Anderson Oconee Pickens

Teens and Adult Females Encouraged to Take Self Defense Class

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1/19/2006
SANDRA STRICKLAND, 224-0453
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Teen and adult females are encouraged to enroll in a self-defense class that will be held at Tri-County Technical College in February. Two classes are planned -- one for teenage girls and one for adult women. The teen class will be held February 4 and 11 from 1 - 5 p.m. at the Anderson Mall classroom. The adult women class will be held February 7 - 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. on the main campus in Pendleton.

Sgt. Nate Heard, a Clemson police officer and certified instructor, will teach the self-defense class designed specifically for females.

“Let's face it. The world we live in is not always safe. Women need to be trained how to defend themselves and how to not put themselves at risk,” says Sandra Strickland, Tri-County program coordinator. “As a mother of teenage daughters, I want them to have the necessary skills so that they will be empowered to defend themselves, if needed. That’s why we’re encouraging both adults and teens to enroll in our classes.”

Sgt. Heard will teach Self-Defense for Women – R.A.D (Rape Aggression Defense Program) system. The R.A.D. system is a program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques. It is a comprehensive course for women that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training. R.A.D. is not a martial arts program.

According to Sgt. Heard, the course teaches women to be better prepared for attacks by capitalizing on their strengths and identifying their weaknesses. The defense moves taught in the class include blocking, basic punches, kicks and other ways to get out of an attacker's grip. They emphasize the body as a woman's best weapon, including the importance of balance, body stance and screaming for help.

“The most important thing I’ve learned is to be aware of my surroundings and to be prepared, “says Lynn Ellison, a recent class participant.

“I would recommend this class, because times are changing and anything can happen at any given moment, and women need to be prepared,” said B.J. Ellis, another class participant and security chief at Tri-County Technical College. “I can now hold my own with someone larger and stronger than I am.”

The class culminates in an attack simulation where women put the skills they've learned to use on heavily padded mats. The cost of the class is only $49 per person (includes workbook/reference manual). Females age 13 and up are welcome in the class. For more information or to register, call 224-0453.