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What do Grace College students, local realtors and the reigning Kosciusko County Fair Queen have in common?
They're all concerned with their safety and they, along with other women from the community, joined to learn some basic self-defense techniques. Fifteen women attended the free class Tuesday night at the Warsaw Community High School Career Center gymnasium.
They learned how to break away from someone's grasp, how to kick an attacker without hurting themselves and that the best way to win a confrontation is to simply get away from it.
Sgt. Bob Long of the Warsaw Police Department was the instructor for the class sponsored by the Domestic Violence Task Force.
Just learning the techniques isn't enough to protect you, Long told the women. "Don't go out there not trusting it and try to do it," he said. "That'll just make someone mad. You've got to believe in it."
During the two-hour class, Long also related some trivia:
• According to a national average, it takes six seconds to break free if someone is choking you. (He also showed a couple ways to get away from the choker.)
• You've got to make a lot of noise is someone is attacking you. The two best reasons for noise? If you're yelling, you're going to keep breathing properly and someone might hear you and call for help.
• If you hear gunshots, you're probably OK. If an attacker has a weapon, it's best to just put distance between yourself and the attacker.
• Purses should be worn slung over a shoulder and not across the body. A purse snatcher doesn't want you - just the purse - and there's no sense getting dragged or choked because you don't want to give it up.
While Long believes that women should know how to protect themselves, he said that one of the best ways to win a confrontation is to just get away from it. However, he said, he realizes that is not always possible and volunteered to teach this class. "Distance is a real friend," Long said. "If I'm a runner ... I run."
Long compared his job as a police officer with the lives of the women in the class. Working third shift, Long said, "Whatever it takes, I will go home at 7 o'clock in the morning ... If I have to rip your throat out to go home, I'm gonna do it."
He told the class participants: "After you've gone through this class, dying is not an option ... if you want to go home, go home. Be the one that goes home."
Joanna Beatson, victim's assistance advocate, arranged for this week's classes and said she hopes to schedule several each year. Information about the class was posted at Grace College, Beaman Home and through area media outlets.
The class is being repeated Thursday night for any women interested in learning self-defense techniques. It will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the WCHS Career Center gymnasium.
For more information, contact Beatson at 372-2463.
