process," Castaneda said. 

One of the last times she was at the gym, was the night she was shot in the face.

Castaneda remembered the workout she'd just left before the incident. 

"That workout was very intense," Castaneda said. "And I'm actually really glad because I was feeling pumped."

The evening of Tuesday, Nov. 2, around 8:30 p.m., she left the gym.

Castaneda stopped at Whole Foods at the Quarry Market.

She grabbed dinner and got inside her car. Before she closed the door, Castaneda felt a presence.

Standing outside her car police say holding a gun was 18-year-old Julio Caesar Rivera II.

"My mental focus overcame my physical limitations," Castaneda said. 

Police tell us Rivera II demanded Castaneda’s keys.

But when she explained it was push-to-start, she was pistol-whipped.

That's when she fought back.

"I can't express how important self-defense training is," Castaneda said.

Castaneda remembers getting a few hits on Rivera II's face before feeling the impact of a bullet below her left eye.

"My next surgery would be an orbital floor because my eyes are not supported," Castaneda said.

She credits her training at STW Krav Maga for saving her life.

Castaneda fears the attempted carjacking could have ended differently without the knowledge she had to fight back. 

"It's prepared me," Castaneda said. "Just, I mean it's the real world out there."

Even as she moves forward Castenda continues to fight.

"And then she has a smile behind it," Hernandez said. 

She expects to be back punching bags in no time with support from her Krav Maga family. 

"I love every single one of y ‘all," Castaneda said. "Thank you."

A GoFundMe page has also been set up to help with her recovery. Just click here to donate.