Diana MacDonald, The Informer – November 11, 1991
With her heart pounding and her pulse racing, the woman screams and thrusts her free, open hand into her assailant’s eyes. She kicks him with all her will as he moves to release her grip. She manages to struggle her other hand free and goes directly for a sensitive target. Her assailant is injured and, before he realizes, she has fled to safety, screaming “Fire – police”.
This is not an actual assault, but one of many very real attack scenarios acted out by students of George Manoli, a Police Constable at Station 15. Constable Manoll, a 4th degree black belt in karate, has developed a hands-on method of selfdefense, designed specifically for women. His 12-hour no-nonsense course deals with actual case studies, the psychology behind the attacker, sexual assault and the law, residential and personal safety tips as well as “hands-on” self-defense techniques. He teaches his students to injure their assailants and not just inflict pain upon them.
“No matter what you decide to do,” stresses Constable Manoli, “The number one thing you must conquer in any assault situation is your fear of the situation.”
The success of the first of three sessions-. of Self-Defense for Women offered by the CRA is apparent when talking with the students. When asked if the course was what she expected one student claimed, “Yes, that and more. I feel more aware of the people around me and I feel more confident that I would be better able to handle an attack situation”.
The students claim that by acting and living out assault situations, they are able to see what their abilities are and how best to use them. Some students were sure that they would “freeze up” when faced with an attack and were surprised to discover how much more capable they were of fending off an attacker than they thought, due to the simplicity of the method taught.
Constable Manoll believes that this is a very positive way of taking steps towards living the experience. His students encourage all women to take the course.
The CRA will be offering another fall session of Self-Defense for Women, beginning November 15 and lasting 5 weeks. The course is held on Thursdays from 7 9:30 pm. The fee for the course is $45 including a 160-page manual the student takes home. If you would like to register for the course or would like further information, please call the CRA office at 4898448. Spaces for the course are limited.
Related Images:
