Hammer fists, knee strikes and sweep kicks may be foreign terms to most women, but not to those who have spent the last three weeks preparing to face an attack.

Eleven women at AU just completed a class that taught them these techniques and more as part of the Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) System.

The RAD System is a national self-defense program for women teaching “awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training,” according the RAD System’s website.

The classes, offered by Public Safety, are scheduled based on demand, according to Crime Prevention Coordinator Leonard Jukkala. When enough interest accumulates to form a class, participants agree on a time and begin the three-week, 12-hour session of basic self-defense instruction.

The RAD System is primarily taught at colleges and universities in an effort to help women protect themselves from assault. Statistics show that the majority of sexual assaults to women throughout the country occur on college campuses, Jukkala said. One in four women is sexually assaulted during college, according to a Ms. Magazine Study on Sexual Assault and Rape.

The class works to decrease that number by giving women a chance to fight back against attackers.

“I think it’s good to be prepared for any situation,” said freshman participant Shaun Conway. “And, being in a city which I don’t well, it gives me more confidence walking around because I know I can defend myself.”

One to five cases of sexual assault on AU’s campus are typically reported each year, according to the Annual Security Report issued earlier this month. However, most cases of sexual assault remain unreported, Jukkala said.

The three-week program begins with paperwork and release forms and eventually progresses to a simulated attack. AU participants pay a $20 fee for the class, which provides them with a lifetime membership to RAD programs throughout the country.

Women are instructed how to use their natural weapons such as voice, fingernails and knees to their advantage. They are also taught techniques to help them escape from various types of attack positions, from bear hugs to choke holds.

In the final class, an instructor dresses up as an assailant to simulate an attack and test each student’s progress. Participants are encouraged to use any means necessary to escape from the attack.

To prepare his students for the attack, instructor Nick Wilson warns them: “I’m not your friend. I’m not your instructor. I’m your enemy.”

During the simulation, the attacker is in a full body suit, and each woman is outfitted with appropriate safety gear including a helmet and knee and elbow pads. The intent is to make the attack as realistic as possible in a controlled environment.

“If I get good shots, then I know we taught you well,” Wilson said. “I know you have a good chance of surviving an encounter.”

The tactics, drills and simulations force repetition of self-defense techniques, ultimately preparing women to think fast to defend themselves in the event of a real attack, Wilson said.

While all females are welcomed to participate in the program, Public Safety does not continually advertise the class. Instead, it relies on residence hall floor meetings, orientations and health fairs to distribute its flyers and spread the word.

The class is not limited to students. Christy Nichols, a staff member working with International Student Services, took the class after hearing about it at orientation.

“The main thing I notice is that when I walk home at night, I feel more empowered and confident, and women who appear confident are less likely to be attacked,” she said.

Jukkala, a first-time RAD instructor, enjoyed teaching the class with veteran instructor Wilson’s assistance and hopes that student interest will prompt future sessions.

“I love this program. You get to meet a lot of students,” Jukkala said. “It’s fun. It’s interactive, and it’s a good workout.”

Instructors must undergo a 30-hour training session to become certified. Each year, they must be re-certified unless they teach at least two classes the previous year.

Wilson, who has been teaching RAD classes at AU since they began seven years ago, is always amazed at the transformation of his students from the first class to the last.

“I get a great deal of satisfaction teaching this class,” he said. “If I can provide these women with any help to protect them from being attacked, I’m more than willing to help.”

Public Safety officials have been pleased with the results of the program.

“Even if you save one person from being sexually assaulted, that’s beneficial,” Jukkala said. “The program has been a success.”

The RAD System has just released a similar defense program for men, but no Public Safety officers have been trained in this program yet, Jukkala said.

Females interested in participating in a RAD System class should contact Leonard Jukkala in Public Safety at 202-885-2529 or by e-mail ljukka@american.edu.

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