It’s a class about learning how to escape.
In violent confrontations it’s often more important to escape than to fight, said Breanna Burgess, a domestic abuse victim advocate with Army Community Service.
“The idea of the class is not about trying to fight back, but how to escape danger,” she said. “It’s techniques that are weight-based.
“You don’t have to be strong. You don’t have to be bigger than the person attacking you. It’s about knowing how to use your weight to escape.”
The Personal Safety Skills Class, offered by the Family Advocacy Program, is an interactive class where people learn techniques to help prevent, protect and escape someone physically assaulting them, according to Tim Rolfe, family advocacy program manager.
“So, it would be like getting away from a grab or a hair pull,” Burgess said. “The techniques were developed so when someone is being attacked you don’t think about it, you just know this is what you’re going to do and how to react.
“It’s going to take the attacker off-guard.”
But it’s not just how to fight off an attacker, there’s also training on how to keep away from an attacker, Rolfe pointed out.
“It’s how to use your surroundings,” Rolfe said. “If you’re at a shopping mall parking lot, for example, can you use the buggy to keep your distance from an attacker. Using your environment and your awareness of it to your advantage should something occur.”
Rolfe described the techniques as judo-like.
“A lot of people think of it like self-defense but it’s a little different than that,” he said. “Because self-defense does have some aspects as far as some level of fighting back, stomping toes, gouging eyes, things like that. This isn’t focused on that.”
Since the techniques are weight based, anyone, regardless of physical stature, will have a good chance to escape a dangerous situation by using the tactics taught in the class, according to Rolfe.
“This is about how to get away,” he said.
This class is open to anyone 14 and up with access to Redstone Arsenal. There is no charge for the class, but you will need ID and participants are required to sign a waiver which will be emailed to them. A certificate of completion will be available if requested.
There are nine classes available which will take place at Pagano Gym on Aug. 21, Sept. 18, and Oct. 23 at three different times, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1-3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.
For more information, call 256-774-5197.
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