Rape Aggression defense (r.a.d.) for women

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I started in the law enforcement field, where I taught defensive tactics to our officers. I later established the Department’s first self-defense program for women in the community.  During my time in the Detective’s unit, I was drawn towards helping the women that I was coming across from domestic violence, sexual assault cases and so much more.  Providing this course to moms, students, grandmothers, realtors and so many more women has been one of my greatest joys; to see the look of power and confidence within these women is incredible.  

Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) System is a program of realistic, self-defense tactics and techniques. It is a comprehensive course for women that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance, while progressing to the basics of hands-on defense training. 

The course includes lecture, discussion and self-defense techniques suitable for women of all ages and abilities.

RAD is not a martial arts program. Our courses are taught by certified RAD instructors and provide students with a workbook/reference manual. This manual outlines the entire physical defense program for reference and continuous personal growth. The RAD System of physical defense is taught at many colleges and universities. The growing, widespread acceptance of this system is primarily due to the ease, simplicity and effectiveness of the tactics, solid research and unique teaching methodology.

The RAD Systems is dedicated to teaching women defensive concepts and techniques against various types of assault by using easy, effective and proven self-defense tactics. The system of realistic defense will provide the knowledge to make an educated decision about resistance.

FINALLY, A PHYSICAL DEFENSE PROGRAM FOR WOMEN THAT:

• Has established the standard for female self- defense programs
• Offers no-nonsense, practical techniques of defense
• Researched the effects of "The Flight or Fight Syndrome"
• Offers advanced self-defense courses that build upon the physical defense system
• Provides realistic and dynamic hands on training
• Provides students with a comprehensive reference manual
• Certifies Instructors from the community
• Has a litigation defense policy
• Offers state of the art programs at reasonable rates
• Every student receives a lifetime membership policy

Twelve-hour basic physical defense class. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring water and snacks.

Using the RAD student manual, students will be involved in a discussion of risk reduction strategies, date rape, continuum of survival, defensive strategies and the basic principles of defense.

Participating students will begin the process of hands-on training. We also discuss the pros and cons of defensive weaponry, how to develop a defensive mindset, understanding offensive and defensive postures, recognizing vulnerable locations and using personal weapons.

Participating students will continue the process of hands-on training. The techniques used by RAD Systems are based on simple gross motor skills and are developed to the point that they become instinctual through repetition.

Students will have the opportunity to use these techniques in dynamic impact training by striking padded equipment held by the instructors. All techniques target a single attacker.

Students will then participate in “simulated assault” scenarios with RAD instructors, who along with participants, wear state-of-the-art protective gear specifically designed for this training. Women have the opportunity to use their skills in a safe training environment.

• Approximately 85% of rape victims knew their assailant.
• With more than 3,500 instructors certified and nearly 160,000 women trained, RAD Systems is the country’s largest and fastest growing self-defense program for women and children.
• 1 out of every 4 college woman polled was sexually assaulted during four years at college. (Ms. Magazine Study on Sexual Assault and Rape)
• Between 1973 and 1987, (14 years), over 2.3 millions women reported sexual assaults in the United States. 71% of these victims avoided being raped by talking self-protective measures. (United States Dept. of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics )
• "In fact, the most often used strategy for avoiders (of rape) appears to have been a combination of screaming and use of physical resistance."
  (Bart, P. & O'Brien, P.,1985). Stopping Rape: Successful Survival Strategies. Pergamon Press, New York.)
• Rape Aggression Defense: Unique Self-Efficacy Benefits for Survivors of Sexual Trauma - Following completion of a RAD course, all participants reported significant increases in self-efficacy domains, and sexual trauma history significantly predicted pre-training interpersonal self-efficacy and post-training self-defense self-efficacy, suggesting that self-defense training confers benefits for survivors above and beyond benefits for other participants.(Pinciotti & Orcutt 2017)
• The RAD Systems curriculum is taught at over 400 colleges and universities across the United States and Canada, and is the only self-defense program to be endorsed by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators.
• RAD is an international alliance of thousands of instructors united in offering practical options for responding to increasing acts of violence against women. We offer life-long opportunity for physical skill mastery provided through our trademark Lifetime Return and Practice Policy.

Feedback from women participating in the RAD program has been very positive:

• "Great course with very practical techniques! The instructors were funny, helpful, and good at explaining things."
• "Excellent class. The simulation is particularly important for us to experience the stress situation."
• "Better than any other self-defense class I’ve ever taken."
• "Really enjoyed the RAD classes and think everyone should take them! They're extremely helpful, and knowing I have that knowledge itself makes me feel safer."
• "I just took the RAD course on campus and truly appreciate all the wonderful work the instructors do. They were very informative and helpful with instruction, and made the time there very enjoyable."