Jester is one of seven Ball State staff members to recently participate in the Rape Aggression Defense program offered by Recreation Programs.

The 16-hour female-only class is taught by three Ball State police officers who instruct women on how to avoid potential assaults, defend themselves and escape.

"I knew a friend who took it last spring and she said it really boosted her self confidence," said Jester, a secretary in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and a mother of two children. "I think that all women – of all ages – should take this class. If nothing else, it makes you more aware of potential situations."

RAD is a program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for women. The system is a comprehensive, female-only course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance then progresses to the basics of hands-on defense training. It is not a martial arts course.

Each student is provided with a workbook/reference manual. Graduates of the program are guaranteed a nationally-recognized lifetime return and practice policy, allowing them to participate in refresher courses at no cost.

A highlight of the class is the staging of three survival scenarios pitting each participant against a police officer portraying an aggressor.

Kent Kurtz, a six-year veteran of Ball State's police department, donned the RAD Aggressor suit, a total body, exterior protective suit designed specifically for self-defense training.

Each woman participated in a scenario based on an attack while walking through a parking lot, taking money out of an ATM and a heckling situation.

"Each time I give the women a challenge," Kurtz said. "They are supposed to use the self-defense techniques in order to escape. This is a stun and run strategy, which is the best way to get away from an attacker. You don't want to stick around."

Kurtz said by the end of the 16-hour program, each of the participants had become more confident in their abilities.

"Women are brought up thinking they are the weaker sex and there is nothing they can do about it," he said. "We are trying to empower them, allowing them to use the self-defense techniques to survive an attack. By the time they've completed training, their self-confidence is skyrocketing."

By Marc Ransford, Communications Manager

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Kent Kurtz by e-mail at kakurtz@bsu.edu or by phone at (765)285-1111.)