ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, November 25, 1996 TAG: 9611250180
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI STAFF WRITER
THE YMCA in Roanoke offered an evening class in self-defense for women. What did the 23 attendees learn? That strength isn't everything.
For two hours last week, 23 women practiced being survivors.
They learned it's not about strength. It's about technique: a rotation of the forearm, swivel of the body or direct drive to the attacker's chin.
It's also about the will of the mind.
"It's a simple thing," said Rolanda Moore, a retired educator and a widow, who said she rarely goes out alone at night. But last week, she ventured to the Roanoke Central Branch of the YMCA for a self-defense class.
"I never thought I could have more strength than someone larger than me by pushing back their head," she said of the defensive blow she learned. The instructor "was so right about attitude. Because most women, we are taught to be caregivers; we don't feel we can hurt others."
One class does not make an expert, instructors say. But it can reinforce what so few women are taught: to trust their instincts, be aware of their surroundings, respond as soon as they feel uncomfortable and realize that anyone can be a victim.
In Roanoke, street crime - including rape, robbery, assaults and burglaries - has not changed dramatically during the past three years, according to statistics provided by the Roanoke Police Department.
Most crimes are not stranger-to-stranger, Police Chief M. David Hooper said. "For the average law-abiding citizen going about their daily obligations, they're not likely to become a victim."
But statistics can be deceiving, he said. No one should ever walk around believing they can't be the target of a crime. To some crime-prevention experts, caution is the best defense against becoming a victim.
"We discourage people from practicing self-defense," said Patrick Harris, executive director of the Virginia Crime Prevention Association in Richmond. In just one class, "they're not going to learn enough, they're not going to develop the skills. And if they feel safe because of it, that's a bad thing."
Wayne Taylor, a martial arts instructor who led last week's self-defense class, says if students pick up one technique from his class, it's been a success. And he believes that fighting back is the key to survival.
"Statistically, you're better off fighting," he told the class. "Kick and scream and claw. They're looking for submission. Don't give them that pleasure. And then run and call police."
The purpose of last week's class was to introduce women to basic crime-prevention tips and self-defense moves. The maneuvers don't require brawn but do require practice: If the attacker blocks low, poke his eyes or jam a fist into his throat. If the attacker puts you in a choke hold, pin your chin to your chest, roll into the hold and face your attacker to deliver a hard drive to the chin and an elbow to the ribs.
"It's like taking CPR; you never know when the situation is going to happen," said Kim Willard, 33, a dental hygienist who took the class. "But at least you have the knowledge in your head."
"It helps with alertness," said Stacy Wiebesiek, 25, a court reporter who paired with Willard to practice the self-defense moves. "When you live and work in the same place, you start to feel secure."
There's that feeling that "it'll never happen to me," Willard said.
The class "puts that fear back into you," Wiebesiek added.
Fear is an important emotion to heed. But it doesn't have to be overwhelming, said Roanoke police Officer Steve Orange, one of the class instructors. Orange is an imposing figure in any setting: 5 feet 10 inches tall, 230 pounds.
"It wouldn't occur to me that I could overcome someone like you," a 47-year-old woman told Orange during class. "Should I think that?"
"Yes," he said. "The thing about whether you fight back or not you have to decide for yourself. It's your life. My own personal opinion is, you don't give in."
To find out about other YMCA sponsored self-defense or martial-arts classes, contact the organization at 342-9622.
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: STEPHANIE KLEIN-DAVIS\Staff. 1. Debbie Weeks (right)by CNBdemonstrates an attack under the chin on Veronica Berry. 2. Don
Craighead grabs Wayne Taylor to demonstrate a self-defense move.
color. 3. Above, Wayne Taylor (left) demonstrates a choke point on
Gary Brown's Adam's apple. 4. Nicole Strickland (left), 17,
practices escaping with sister Danielle (right), 16. KEYWORDS: 2DA