About the Program

The Monterey County Rape Crisis Center offers self defense classes to women of all ages. Classes are offered to schools, community groups, college campuses, or any group of 8 or more women/girls who want to get together and schedule a self defense class. There is minimal charge per individual for the class, however, the feeling of empowerment that women walk away with is priceless.

Knowledge is Power

Knowing facts, statistics and risk factors about sexual assault give us power to make informed decisions about self-protection. Whether we are being verbally harassed by a stranger, intimidated by an acquaintance, coerced by a friend, or attacked by a stranger, we have choices about how to respond. Our response to a threatening situation should be based on an assessment of our needs, external circumstances, perceived threat and our relationship with the other person.

Three basic components to self-protection:

Awareness
Assertiveness
Physical Techniques

The first component Awareness consists of increasing our awareness of our self, awareness of personal space, and awareness of our environment. Studies suggest we convey power and strength with our physical and psychological presence. Awareness includes both external and internal factors. By learning how to assess situations based on facts, not fear, we increase our choices about how to respond. Being aware requires paying attention to our environment and intuition, and responding accordingly. The goal is to trust our intuition and act when we perceive a threat.

The next component Assertiveness can be one of the most effective techniques for preventing an assault. To be assertive means to have the ability to exercise oneís own right without denying the rights of others. Assertiveness is a learned behavior. The importance of body language, eye contact, and a firm voice is talked about extensively.

Some examples of verbal and psychological self-defense include: using assertiveness skills, using our voices authoritatively, learning to YELL (vs. screaming), naming inappropriate behavior and asking for it to stop. This is just a brief overview of some of the tactics to be used with our voices and our minds. The goal in threatening circumstances is to confront the situation, and to end it quickly and safely.

In some cases we may need to respond with more direct Physical Techniques. This area includes verbal, psychological and physical skills required to respond to the whole range of threatening situations. Physical techniques are to be used as a last resort, since someone is very likely to get hurt once a situation becomes physical. If a physical response is necessary, it is used in conjunction with verbal and psychological techniques to increase the overall power and effectiveness of the response.

Many of the techniques taught are borrowed from the martial arts. These techniques we teach during the self-defense, however, are geared toward the anatomy of a woman. These techniques do not require individuals to be experts in the martial arts. In fact, they can be readily learned by children, women with disabilities, the elderly, or even the injured.

The self defense instructors participated in an intensive two week training made possible through the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults against Women and the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

For information on self defense classes or to schedule a class for your group, call (831) 373-3955 or (831) 771-0411 or e-mail mcrcc@mbay.net.

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