RAD training creates survivors

I don't remember exactly what happened. My eyes were closed; I yelled, "stay back." He taunted me and then grabbed me from behind. I tried doing two head butts, but they didn't work. The rest was a blur.

Afterwards my heart pounded, my face flushed, and my body shook uncontrollably. Then I asked to have my picture taken with my attacker because it felt good to kick his butt.

Lucky for me, this attack didn't take place in a dark alley. It happened during a Rape Aggression Defense class held at the University of Washington Tacoma on Nov. 17 and 18.

UWT campus safety officers, Laura Delval and Carson Wright provided a small group of women information and defense tactics that may be used in many different attack situations. RAD trainings show women they do not have to be a victim during an attack, but they can choose to be a survivor.

The RAD program is in its second year at UWT. Dr. Carolyn West, associate professor of Psychology in the Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences Program at UWT, procured grant funds to enable the program to start and even purchase new equipment for RAD classes. Now the program will no longer need to borrow equipment from other sources.

Every woman in the class used the new equipment to demonstrate and practice defensive techniques taught the instructors taught them. Yes, punching and kicking the pads was a portion of the class, but we learned so much more.

By the last day of class, we learned that in a stressful situation our bodies will prepare themselves for either fight or flight. These are physiological effects of fear. We also learned about date rape. Wright supplied the class with facts and statistics about date rape. For instance, a national survey found that 49 percent of woman who have been raped did not know their experience was considered rape.

We learned many things, but most importantly we learned simple techniques that could save our lives in an attack situation. I paid five dollars for a class that taught me how to become a survivor and not a victim.

One student in the RAD class was very quiet. Her yells of "stay back" and "no" were barely audible or even sometimes nonexistent. The attack changed this quiet woman into a fighter. She too kicked some bad-guy butt and was able to run away from her attacker. We finally heard her yell "stay back" and "no." She had become a survivor.

Women do not need to be physically fit, strong, tall or martial arts champions to survive. Any woman can utilize techniques to stun their attacker and run. She needs only to take the time to learn the techniques, investing in her safety and her life.

"We are not targets."

Hear that message. Take a class. You, too, can survive.