Stories From Main Street: Ramapo Police Offer Women Free Self-Defense Training
RAMAPO, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police in Rampo are teaching women how to defend themselves.
Officer Omar Olayan, who runs free Rape Aggression Defense Training classes, said the program teaches you "how to protect yourself in a life and death situation, and get out of it and escape."
It starts with awareness.
"How do you look to these predators? Do you look like prey or are you somebody who they're not going to want to deal with in the first place?" Olayan said. "How do you live your life? How do you walk around every day and put yourself out there to these predators?"
"Sometimes people let their guard down and you become complacent, whether it's walking to your car in the mall or just hanging out with a group of girlfriends, and you don't realize that's when it could happen," said Officer Julianne Franklin. "It's always being aware and this gives you a sense of confidence and the criminals pick up on that."
Women are taught a loud voice is their first weapon.
"For years women are taught to be nice and to be friendly, but we're letting them know if somebody gets on an elevator with you and you know when that 'spidey sense' goes off that this person might not be the person you want to be on the elevator alone with, it's OK to get off the elevator," Olayan said.
Next, women are taught to punch and kick sensitive target areas.
"Strike hard, and strike fast, and then get out of there," Olayan said.
They practice on padded dummies.
"They're making me move with their strikes, with their punches and with their kicks and they're watching a guy who is my size -- 240 pounds -- being pushed back a couple feet," Olayan said.
The self-defense course is nine hours.
"We're offering something that can save your life," Olayan said. "It's nine hours of your life to save your life."
