Self defense class can empower women

The Middle Way House will offer a women's self defense class Saturday to raise money for its outreach programs that help women who are victims of domestic violence or rape. \nThe class teaches women how to use the body's pressure points against an attacker. Open to the public, the class costs $20 per person and is taught by Bloomington martial arts expert David Rhodes. The class will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Stonebelt Gym.\nRhodes will teach pressure point self defense -- a technique using the application of pressure to one or more natural points in the human body to disable an attacker. \nOr at least knock the assailiant down long enough to get away. \nMiddle Way House, a nonprofit organization helping victims of domestic violence and rape, is the fundraiser's beneficiary. With 75 employees across several counties, more than 25 percent of its $2 million budget comes from money raised at fundraisers such as Rhodes' class.\nRhodes teaches this course regularly at the Ryukyu Kyusho Martial Arts, his "dojo," or school, located on North College Avenue. He said PPSD is a self defense technique that can be used by anybody and requires little or no strength on the part of the defender. \n"Pressure point self defense gives a woman options to defend herself, if she chooses to do so," Rhodes said. \nWhile these options have a practical use in escaping from an attack, they also have a more visible benefit, said Toby Strout, director of Middle Way House. She said some research shows women who are victims of rape are often targeted because they appear to be unsure of themselves. \nStrout said particular benefit of the PPSD class is that it might help women appear more confident, thus reducing their chance of being a victim.\nBut Rhodes and Strout made it clear that knowledge is the key to the "empowerment" Middle Way House tries to promote among women. \nStrout spoke first and foremost about the guilt many women feel after being victimized -- an emotional double-bind. She said if a woman is attacked and she does nothing, she feels ashamed. Likewise, if she is attacked and isn't able to defend herself -- even if she had the training -- she feels ashamed.But Strout emphasized that a woman's first obligation is to survive an assault.\n"Taking a self defense class does not mean you won't be assaulted," Strout said. "It doesn't mean you'll even be able to use what you learned if you are assaulted. Whatever you did to stay alive was the right thing to do." \n-- Contact Staff Writer Brandon Morley at bmorley@indiana.edu.