University of Tennessee Police Department holds a monthly, 12-hour Rape Aggression Defense class to teach women physical techniques to survive attack.  I attended the class to report on its usefulness for women's safety on campus.
    
The self-defense class continued with the physical portion of the class.  Instructors Cpl. Jennifer Sharp, Cpl. Matt Kinder and Officer Donnie Ross of the UTPD taught the other women and me how to defend ourselves from potential attackers with various physical strategies and techniques.
   
According to Sharp and Kinder, one of the major benefits of the class is to give confidence to women.  They assured us that we were capable of more than we expect despite our disadvantage in size. 

"It is possible with your frame," Ross said.  "You can do it."

In various simulations, Kinder dressed in padding and pretended to attack each individual in the class.  I was surprised by the techniques I remembered to escape from the attack.  Even though they were simulations, the attacks triggered an involuntary response, and I reacted instinctively. 

The instructors told us not to underestimate the power of adrenaline, and we would perform better than we expected. 

The other women in the class responded aggressively to the "attacks." One of the chief advantages a woman has is that the attacker will expect her to be defenseless.

The best way to be prepared to survive an attack is to learn techniques and to practice them, according to Kinder.  The R.A.D. program has a lifetime practice policy. Anyone who completes the class can attend any day of the class and practice their self-defense moves.

UTPD holds the free class each month on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday for any female in the community.  The next classes will be on March 23, 25 and 27. For more information or to sign up for R.A.D. classes, go to www.utpolice.org.