SIDNEY — What options do you have when you no longer have any options? A lot more than you might think when faced with today’s dreaded realities. Sidney Police Department (SPD) recently helped a group of women discover these options.
Officer Mike McRill and Officer Kevin Macke of the SPD led a class that helped women to understand the necessity of being aware of their surroundings and aware of potential dangers. They were also told to be aware of all potential exits to escape those dangers. The system taught in this series of classes is the Rape Aggression Defense system (RAD)
Audrey Vaughan, New Choices, and Sylvia Smith, Crime Stoppers, were also on hand to demonstrate techniques and to share stories of real situations of when these techniques have been used effectively.
At the beginning, participants were told that they have to be aware of how societal expectations can affect the ways that women respond. Women tend to not act aggressively in order to avoid people having negative thoughts about them.
“When you are in a situation where you are in danger, you have to forget what names people may call you. You have to assert yourself and not be seen as a victim. If you can make the aggressor see you as a force, he will often move on to an easier target. Avoidance is always the first device we use,” said McRill.
If the woman is caught in a confrontation with an aggressor, the next thing she needs to know is what her strengths are. Often knowledge is that strength. The RAD system teaches that you must resist in a defensive manner, not passively.
The women were taught to yell, not scream. The yell needs to come from the diaphragm. The yell is not just to intimidate the aggressor but also to aid in breathing while defending. It is taught you need to yell “No!” at each point during the interaction.
The class spent the majority of the sessions in the training room learning moves to use in different situations. In addition to learning new defensive moves, moves learned prior were reviewed.
During the final session, representatives from RAD demonstrated techniques to use in positions that make you more vulnerable, for instance, what to do if you have been knocked to the ground during an attack or attacked from behind.
The final activity was that the individual women were put into three different scenarios, and they had to defend themselves and escape the situation. The message to get away is always the end goal. The goal was to only use as much force as is necessary to get free of the situation.
Women found themselves empowered and ready to face the world with the knowledge they had gained throughout the sessions.
“I felt better about being able to defend myself when I finished. I am very glad I took the class,” said Samantha Gibboney, Sidney.
The women were sent away with a certificate, a bracelet, and the mantra repeated throughout the class: “I am prepared, I am capable, and I will survive no matter what!”
For more information or to inquire about future classes, contact McRill at 937-498-2351.
