Self-defense programs are teaching the female students of Ohio University how to stay safe - both during spring break and on campus.
Women in Athens can take a self-defense class instructed by the OU Police Department at Ping Recreation Center. The Rape Aggression Defense System is a program of realistic self-defense techniques. The class incorporates awareness, prevention and the basics of hands-on defense training, according to the OUPD Web site (www.ohiou.edu/police).
Kimberly Czuchnicki, an OU freshman, said she enrolled in the class because she is petite and thought it would be good to have a background in self-defense.
It has made me more confident
stronger mentally as an individual Czuchnicki said. There is still an element of fear when I am walking by myself but at least now I know that if something happens
I am much more aware of my surroundings.
Students must go through a series of three attack simulations during the final class of the program.
Officer Brandon King, a R.A.D. instructor, has taught the class for a year and a half.
I would highly suggest that the women here at OU take the program
only because you can only get good things from it
King said.
During 2002, OUPD received reports of 42 forcible sexual offenses, including 28 rapes, according to the police department's Web site.
The class costs about $30 for OU students, King said.
For another sexual assault program, Erin Weed, a sexual assault prevention activist, visited OU last Thursday to demonstrate basic self-defense moves and stress the importance of self-defense training.
You are going to walk out with a plan on how to fight a guy while standing up and while lying down
Weed said during the Girls Fight Back presentation.
Weed said women should trust their intuition when they feel they are in danger.
Our emotions are actually great predictors of violence
Weed said.
Along with intuition, Weed also said fear is important because it is a physiological reaction that makes people faster, braver and stronger. While fear can be a good thing in a dangerous situation, she said anxiety can be very dangerous.
Anxiety is fake fear we make in our heads to freak ourselves out
Weed said. Anxiety paralyzes us.
Although Weed demonstrated self-defense moves throughout the evening, she said it is best to avoid dangerous situations rather than use self-defense.
The best fight is the fight that is never fought. Avoid
avoid
avoid if you can
