UND women’s self-defense course in high demand
May 18, 2012 at 4:06 pm in Grand Forks Herald
It didn’t take long for 45-year-old Jane Peterson to put her self-defense training into practice. While she didn’t need to use the physical skills she learned a few months before in the self-defense class taught at UND, Peterson said the heightened awareness the class taught saved her. It’s called IMPACT, a 12-hour course that teaches women how to fight off assailants. Continue Reading
I don’t understand why she allowed him to approach her. I would have never let him get that close to me. He would have never had the chance to say two words to me. He could have been armed. And stopping to take photos when there is a suspicious man in the vicinity? Never in a million years.
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How did she “allow” the man to drive next to her, go and make a u-turn on a major highway and come back looking for her? And why should she not be able to take pictures anywhere she wants? This is EXACTLY whay there is a course like this out there: to teach you to NOT be scared to do normal things, but to be aware of your surroundings enough to recognize trouble and avoid it if you have to. I could apparently follow YOU, tj, and you would run and hide (if you were even aware I was following you). Why?
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I have a concealed carry permit and I don’t leave town on my own without a weapon. I’m not afraid of anybody Wayne…especially a bully like you.
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Do you go to bed with your gun, tj? Are you holding it in your hand when your loading your groceries into the car and your back is turned? When someone attacks you from behind and they have one arm pinning your arms down and the other arm around your neck, where is your gun then, tj? If it makes you feel more secure to carry a gun, then by all means, do it. But why not feel even more empowered by learning to defend yourself with nothing more than the appendages attached to your body? You ALWAYS carry those weapons with you. It takes courage and commitment to enroll in this course and complete it. I would never solely depend on a gun to keep me safe.
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NOT being afraid of anyone, tj, invites altercations that will make your gun “useless”.
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I don’t own just one gun Connie. I have several firearms. My training didn’t come from a 12 hour course it came through a lifetime of learning.
Just a guess but something tells me your temper would scare most people away. The words ‘nut job’ come to mind after reading your heated comments.
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TJ, if I came across as though I was replying in anger, I apologize. I was not. It was just my effort to help you understand what the program is about and I guess I failed. But the invitation still remains, come and take the course. It’s possible you may not learned much that is new to you, but just think about the knowledge you could possibly share with the other women in the course. Some of your life experiences could be quite valuable to them.
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You are sweet and I’m not so I better stay home. Thank you though.
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Bully? Because I stuck up for the person who was followed? You have serious issues with people who can defend themselves without weapons.
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She defended herself at the class against someone paid to be a phony assailant. Real world….nope…I don’t see it happening. The Sherry Arnold case for example…two men against one athletic women. You know the story. Rule #1 in self defense classes I have taken is you never let them get close enough to touch.
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And they’ll kick your butt.
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most def!
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A 12 hour kicking, scratching and pulling hair class doesn’t turn a woman into a Ninja. Get real here….she may be able to kick your ass but that’s probably about it.
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Your response, tj, clearly highlights your ignorance about the program. Why don’t you take the class and see what it’s all about. Educate yourself. But you’ll have to check your weapon at the door.
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Yeah…I already know how to kick, scratch, and pull hair. I have four sisters. Thank you for the offer though.
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Well that’s just creepy . . . .
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Learning self-defense is good physical exercise, but it is more an exercise in futility considering most bad-guys use guns.
The only genuine ‘self-defense course’ is obtaining a concealed carry license.
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Good point Richard, and I agree that a concealed carry permit and a handgun are very good tools to have in your self defense arsenal, but they are not a ‘one size fits all’ solution and certainly are not right for everyone. In the scenario given in the story, Ms. Peterson in my opinion should not have stopped her car if she suspected trouble, but should have instead kept moving until reaching a populated area. We don’t know all the details though, and she could have had a handgun with her. But just because you are carrying a handgun does not make you invincible. Hazard avoidance should be the first step in self defense. If you have a permit, you know there are several restrictions on where you can carry, and it is not always practical to carry at all times. If the UND training is good, it would have more to do with situational awareness, threat assessment and evasion than it would on striking techniques; i.e. more to do with the mental aspect of self defense than the physical. The same goes with carrying a handgun, just having a permit and carrying one doesn’t make you Bat Masterson. You need to train with it or it’s just an expensive paper weight.
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Of course you must “train” having a CCW license NDKar, but one is still a helluva lot more ‘invincible” with a gun than a fist and a kick no matter what color ‘belt’ you have
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Of course I replied to Richard’s inane retort to my comment, I might add without sarcasm or profanity, and it “awaited moderation” until it disappeared. So I will restate: Richard, your view of self defense is very narrow minded and requires you to carry a specific tool with you at all times in order for it to be effective. I am just saying that people, and women in particular, should take the time to learn defense in almost any situation that they could find themselves in. The UND training won’t make anyone invincible either, but it will certainly be valuable for these ladies to know how to defend themselves un-armed if necessary.
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You are absolutely correct, NDkarateka. Neither guns or IMPACT offer absolute, airtight guarantees. Situation awareness, threat assessment and evasion is a HUGE training component in IMPACT, as is the mental aspect of self defense. Thank you for bring that up!
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You are right ndkarateka. Not all of the details regarding the confrontation on the gravel road are in the story. I know. I am the person he followed. After he paced me on the highway, he eventually pulled ahead of me, continued down the highway and was out of view before I turned onto that gravel road to the farm. When I stopped at the top of a hill to take pictures of the farm, I stood behind my car door with the engine running, anticipating his possible return. Within 5 minutes, he pulled up alongside me. Fortunately this close call ended without incident. I don’t know what his intentions were. All I can tell you is I assessed and handled this confrontation the best way I knew how in that moment. Before this course, I likely would have panicked and/or escalated the situation. And considering this is an area of the state where law enforcement is strapped, and emergency response times are often lengthy, knowing how to take care of yourself is crucially important. If you feel safer carrying a gun, taser, or pepper spray that is your choice. This course does not make you an invincible “ninja”, nor does it involve hair pulling and scratching. It is much intense than that. I encourage women to see for themselves. It gives you confidence and skills you never knew you had.
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“anticipating his possible return” ??? So you put yourself in a bad situation that could have been prevented. Not to bright Doris. Was the picture worth your life?
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That’s good to hear Doris, glad you stayed safe, and from the sounds of it, you did practice pretty good situational awareness. I figured the article probably had left out a few pertinent details. Anyway, happy training, and hopefully the UND course that you have/are taking won’t be the only self defense training you do.
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Richard, the license isn’t going to save you.
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So, tj, when a “hardened criminal” come up to you, what’s going to happen while you fumble around in your purse for your pistol? By the time you find it in there, he will have taken you to Bemidji in his car. Face it, ANY form of self-defense is a good thing for women to learn.
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My pistol isn’t in my purse. That is a rookie mistake. How many female cops carry purses?
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Connie, nor will feet and fists keep you alive, I’ll take my lead instead; you best stick with with the Kung Fu stuff, you’d be dangerous with a firearm.
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Look at how well mr zimmerman’s conceal and carry permit worked out.
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Odd Ron, I didn’t think that case even went to trial yet.
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It worked out very well for Mr. Zimmerman, he was attacked and killed a pot smoking punk that had stolen items in his backpack. He wasn’t some innocent kid, as the media made him out to be.
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Have to agree with tj on this one.
Firepower is a lot more reliable than armpower, especially for women. Nothing aginst women, just the fact they’re lighter built than men.
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What’s odd? He shot a child and now is facing a lengthy jury trial with multiple pending felonies. Worked out great for mr zimmerman.
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My niece took this or a similar course about five years ago. I went to their graduation and was very impressed, I think it is a worth while class for all women.
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This class is a great oppertunity to learn a few tricks and be more aware of what you are capable of. Instead of being completly helpless these women may learn something that could save them seconds or minutes that could save their lives! Real women and men do not need a piece of steel that can kill.
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If someone wants to kill you they will find a way. People were being killed long before guns were invented. That’s the sad part.
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Just be happy we live in one of the safest places in america!
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Stolen items in his backpack? Where’s the report on this new “news”. Mr zimmerman was a racist who saught out his own justice. The 911 call told him not to follow. This man got the crap beat out of him by a teenager and had to pull a gun and kill a kid (only 2 people knew the events that actually happened). If he did not have a concealed weapon and followed when he was told not to a teenager would not have lost his life. People like mr zimmerman are what’s wrong with conceal and carry permits.
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I’m going to wait until after the trial before I pass judgment. He is innocent until proven guilty by a court of law not the news media.
We will never hear the statistics concerning how many lives are saved by people that have conceal carry permits.
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The left, bleeding heart lib crowd will never understand the this whole gun self-protection thing, they always seem to revel in being perpetual ‘victims’. Really kind of sad.
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It’s funny (in a good way) how an article about self-defense can turn into a heated debate about who has better juju, my pistol or your Kung Fu. I guess the good thing is that we’re even having the debate, since so many men and many more women choose to act like sheep and leave their personal defense up to someone else. Since I don’t know much about the UND course, I’ll make the assumption that it’s fairly high quality, and probably emphasizes the mental aspect more than the physical. Hopefully it will spur these ladies on to learn even more, perhaps read the habitual acts of physical violence list and become aware of the common ways people attack others, instead of the far out stylized Hollywood version we see every day on the tube. Maybe some will move on to get firearms training and a CCW that will further enhance their ability to protect themselves as well as others against violence. It’s too bad that when people grow up they forget that simple kindergarten lesson that it is wrong to initiate violence on another and that we should respect the property of others, and therefore need to learn how to be violent ourselves if the situation necessitates. Someone said that it’s a good thing we live in relatively safe North Dakota, and they are correct. But the world is getting to be an uglier place and I see more and more instances of violent crime news coming from North Dakota papers. Learning multiple ways of defending yourself, unarmed and armed, is a prudent thing to do.
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I’m thrilled that we got this on the boards. It’s a much more interesting topic than we normally get to discuss.
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Instead of a link to your new “facts”, you decide to respond with a broad generalization and stereotyping. Sorry richard when an adult stalks a teen and than feels the need for lethal force I do not have sypathy for the adult in the situation.
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Were you hiding in the bushes that night ron? If so you should step forward and testify at the trial. It’s the right thing to do.
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What about those folks who are physically challenged? I’d rather have Grandma with a Model 12 blow away a home intruder rather than trying a Kung Fu kick.
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I find it strange that so many people think a gun or a gun permit is the answer to everything. Tj, do you think its wise that everyone should have a gun on them? I would hate to live in a town where everyone is strapped. How scary would that be? This was an article about women trying (and succeeding) in empowering themselves. Why would something like that piss people off? Like Connie said, if you feel the need to get a permit and a gun, do it. Its your right. But don’t get all huffy because someone feels differently. As far as the “your temper is enough to scare people away”, what a cheap shot. This is a discussion board. There’s no reason for that. Guns aren’t the answer to everything.
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1. no…it’s not for everybody.
2. it depends on your level of fear.
3. figure it out for yourself.
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No I. Was not in the bushes. I am only stating publicly released facts that have not changed since day 1 of this tragic incident. Martin was walking in a gated community that he was living in and had every right to be in. Zimmerman followed martin when he was told not to by a 911 operator. Zimmerman got the crap beat out of him by a teenager that he followed! Zimmerman shot martin. Zimmerman took his defense of his neighborhood to far and had the means to a lethal weapon. There are flaws in conceal and carry permiting and this is one tragic case that highlights these flaws.
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Well Ron, I’ll wait for all of the facts to come out about this case before making my mind up on Zimmerman’s motives. I think you left out a few other facts as well, and when you put them together, it seems both individuals made some tragic errors in judgment that night and two lives were shattered because of it. I don’t buy your argument that this is somehow an indictment against CCW. Despite Richard’s absolutist view that carrying a firearm is the “only” way one can defend themself, he is right to say that for many people it’s the best option, as long as they have the good judgment and awareness of the enormous responsibility that carrying a handgun brings with it. I have a CCW, but choose to carry only when we are doing something that isolates us from other people, such as camping or backpacking. I won’t carry in town, and at this point in time, do not believe it’s necessary. I don’t want to live in a society where everyone feels the need to carry, but I certainly want the option to. Once again, this isn’t a left/right issue. The best self defense is whatever works best for each individual.
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Personally, unless cornered, I’d have to say fleeing is the best option, other than not getting into a confrontation in the first place.
Even when armed, no one actually knows if they have the fortitude to actually pull that trigger until it really comes down to happening. Or, if unarmed, if they can actually deliver a stunning or fatal blow to an adversary.
If armed, and you freeze, odds are you’re going to be shot with your own weapon. Unarmed, you’re likely to meet the same fate you would have anyway.
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What facts did I leave out? if I am missing one I would like to know. I stated facts that are documented and can be found from credible reports of the incedent.
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Most people shot in their home are shot with their own gun. We are not talking suicide. A gun like a knife or a baseball bat is simply a tool. You have to have the training & willpower to use it.
One problem I have with a hyper second amendment society is the complete lack of training. If you own a gun but do not know how to secure it &/ or care for it you are a public hazard: an accident waiting to happen.
I have my eye on a nice 1911 .45 at Cabella’s. The only thing preventing me from buying it is rent & groceries. If my wife was not looking I could be home with it in time for the nightly news.
How about before I walk out of the store I have to demonstrate how to load, unload, clear, clean, & secure it?
You have to take a test to drive a car, but to have a child & own a gun are God given rights? Maybe we need to rethink that.
BTW: in AZ everyone other than convicted felons & certified crazy people are allowed to carry concealed. No training or permit required. 21 & breathing with enough cash to make the purchase & you to can be 007
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The point is guns are uneccesary for defense in everyday life. Your going hunting, by all means take a gun. If your going to war, by all means take a gun. If your going fishing in kodiak bear country, by all means take a gun! If your going shopping in downtown minneapolis, please leave your gun at home. You bring more harm on yourself by arming yourself with a loaded weapon just in case that small chance that someone wanted to harm you.
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I’d rather go to the gun range. I’m not Tom Knapp but I can shoot my share of clay pigeons. A couple of years ago I won the Duck’s Unlimited all or nothing raffle. I won a Ruger Red Label 12 ga. over under shot gun, a Beretta White Onyx 20 ga. over under shot gun, and a Beretta Urika 2 Max 4 12 ga. automatic. How fun is that? I won some points at home that day.
If nothing else…this has been an interesting discussion.
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I took this class. It answered many questions that were always lurking in the back of my mind, with the key one being “How would I react if I was attacked?” Yes, the training happens in a controlled environment. Yes, you DO know its coming. But I had never been grabbed from behind or held down. If, God forbid, I get attacked, I have been given tools that I can use because I know how I will react. And that alone is worth going to the class. Its not hair pulling and scratching, its MUCH more.
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Early last evening while walking near the TCF Bank Stadium in Mpls my husband and I watched a female police officer subdue a female unstable person. The woman put up a fight but the female officer grabbed her and used a twist to the arm to bring the woman down to her knees. Then she held her there with one arm while she used the other to speak on her radio. I don’t know if she can do the same with a man but she did a fine job with the woman.
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In grappling, there are some good basic joint locks that are easy to learn and good for wrangling an aggressive drunk when you don’t want to hit them, or shoot them like Richard might do.
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Brenda you nailed it! Close physical combat is all about muscle memory. Ufc, boxers, wrestlers, and judo people drill drill drill so it becomes second nature. By going to the class you are not going to be an elite hand to hand combatant but you will learn some great simple moves that otherwise would not know.
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Couldn’t help myself…
Not a statement, just meant to be entertainment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbq-8FYpYPo&feature=related
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entertain away…I like getting the headphones out bac…
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Yeah, headphones really do bring out the best of them. Especially Paul’s bass. The second cut, ‘Somewhere’ really exhibits it. Whatever, I used to plug this album in and listen to it to fall asleep, way back when.
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX-MjRlqVkk
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Great album…the only problem is the volume doesn’t go loud enough to suit me on my computer…I end up going to Amazon and ordering CDs.
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You don’t have the RealTek HD Audio package on your PC?
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I do now…thank you bac. It pays to have smart friends.
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Great! Hope you get a lot of enjoyment out of the equalizer toy.
Just don’t forget to turn the volume back down or it’s gonna scare hell outtaya the next time you logon!
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