Eye gouges, elbow strikes and knees to the groin are effective self-defense techniques, but according to local instructors, knowledge is power when it comes to staying safe.
Self-defense teacher Ryan Kelly has been practicing martial arts since he was 4 years old. Kelly now instructs a variety of martial arts classes at the University, including a women’s self-defense course.
“The number of people who are attacked is incredibly high, so I feel everyone should get some sort of self-defense training,” Kelly said. “I like to specifically focus on women and beginners who really need this sort of training.”
A teacher for 12 years, Kelly co-owns Eugene’s Northwest Martial Arts Academy. The thing to remember about self-defense, Kelly said, is that the majority of attacks occur in close quarters, which means the long kicks and far-distance moves of traditional martial arts aren’t always the most effective.
“I teach my students grabs, holds, throws and chokes,” Kelly said.
“Almost 95 percent of all attacks end up on the ground. This makes it especially important for students to know how to grapple and get back on their feet.”
Kelly’s business partner at NWMAA, Ryan Clark, reports that about one-third of the academy’s clients are students who took University self-defense courses and decided to continue their training.
“Use the environment as a weapon,” Clark said. “Hot coffee, for example, is one of the best weapons you can use against an attacker, but anything and everything, from a stick to a car
antenna, can be helpful. The goal is to gain space and get away from the attacker.”
During her time as a self-defense teacher, University sociology professor Jocelyn Hollander found in her research that fighting back works. Hollander first became interested in the subject during college when her roommate encouraged her to take a self-defense class. More than 20 years later, Hollander is conducting research on the results of such training.
“There’s now quite a bit of research that finds that when women actively
resist an assault (i.e., by yelling and fighting back), they are likely to escape,” Hollander wrote in an e-mail. “The attacks that have happened on campus recently are a great example – in all the cases I have heard about, the women fought back and were able to get away.”
The recent attacks prompted the University to host a free self-defense course Saturday in the Student Recreation Center. The ASUO Women’s Center, University Housing and the
Department of Public Safety conducted the event, and it filled up so quickly that another is scheduled for today.
The most important piece of advice, all three instructors agreed, is to stay calm. As Clark said, “It’s just a matter of not getting tunnel vision.”
For this reason, the use of external weapons such as pepper spray can prove ineffective.
“Unless you plan on walking around with your finger on the button of a can of Mace, it’s not going to be that helpful,” Hollander said. “Weapons can be distracting and, in some cases, end up being used against you. The effectiveness of Mace, for example, depends on which way the wind’s blowing.”
Because of the unexpected nature of many attacks, Kelly suggests using weapons such as
pepper spray in conjunction with a self-defense game plan.
“Any weapon that you carry takes time to access,” Kelly said. “Mace in your purse isn’t
going to help if you don’t have the peace of mind to use it effectively.”
Elements such as the number of attackers and the presence of weapons also change the dynamic of any given incident, which is what
Hollander said makes trusting gut reactions so important.
“Trust your instincts: If a person or situation seems dangerous, listen to those feelings and avoid or leave the situation,” Hollander said.
Such variables are what make having a self-defense plan so crucial, Kelly said. The instructor encourages all students to take at least one self-defense course to “learn how to have a game plan.” As he put it, “people just need to get the bright idea that they are worth protecting.”
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