There’s No Defense Like Self-Defense

We thank the Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence for teaching Ventura County’s young women ways to avoid becoming victims of rape. A little attention to instincts and techniques before they are needed can do a lot to prevent an ugly, unforgettable experience.

Statistics show that 25% of all women will be sexually assaulted at some point during their lives. In Ventura County, 173 rapes were reported to police in 1997--probably a mere fraction of those that actually occurred.

To help prevent such attacks, the coalition sends a representative to high schools throughout Ventura County to offer a one-hour course in self-defense, at no cost to the school. The session is an abbreviated version of a four-hour self-defense class the coalition offers to the community.

Last week at Santa Paula High School, for example, about 60 ninth- and 10th-graders talked about trusting their intuition when they sense danger and avoiding men who act aggressively toward women. They practiced shouting at make-believe attackers. They learned to kick, hit and work their way out of chokeholds and tight grips.

Although the introduction to escape and fight-back techniques may add to the young women’s sense of safety and self-confidence, an even greater gift is the reminder to heed their instincts, consider their decisions carefully and always pay close attention to their surroundings. The best defense against any threatening situation is to avoid it before it starts.

Instructor Linda Livingston discourages her students from looking vulnerable.

“It’s about how you carry yourself,” she tells them. “It’s about your voice and your eyes. It’s about your whole demeanor.”

To learn more about the many programs of the Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, call 654-8141.