18 women turn out to learn self-defense skills

Along with her classmates, former IU student Alaa Fadag put on knee and elbow pads, a padded helmet and gloves to test her self-defense skills against her rape aggression defense instructors.\nAs Fadag walked into the simulation room for the last time, she was faced with several instructors padded from head to toe and ready to simulate an attack. Fadag crossed the room from one side to the next, facing attacker after attacker, and soon blew past the masking-tape line that represented safety and the end of the course.\n“We practiced real-life scenarios and we got to use what we learned in class,” Fadag said. “When they did the simulation, there were times it was uncomfortable and I had to stop and think. I think it’s more about awareness than physical strength.”\nAfter spending nine hours preparing for the simulation – three hours each Monday for three consecutive weeks – students had the option of coming to Monday’s final class to test their skills. Out of 18 students who took the class, 15 showed up on Monday. This semester’s class is the largest rape agression defense class the IU Police Department has seen, said IUPD Sgt. Leslie Slone.\n“You can feel blows to the head,” said Bloomington Police Department officer Monica Zahasky about what it’s like to be an attacker. “If you’re doing it right, you can feel it. (Students’) confidence always raises and they become more verbal.”\nThroughout the program, students learned a variety of techniques they could use such as kicks, blocks and different types of strikes. They were taught how to get out of different situations, including being knocked to the ground, trapped in a bear hug and grabbed by the wrists. At the end of the simulation, participants could watch themselves on film and see the tactics they used.\n“The videos were good because we got to see all of us,” Fadag said. “When you’re doing it, you can’t see yourself. We got good feedback from the instructors. I was pushing back and they were telling how that doesn’t work.”\nThe instructors encourage participants to continue to practice their techniques and to take other classes. IUPD offers one class a semester and so does BPD, Slone said.\n“Don’t practice with someone who hasn’t gone through RAD,” said Paul Post, BPD officer and rape aggression defense instructor. “If you work on one technique a day, you will imprint it in your muscle memory.”\nAfter students complete the course, they can participate in the course free of charge throughout the country, Slone said.\n“I had more problems initially because I didn’t know how comfortable I would be,” said Bloomington resident Carol Knecht, who completed the course. “I felt a lot of the techniques I had been taught, I could utilize. I would like to continue practicing and taking more classes.”