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Date: 4/11/2019
WILBRAHAM – “Verbalize,” Sgt. Mark Paradis of the Wilbraham Police Department reminded the woman as she grappled with a man who was trying to attack her.
“Stay back!” the woman yelled. She punched, landing a blow to her assailant’s face.
This was the final of four self-defense classes for women and girls over 13 years of age being offered by the Wilbraham Police Department. A group of about 20 women met each Tuesday evening from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Wilbraham Gardens, to learn self–defense techniques through a program called R.A.D.
The R.A.D. system, which stands for Rape, Aggression, Defense, is a network of 11,000 instructors who train people in practical self–defense. R.A.D. has trained over 900,000 women since its inception in 1989, states its website. Students learn the basics of understanding risk awareness, prevention, reduction, and avoidance before learning hands–on self–defense.
R.A.D.’s mission statement states that the system seeks to “provide educational opportunities for women, children, men, and seniors to create a safer future for themselves,” and to, “evolve into an existence where violence is not an acceptable part of daily life.”
“The main objective is to get the hell out of there,” Paradis told the women, who were outfitted in rubber helmets, gloves, knee– and elbow–pads. The women varied in age, though most of the attendees were in their late teens and early twenties. Paradis said most of the participants were mothers and daughters, and women going off to college.
“There are lots of things happening in the world,” said Nicole Bousquet, 20, of Ware. She said she feels more confident and that she’s learned good defense techniques in the class.
“My daughters are now driving, getting out into the world,” said Renee Balbino, 44, of Ludlow, who attended the class with her two daughters, 15–year–old Marissa Balbino and 17–year–old Miranda Balbino. “I want them to be prepared for whatever’s out there.”
Not all the participants are young women. Paradis said one of the women he taught was 75 years old, and that women of all ages attend the classes. Rose Vaudrin, 60, of Wilbraham said she took the class because she wanted the experience.
“I walk alone often,” Vaudrin said and her husband encouraged her to learn self–defense.
After Paradis directed the class through a review of the different defensive moves they had learned, the students came in one at a time to practice those moves against aggressors.
Officers Tom Motyka, Brent Noyes, and Mike Cygan, dressed in protective, thick, rubber suits, were on hand to pose as the attackers. Motyka said they take a week-long training class before they are allowed to teach classes. R.A.D. is different from other self–defense courses, he said, because it is an intense course that has been adopted by many police departments across the country. In fact, R.A.D.’s website also lists classes in Canada, the UK, Egypt, and Switzerland.
The Wilbraham Police Department will offer the class again in the fall. Class size is limited to 25 students and the cost of the class is $25 per person. More information can be found by contacting the Wilbraham Police Department or at http://www.rad-systems.com.