Campus Women Taught Self Defense by URPD

Even though the University of Richmond’s North Court reception room may have been filled with laughter while the women’s lacrosse team learnt important self defense moves, certainly what they were preparing for was not a laughing matter.

According to the University of Richmond Police Department if an offender is going to attack you, they will do one of three things: beat you up, kill you or rape you. If you do find yourself being attacked you should never give up and should always fight until your last breath.

Self defense classes were initially taught to women at the University of Richmond several years ago after a request was made by Delta Sigma Theta sorority. Since then the popularity of the class has steadily increased with each passing year.

Nowadays, learning vital skills that will protect an individual on-campus has become even more important after a number of on-campus assaults have shaken up the community. Even though the thought of being attacked may not have been on many peoples’ minds many years ago, that has now changed and more people are worried about the possibility.

The moves that the women learn on-campus are similar to those learnt by police; the only different being that the moves have been modified. However, while the skills that the women will learn are simple, they are effective.

The skills taught to them include how to remove themselves from wrist grabs, choke holds, bear hugs, headlocks and what is known as the bedroom choke – when a man straddles himself over a woman while in bed. It’s no longer a case of someone being over 6 feet tall and weighing 250 pounds in order for them to defend themselves.

Even the most petite woman can manoeuvre herself out of these grabs.

The techniques themselves have been designed to anchor a woman’s strength so that she is able to deliver the most pain to an attacker in order to provide herself with an escape.

In addition to the moves learnt, women were also told how to avoid looking like easy prey. For example, when it comes to walking, walk like you mean it. Avoid fiddling with your bag, cell phone or with your head down, as this indicates that you’re not aware of your surroundings and will become a potential target for an offender.

While these skills may be basic in their approach, they are nonetheless of importance for all women to understand and learn. After all, while you may not become a targeted victim, it is always better to have these skills on hand just in case.