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A spirit that is not afraid

Self-defense is RAD

“We want them to feel empowered after taking the class," Littleton said.

Forty girls stand in a circle, preparing to put up a fight, as cries of “no” fill the room.

These students are participants in a women’s self-defense class at Auburn University. 

The class teaches RAD, rape-aggression defense, a system of self-defense techniques and tactics to help women prevent and defend themselves against an assault. 

The RAD system is kept secret from everyone except for instructors and the women participating, allowing it to be more unexpected and effective in the event that the participants have to use the techniques.

The instructors discourage students from sharing RAD techniques with male friends, keeping the system secret for the girls who might have to one day use it. 

“A lot of times, when a person is attacked, it is by someone that they know,” said Keith Walton, class instructor and campus safety officer. “We teach them, and we try to get them to recognize that and be aware of their surroundings.”

The first three weeks of the class are lectures on how to be safe and go about their lives in a more mindful way. 

On top of self-defense, the class covers situational awareness, risk assessment and risk avoidance, helping to prepare women to navigate the world with vigilant eyes.

“We really focus a lot on safety and being aware of your surroundings, not being alone, and then the physical technique part is really not based on strength or physical ability,” said Lyn Littleton, class instructor and emergency management technician.

“It’s nice to feel safer,” said Patricia Montgomery, sophomore in mechanical engineering. “I already feel safe at Auburn, but it’s nice to have this back-up stuff. We’ve definitely covered a lot of points that I wouldn’t have even thought of.”

After lectures, the class kicks into full force, combining classroom learning with physical demonstrations and practice, culminating in a realistic simulation where the girls have to put their new-found skills to the test, fighting off a simulated attack.

“It’s a good life skill,” said Meredith Bass, junior in marketing. “At least I have the knowledge, so that if anyone were to ever approach me on the street, I feel comfortable and confident in the fact that at least I have some kind of framework to defend myself, instead of being like a helpless, little girl.”

The instructors encourage all female Auburn students to take the class, regardless of physical fitness or ability. Littleton stresses that the class is beneficial for any woman at any level. 

“It’s really about empowerment and recognizing that everyone has an ability to defend themselves,” Littleton said. “We’ve had people in wheelchairs go through it and all different kinds of physical abilities.”

The class, PHED 2200, self-defense for women, fills up quickly, so Walton and Littleton recommend signing up for it as soon as possible. 

“We want as many as possible to come because we want the students on campus to feel like they can depend on themselves to take care of themselves,” Littleton said. “We want them to feel empowered after taking the class.”

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