FORT SILL, Okla. -- Family members of Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery participated in an hourlong self-defense course Aug. 9 at the battalion's headquarters building here.
The course was instructed by a member of the "Red Dragons" battalion who has earned a 3rd degree black belt in taekwondo, a 2nd degree black belt in hapkido and a 1st degree black belt in kajukenbo.
"Instead of focusing on the traditional aspects , I focus on … simple survival aspects of each of the martial arts to bring together the best quality techniques," said Staff Sgt. Angela Fausset, 3-13th FA instructor.
The students learned various striking techniques, how to take the enemy down to the ground and how to prevent a would-be sexual assault perpetrator from positioning their body in a nearly-helpless posture.
"It was hard at first," said Megan Bomboy, 13, daughter of Sgt. 1st Class James Bomboy, 3-13th FA. "I had no prior self-defense training; I feel a lot better and more ready and prepared if someone tries to attack me."
In addition to physical training, the students learned to remain vigilant of what is happening around them as well as how to confront a would-be attacker.
"How many of you have been standing in line and someone was too close to you and what did you do?" asked Fausset.
Some of the students hesitated and shyly responded saying they "moved out of the way."
Fausset then taught them how to confront a person and simultaneously draw attention to the person by yelling so that other bystanders in the area may become aware of the situation.
Fausset said according to various research groups that study prisoners for assault-related crimes, one of the things prisoners have identified as making a person vulnerable to an attack is if they appear to be weak or timid.
She said another related factor was if criminals believed they could get away with the crime without being caught, they would more likely follow through with the criminal act because they believed they could intimidate the target person into not reporting the incident by threatening that person.
As the class concluded, Fausset gave age-old martial arts disciplinary guidance to her students.
"This training is purely for defensive purposes," she said. "If you try to go use it to attack someone, it will not be as effective because these techniques are meant for your self-protection."
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