Free defense training for women

UTRGV’s Police Department will host a self-defense training program called Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) for all female faculty, staff and students.

The training will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 12-14 in the Department’s Advanced Law Enforcement Training Center in Edinburg.

Amanda Quintanilla, a victim services specialist with the Department, attended the training as part of her job and as a woman interested in the training.

“I’m a female, and I think it’s important to learn different techniques or just always get different information so that we can be safe,” Quintanilla said.

She has been in situations where she has been followed.

“On my lunch hour … I’ve gone to CVS, and I’ve been followed,” Quintanilla said. “And, that’s during the day. … You want to feel empowered. You want to feel safe. You want to take care of yourself.”

Participants learn about self-defense through videos and physical training.

“The first night, you watch videos about self-defense … like, if you’re walking around the store, things to be careful with,” Quintanilla said. “They’ll review things like that.”

She explained the second night is hands-on. Students are provided with training equipment, including gloves.

“They’ll have the shield, and they’ll teach you kicking techniques or punching techniques, and you practice that back and forth throughout the room,” Quintanilla said.

On the third night, participants continue learning about different self-defense techniques on a dummy they punch.

“You have other females in there, they’re cheering you on, because some people will get embarrassed because it’s out of the norm to want to punch something,” Quintanilla said.

During the last night of training, an instructor will wear a training suit.

“You have one of the officers that will dress up in the whole outfit,” she said.  “… It’s a RedMan suit. And, so they’re covered completely. So, what the plan is, the person that’s dressed in the RedMan suit will attack you from behind and your goal is to get away. … You walk out feeling … very empowered.”

To sign up, visit goo.gl/w2oDjp and rad-systems.com for more information.