“It was very practical and it taught things most people can do,” she said of the class that taught her basic hand techniques on how to escape an attack. “If things start happening, I’d be able to do something.”
Hoppe was one of 25 women who participated in the third of four self-defense classes in the James T. Monroe Community Room in the City Building. The last class is scheduled for July 20.
The recent assault of a woman in the parking lot at Cincinnati Premium Outlets off Interstate 75 and Ohio 63 in Monroe is what prompted the department to offer the sessions, which last an hour and a half each, said Community Service Officer Eric Walton, who is conducting the class with Officer Brett Kahny.
“Be aware of your surroundings,” Kahny urged the participants. “The economy is not getting any better. The crime rate is going up. People are getting hurt.”
Kahny taught the women hand techniques such as how to defend themselves against an attacker with an open hand strike in conjunction with kicks, how to escape when their hair is being grabbed from the front or behind by using a finger peel, wrist lock and a hip toss. The women also learned how to bring attention to an attack by screaming and how to properly use pepper spray.
“Just keep in mind you can do something to protect yourself. You’re leaving work someday and everybody else is gone, and you’re by yourself; the bad guy could be out there. Most times they’re attacking women. They’re either going to rape you or kill you. Most likely both. Fight back. It’s better than doing nothing,” he said.
Walton also dressed up in a heavily padded “red man suit.”
“This is about self-awareness. You guys aren’t going to walk out of here martial artists. These are easy techniques. You don’t have to be real strong to do these, either,” Kahny said.
Jamie Giffen of Trenton agreed.
“Being mentally prepared is half the battle,” said the mother of two.
Chie Yoshimura of Monroe said she attended the class to reinforce her self-defense skills.
“Just any kind of information is knowledge. You can hear it, but if you hear it more often, it kind of comes back to you. I’ve taken a few other self-defense classes, but you don’t remember. Like (Kahny) said, if you don’t do it all the time and you don’t practice, you forget,” she said.
“It’s just basically do whatever you can to get away,” Yoshimura said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5219 or dewilson@coxohio.com.
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