Certified instructors offer free Rape Aggression Defense class on KSC campus

Several weeks ago, Keene State College’s Campus Safety offered its free Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) training program to women on campus. 

This 12-16 hour self-defense class is designed to look at self-defense from the perspective of a woman’s physical strength, as opposed to other self-defense classes that often focus on a man’s physical strength, explained Director of Campus Safety, Amanda Guthorn.

“In R.A.D., we want women to really look at and be analytical about the types of things that they can do to defend themselves and also to give them more body confidence. So if they’re not used to using their bodies in a highly physical way for defending themselves, we give them the confidence to do that,” Guthorn said.

Campus Safety offers these classes which are taught by certified instructors at least once a semester.  The classes vary in scheduling ranging from weekend classes that run 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday to a series of four three-hour weeknight classes.  Students must attend all classes to become R.A.D. certified.

The turnout at the most recent class had six participants register, however only three showed up. KSC senior Amanda Kaczynski said she believes the lengthy nature of the program might be steering students away.

“It seems like a great program, but I think it’s hard to—for students— to commit to a class that takes up that much time. Maybe if it was shorter, people would be more interested,” Kaczynski said.

Guthorn said it is absolutely necessary for the class to be 12-16 hours of learning. “People want to take one class and learn a few moves but there is really a lot more to it than that,” Guthorn said.

Photo Illustration by Brian Cantore / Photo Editor

R.A.D. Instructor, Deb Williams, explained the class begins with the history of R.A.D. and why it was developed.  Williams explained the instructor then moves on to defining terms like abduction, rape, stalking and aggression so everyone is on the same page.

Next, federal and state laws are discussed, because they are so different, the instructor will focus on the state in which they are teaching the class, according to Williams.

Williams said the majority of the class is spent in the studio working on physical activity.

Williams decided she wanted to become a R.A.D. instructor after taking the class herself and described the experience as “life-changing.”

“I am not a survivor, but I saw the benefits of what it can do for a survivor, and I also saw the benefits of what it can do for this age student,” Williams continued, “This is a program that every senior and high school or freshman in college should take because we offer both R.A.D. for women and R.A.D. for men and I’m really passionate about saying that this is something that everyone should have the opportunity to do.”

Resisting Aggression with Defense is the male version of R.A.D.

In this program, several concepts are covered including the bystander approach, which is teaching how to advocate for or help someone who is being subject to harassing language or even physical abuse.

According to Guthorn, men also learn skills to remove themselves from a place of conflict without responding aggressively and having the situation catapult into a physical altercation.

Guthorn urged any female students who are considering taking the class but are unsure to try it out.

“At the very least, it can be a fun experience for friends to do with each other and it’s a good opportunity to be physical in a group atmosphere. How strong are you? Let’s find out.”

This class can be empowering for women who have been victims of some form of assault, but it can also have the same effects on others as well.

“Maybe they’re [participants] not just learning it for themselves. Maybe they’re learning it because they have a friend or a family member that has been a victim, that has been victimized by a predator or an assailant and they want to learn how they can protect themselves and possibly others from being victimized. I think for us as women it helps us advocate for other people, not just for ourselves. Be a good bystander, be a good buddy, [and] be a good friend,” Guthorn said.

Although R.A.D. classes are offered only a few times a semester, Williams said instructors are more than happy to arrange a specialized, closed class for a large group of females like sororities, athletic teams or student workers.

Rachel Heard can be contacted at rheard@keene-equinox.com