Women Soldiers Learn Self-Defense

Photo By Spc. William Hatton | Soldier from the 1st Cavalry Division attack male Soldiers holding pads after learning valueable techniques in a women's self defense class. The class was designed to teach basic techniques for self defense. The class provided female Soldiers with knowledge and experience on how to defend themselves in dangerous situations.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

01.22.2002

Story by Spc. William Hatton 

7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

By Pfc. William Hatton
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – The small corner of the gym usually filled with stationary bikes, treadmills and elliptical machines, is cleared out ready for the pending hand to hand attacks and counterattacks.

A group of camouflage-clad women enter the small area with eager minds ready for a combative training session set in a no-limit atmosphere.

They aren't training up to be vicious cage fighters, but are learning valuable techniques in a self-defense class.

Leaders with the 1st Cavalry Division felt a class would be beneficial for women here, said Spc. Jonte Scott, a Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers representative for the Headquarters Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cav. Div.

"The class was set up to help females working at Camp Liberty to gain the experience and knowledge of how to handle threatening situations during their tour in Iraq," said Scott, a native of Sacramento, Calif.

One of the great things about the class is that it teaches Soldiers how to defend themselves in dangerous situations, Scott said.

After taking a self-defense class women will feel empowered, said Michael Foley, instructor of the self-defense class. Once they get out and learn how to protect themselves they really feel and walk around like they can take care of themselves, he added.

While instructing, Foley told the students that there is a four letter word he doesn't want to hear during his class, and that word is "can't."

During the class Soldiers were not only able to learn new techniques and abilities, but students surprised themselves when they were given the opportunity to apply what they learned against men holding punching and kicking pads.

"I think it's important for all women to learn how to defend themselves because it comes as a great surprise to the attacker because they don't believe we can do anything," said Spc. Diana Contreras, a participant in the class, from HHC, DSTB.

"I didn't know I could hit as hard as I did. I always wonder if I could hit that hard when the time came up," Contreras said. Being able to move around and actually kick and punch someone helped, she added.

Soldiers in the class got the opportunity to not only learn different moves, but were able to actually perform them on male Soldiers holding blocking pads, Scott said.

"Some of the girls hit pretty hard," said Spc. John Nobal, an assistant during the class from Roebing, N.J., HHC, DSTB.

It was exciting to see Soldiers who are typically quiet and small learn how to handle themselves and gain confidence if they were ever attacked, Scott said.
The thing to know is that an attacker isn't looking for a hard target, they're looking for an easy one, Foley said. After taking a class like this it gives females a sense they can take care of themselves, he added.

If any female Soldiers are interested in learning to defend themselves and get a good workout, cage fighting probably isn't a possibility, but a class on self-defense just might be the trick.

The next class will be on Jan. 27.

• Date Taken: 01.22.2002
• Date Posted: 01.22.2007 09:44
• Story ID: 8871
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ