By Susan Adkins
Without using physical resistance, there is only a 10 percent chance of survival for women who are unexpectedly attacked, said Josh Uda, the teacher of the weekly self-defense class offered through Women''s Services and Resources.
Roughly 20 women, some with spouses in tow, attended Thursday''s (May 18, 2006) class. The course is designed to prepare women to defend themselves in various hostile situations.
Using all other options before fighting is what Uda emphasized in the class. Practical self-defense isn''t just throwing punches, but using the mind as well.
'Don''t let it get to punches,' he said.
Uda''s lecture titled 'Reality Check,' covered basic biology and physics principles, martial arts fact or fiction and the survivability equation and scale. He used facts and statistics to back up his points.
Women are taught not to rely on inflicting pain on their attacker. Instead they are to cause a disruption, thereby creating an opportunity to escape. To cause a disruption, focus on attacking areas that, when attacked, will disarm and disrupt a person.
Uda also used the conservation of momentum equation to teach women that stopping a blow from an attacker is not always possible.
'A girl cannot block a guy''s blow unless her arms are faster, or she uses both arms,' Uda said. 'You can redirect the force.'
He demonstrated a windmill-type technique that allowed him to block punches from an attacker. In the windmill technique, done in front of the body, the person being attacked rotates their arms in full circles with one arm up and one down at all times. It gives a defense for blows that may be high or low. The windmill technique isn''t to stop every strike. It is for redirecting as many strikes as possible.
Defeating larger opponents is a martial arts fiction, Uda said. He used the example of wrestling, where participants are divided into weight levels, so that two combatants of similar size compete against each other.
' you are likely going to loose because of the law of physics,' Uda said.
If one has greater strength, numbers and weapons, these together exponentially increase one''s chances of winning. However, they can be balanced against with knowledge and skill.
The survival rate of women decreases as an attack situation progresses. By preventing an attack, a female can have a 90 percent chance of survival. If she chooses to escape from a situation before an attack, there is a 70 percent chance of survival. Once a woman sees an attack is emanate she has a 50 percent chance of survival. After an attack has begun, when a woman uses lethal resistance, she has a 30 percent chance of survival. If she chooses to use non-lethal resistance, she only has a 10 percent chance of survival.
'One in 10 women will not succeed ,' Uda said. 'They will be violated and possibly killed.'
There are many supporters of the class. There are several husbands of participants who come to help Uda with his demonstrations. Kevin Hanks, 23, from Kaysville, comes to support his wife, Naomi.
'It gives women self-confidence,' he said after he finished his part in a demonstration. 'It''s a needed trait in all people.'
Laren Riedler, 21, from Springfield, Va., came to the class because she has been in a situation where self- defense would have been helpful.
'I want to learn more about it now so I can prevent the situation from happening again,' she said.
Riedler also said she likes the way Uda provides personal one-on-one help during the class.
Women can become certified in self-defense by attending the classes and doing the required work, including two presentations, unit reviews and a take home test. However, the class teaches that gaining knowledge and mastering the skills taught is most important.
For more information about practical self-defense classes for women, call Women''s Services and Resources at 422-4877.