HankT
State Researcher
imported post
Some good basics here. It's far from perfect, but it acknowledges yet doesn't diss the gun alternative. That's progress, I think.
Do you know self-defense?
From carrying a weapon to walking with a friend, you canminimize risk of being attacked. Learn skills to defend yourself, too
By Erin Crawford
Published: October 29, 2007
Random attacks fill the news and while street attacks account for about 15 percent of reported sexual assaults nationwide, according to Karla Miller, executive director of the Rape Victim Advocacy Program in Iowa City, Iowa, hearing about them makes many think twice about safety.
"You learn to read and write. You need to learn how to protect yourself; I see it as a life skill," says self-defense instructor Laurel Farrell.
But even achieving a black belt in martial arts doesn't provide absolute protection.
"If you have several things to try, you reduce your risk," says Miller. Her organization runs the state's sexual assault crisis line. It's important to note that even the best self-defense only minimizes risk. Here are skills the experts say could help:
Self-defense training
Ideally, women would pursue more than a single defense seminar.
"The best training out there is long-term martial arts training combined with padded assailant training," Farrell says.
"Ideally," adds Miller, "people could train up to a point where they're in great physical shape, but that's not practical." Instead, people should learn a few simple maneuvers, or better yet, a series of maneuvers.
"You don't want to disable them and not have a plan," Miller says.
After breaking an assailant's hold, you don't want to have to stop and think about what to do next. The goal is to be able to disable an attacker and flee.
"The skills I teach are very basic escapes and strikes built off muscle movements like throwing a ball or turning a key in the ignition," says Farrell, who teaches self-defense courses.
The problem with learning an aggressive movement, like an eye gouge, is that a victim might hesitate to use it.
"If you get a shot at his eye, you don't want to be saying, 'Oh, that's gross,' " Miller says. "And once it's a physical confrontation, the risk goes up, so you try to avoid that. So whatever sort of maneuver a woman wants to be able to use, she should be comfortable with and ready to use.
If she decides that's full-on, long-term self-defense training, do the research, Farrell says.
"If you're investing in a longer training, talk to someone who's been through it, find out what sort of training they've had," she says.
Avoidance
At her training sessions, Farrell tells women a sexual assault has three stages.
In the first stage, the target is selected. Women can learn to cut the risk of being chosen.
Predators look for a target that is alone and distracted, perhaps listening to music on ear buds or talking on a cell phone, Miller says.
"You need to be able to be aware so that if someone comes within 10 or 20 feet, you're aware of it," she says.
Provocative clothing is another risk factor, as are shoes that would slow you from fleeing, Farrell says.
Inebriation also makes people easier targets. If you're planning an evening out, perhaps decide in advance to crash at a friend's place, Farrell suggests.
Look like you know where you're going.
"Walking confidently and knowing where safety is - houses that have lights on and businesses," Miller says.
Be aware of your surroundings, Farrell says. Scan the people around you and see what they're doing. Then walk purposefully to your destination.
Carry an alarm
A whistle can help alert others to an attack.
However, personal alarms often sound like car alarms, says Tanya Zaglauer, a West Des Moines police officer.
"A lot of us don't even pay attention to it, so that's maybe not the best choice," she says.
Both devices are problematic, if you need to dig around the bottom of your purse to get them out.
The best instrument is one that's readily available.
"Your voice is your No. 1 tool," she says. "If I'm screaming or yelling, it may get someone to come on over and find out what's going on."
Weapons
"The trouble with any kind of weapon is that an assault is going to happen in two to three seconds and it will take five to 10 seconds to access a weapon," Farrell says. "The reality is, there probably isn't time."
But if you're interested in carrying pepper spray or a gun, get trained, Farrell says.
"Don't just buy a gun, put it in your purse and feel you're safer."
The same goes for pepper spray.
"If you do use pepper spray, you need to know how to use it and test it and shoot it off," Miller says. "And if you pull it out, use it. You can't just threaten."
It's always helpful to be a community watchdog.
"If you see a guy homing in on someone," Miller says, "call the police and walk over there before anything happens."
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071029/LIFE/710290330/1004
Some good basics here. It's far from perfect, but it acknowledges yet doesn't diss the gun alternative. That's progress, I think.
Do you know self-defense?
From carrying a weapon to walking with a friend, you canminimize risk of being attacked. Learn skills to defend yourself, too
By Erin Crawford
Published: October 29, 2007
Random attacks fill the news and while street attacks account for about 15 percent of reported sexual assaults nationwide, according to Karla Miller, executive director of the Rape Victim Advocacy Program in Iowa City, Iowa, hearing about them makes many think twice about safety.
"You learn to read and write. You need to learn how to protect yourself; I see it as a life skill," says self-defense instructor Laurel Farrell.
But even achieving a black belt in martial arts doesn't provide absolute protection.
"If you have several things to try, you reduce your risk," says Miller. Her organization runs the state's sexual assault crisis line. It's important to note that even the best self-defense only minimizes risk. Here are skills the experts say could help:
Self-defense training
Ideally, women would pursue more than a single defense seminar.
"The best training out there is long-term martial arts training combined with padded assailant training," Farrell says.
"Ideally," adds Miller, "people could train up to a point where they're in great physical shape, but that's not practical." Instead, people should learn a few simple maneuvers, or better yet, a series of maneuvers.
"You don't want to disable them and not have a plan," Miller says.
After breaking an assailant's hold, you don't want to have to stop and think about what to do next. The goal is to be able to disable an attacker and flee.
"The skills I teach are very basic escapes and strikes built off muscle movements like throwing a ball or turning a key in the ignition," says Farrell, who teaches self-defense courses.
The problem with learning an aggressive movement, like an eye gouge, is that a victim might hesitate to use it.
"If you get a shot at his eye, you don't want to be saying, 'Oh, that's gross,' " Miller says. "And once it's a physical confrontation, the risk goes up, so you try to avoid that. So whatever sort of maneuver a woman wants to be able to use, she should be comfortable with and ready to use.
If she decides that's full-on, long-term self-defense training, do the research, Farrell says.
"If you're investing in a longer training, talk to someone who's been through it, find out what sort of training they've had," she says.
Avoidance
At her training sessions, Farrell tells women a sexual assault has three stages.
In the first stage, the target is selected. Women can learn to cut the risk of being chosen.
Predators look for a target that is alone and distracted, perhaps listening to music on ear buds or talking on a cell phone, Miller says.
"You need to be able to be aware so that if someone comes within 10 or 20 feet, you're aware of it," she says.
Provocative clothing is another risk factor, as are shoes that would slow you from fleeing, Farrell says.
Inebriation also makes people easier targets. If you're planning an evening out, perhaps decide in advance to crash at a friend's place, Farrell suggests.
Look like you know where you're going.
"Walking confidently and knowing where safety is - houses that have lights on and businesses," Miller says.
Be aware of your surroundings, Farrell says. Scan the people around you and see what they're doing. Then walk purposefully to your destination.
Carry an alarm
A whistle can help alert others to an attack.
However, personal alarms often sound like car alarms, says Tanya Zaglauer, a West Des Moines police officer.
"A lot of us don't even pay attention to it, so that's maybe not the best choice," she says.
Both devices are problematic, if you need to dig around the bottom of your purse to get them out.
The best instrument is one that's readily available.
"Your voice is your No. 1 tool," she says. "If I'm screaming or yelling, it may get someone to come on over and find out what's going on."
Weapons
"The trouble with any kind of weapon is that an assault is going to happen in two to three seconds and it will take five to 10 seconds to access a weapon," Farrell says. "The reality is, there probably isn't time."
But if you're interested in carrying pepper spray or a gun, get trained, Farrell says.
"Don't just buy a gun, put it in your purse and feel you're safer."
The same goes for pepper spray.
"If you do use pepper spray, you need to know how to use it and test it and shoot it off," Miller says. "And if you pull it out, use it. You can't just threaten."
It's always helpful to be a community watchdog.
"If you see a guy homing in on someone," Miller says, "call the police and walk over there before anything happens."
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071029/LIFE/710290330/1004