Self-Defense 101 — Week 3 Homework
Overview
There are still five sections:
- Recap — a review of what we covered in class
- Reading — from your handout packet. This will tell you the key points you need to know.
- Video — YouTube, Vimeo, or other videos to augment a point.
- To Do — this is your homework. Please do it.
- QUIZ — keeping that knowledge fresh.
Look over all these sections. This will not take a lot of time, but will make a big difference in your mastery and retention of the material.
Recap
In this third lesson we practiced getting out of grabs, and began learning some of the ploys and manipulations used by attackers.
You should be able to distinguish when you want to use your 3+ combo of strikes to vulnerable targets, your voice and body language to set a boundary, and a release from a grab.
- You want to use your 3+ combo when you believe you are in imminent physical danger. This is the basic definition of the legal use of physical self-defense.
- You want to begin with your voice and body language when someone is pushing on your boundaries but you do not believe you are in imminent physical danger.
- You want to use your release from a grab when the offender does not heed your voice AND you still believe you are not in imminent physical danger.
- You always want to use your voice. For an effective direct command, make eye-to-face contact and do not smile.
- Make sure you’ve read the Rules of Engagement page in your handout!
Important exception: you may want to use a release from a chokehold, so you can regain your breath and blood flow to the brain. But then be sure to follow up with your 3+ combo!
Reading
If you have not done so, read Rule of Engagement. If you have, re-read it.
Please read these pages on The Undetected Rapist by Dr. David Lisak. You will meet him in this week’s video. This article will prove useful as you watch the video below.
An article by Malcolm Gladwell (author of The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers) on the recent scandal at Penn State. Really clear summary of how Jerry Sandusky, a well-connected pedophile, set up a constant stream of targets. And why it took so long to stop him. Your parents, too, should read this.
Video 1
Based on Dr. David Lisak’s research on “undetected rapists,” this video depicts a college male describing how he sets up sexual assaults at his frat parties.
The aim in watching this is to understand how someone such as “Frank” plans and executes those plans. Remember, every attacker needs both a target and an opportunity. As you watch, consider these questions:
- Would “Frank” consider his actions rape? Why, or why not?
- Would the female classmate consider it rape? Why, or why not?
- Under Washington state law, would this be rape? Other states?
- Every assailant needs a target. How did Frank choose her?
- Every assailant also needs an opportunity. What steps did Frank take to create his opportunity?
If you understand how the “Franks” of the world create their set-ups, you are better equipped to recognize and thwart those plans.
Video 2
This woman had a very common encounter. While she was a bit delayed in recognizing the grooming behavior and boundary violation, for most of this video she takes us on her self-care journey. Indeed, she expands on the idea of self-care to help others engage in self-care.
Videos 3, 4, and 5
These VERY short (about 1 minute each) videos each show examples of boundary-setting with different types of people. For each video, what was the relationship between the two actors? What kinds of risks did the defender have to consider? Were there risks of physical harm?
To Do
Practice. Five minutes a day. This will make a LOT of difference. Practice releases from grabs. Practice your strikes, with the Power Drive Train and using your voice. When do you want to rely on your releases, and when do you want to use your 3+ combo?
Teach. Find a friend and teach her everything you learned. It will help you remember all the material, and it will deepen your understanding.
Observe. Continue some people-watching. Look at body language, and try to figure out what’s happening.
Write. Pay attention to your gut (intuitive) feelings. Write down one or two instances where you’ve experienced a gut reaction to a person or situation, what you chose to do, and results.
QUIZ
A few more questions to keep your memory fresh: