R.A.D self-defense class. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons).Luke Richey - Staff Writerlrichey@uab.edu
UAB’s Rape Aggression Defense Program, helmed by the UAB Police Department, is focused on giving women around campus the tools they need to properly defend themselves against attacks. According to Captain Zandral Washington, division commander for the UAB Police Department. The R.A.D. program is one of the largest self-defense programs in the country and records more than 11,000 instructors in the system as well as having trained over 900,000 women since the program’s inception in 1989.
“Safety and survival in today’s world requires a definite course of action. There is no one perfect move that works every time. The R.A.D. program is special because it teaches easily executable, high quality, effective techniques that any woman with any body type can use to protect herself,” Washington said. “This is a program that we would love for students to attend. It’s free for faculty, staff and students.”
The University of Texas at Austin reports that the self-defense program is taught at over 400 universities and colleges in the United States and Canada. R.A.D.’s self-defense curriculum is also the only program backed by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. According to Washington, the state of Alabama has 21 institutions that provide R.A.D. training – including eight universities and colleges and 13 municipal police, sheriff’s offices and parks and recreation departments.
The program was founded on the principles of education and awareness. It offers ways to avoid potentially harmful situations and defense tactics if situations should get out of hand. UABPD employs students with a defensive mindset and helps them understand that violence is not an acceptable part of daily life. The department offers domestic violence and sexual assault training and links students with counseling services if need be.
“[The R.A.D. program] is not martial arts,” Washington said. “If someone was to grab your arm you can know how to strike the radial nerve. It’s giving you the options for you to utilize to get away from your attacker.”
R.A.D. at UAB teaches about 50 students and faculty per year. Instructors go over self-defense strategies that participants can use in different types of situations, which can include ground defense and home invasion defense.
“The program makes you more confident in yourself. Teaches you how to be assertive and be on guard. I work at nights, sometimes going to my car at 11:20 p.m. So I needed it,” said Sandra Montgomery, an employee at UAB and a participant in the self-defense program.
“I’ve always wanted to learn how to fight and martial arts and things like that. It may not be martial arts, but I like the fact that it makes me feel safer,” Amanda Winters, UAB employee who participated said. “I feel like I could actually try to protect myself in a situation.”
In addition to R.A.D., UABPD provides active shooter training courses and can schedule training with students for other kinds of situations.
The next R.A.D. course will be held Nov. 9-11, 2015 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the UAB Police Department, 1117 14th St. South.
To contact a R.A.D. representative, email Tonya Webb at twebb@uab.edu.
