Organization: Arizona State University
Date: Thursday, 13 Aug 1992 08:55:24 MST
From: <AIVAB@ASUACAD.BITNET>
Newsgroups: talk.rape
Subject: Re: lioness method
 <1992Aug10.165152.18662@news.columbia.edu> <1992Aug10.193208.91631@cs.cmu.edu>

In article <1992Aug10.193208.91631@cs.cmu.edu>, garvin+@cs.cmu.edu (Susan
Garvin) says:
>
>
>I have yet to see anyone post who has actually tried any of these
>methods.  I hope that someone who has successfully fended off an
>attack (sexual or not) with methods that can be easily explained
>will post their advice.
>
>Susan


I have stopped what I believed at the time (and still believe) to have
been violent attacks by shouting at the threatenting person before they
touched me.  (This WILL work sometimes, BUT NOT ALWAYS)  Martial arts
students of mine have stopped someone who was trying to grab them by
pushing DOWN on the inside of one elbow and UP from underneath the
other, sharply.  (This WILL work sometimes, BUT NOT ALWAYS)  A woman
I know escaped from a physical struggle with a stranger who jumped her
from behind and had her on the ground by alternately fighting (completely
untrained) as hard as she could, and trying to talk 'calmly' with the
attacker, who eventually picked up her purse, handed it to her,
apologized (!) and ran away.  (This WILL work sometimes BUT NOT ALWAYS)
I could go on and on.  There are many, many strategies and techniques
that WILL work sometimes BUT NOT ALWAYS.

There's an old story about the origin of the dance the "tarantella" (sp.?).
It seems that the bite of a tarantula spider would sometimes kill
some particulary susceptible people.  Folks would try various responses
after a bite to try to prevent the death.  ANYTHING THAT WOULD SEEM TO
WORK WOULD BE HAILED AS "THE" CURE.  Some folks believed that vigorous
motion, inducing lots of sweat was effective.  Hence, the "tarantella",
a dance to "cure" tarantula bite.  It seems to me that all too much
asvice given to as "effective self-defense" falls into this category (as
does the anecdotes above) - it worked some time for someone, or it is
believed to have worked, therefore, it is "the" way to respond.

I have 15 years' martial arts experience.  I
lead occasional 'self-defense' workshops aimed primarily at women.  I read
every scrap I can find on issues of self-defense, 'women's self defense',
violence prevention, conflict resolution, related areas.  There are plenty
of anecdotes & widely held beliefs, a few statistical studies that don't
have much specific to offer.  The one positive correlation that seems to
hold true (from what I've read) is that women who DECIDE their response
to attack (whether that DECISION is to fight or cooperate with the attacker)
seem to fare better both in terms of immediate outcome (rate of rape or
serious injury) and in terms of psychological (and I think physical as well)
recovery time.  My advice to women (endorsed by the few women I know who've
confided to me about their experiences with violence):  EXPLORE the
options ("standard" martial arts, "self-defense" training, conflict
resolution training, negotiation training, weapons <e.g. guns, chemicals,
batons, etc.>); DECIDE how and how much you are willing to resist, both
in terms of risk to yourself, your property, and in terms of how seriously
you are willing to injure someone in defense of these; DON"T LET ANYONE
UNDERMINE YOU BY TELLING YOU THAT YOUR DECISION IS "WRONG"; SUPPORT your
decision with appropriate training/exercise/reading/research; REVEIW your
decision periodically; SEEK SUPPORT from like-minded folks (folks you
train with, support networks, family/friends).  The women I've encountered
through the workshops I've organized have responded positively.  I have no
idea, however if any of them have been enabled to avert/stop/reduce an attack.
I can only hope so.

Roni