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	Vol.7, No 18, September 29, 1999
	Karate instructors teach basic self defense By Rebecca Brown Daily Forty-Niner The word "no" can be one of a womanís best weapons against a sexual attacker, so long as she knows how to say it, said Deborah McCormick, head instructor of the Bassai Women's Karate and Self Defense School in Long Beach. "You have to say it deep in your lungs," said McCormick, a third-degree black belt who volunteered her time Monday evening for a free self-defense workshop hosted by the Womenís Resource Center.  Sherrie Course, who is a first-degree black belt, assisted McCormick during the workshop.  "I often feel bad because I know that an attacker won't choose me because of my skills, so I teach," Course said. "I help other women learn to protect themselves." The instructors first talked to the group of 34 female Cal State Long Beach students about the importance of a confident attitude. "You don't want to look like someone who wonít try to stop an attacker," McCormick said. "Keep your shoulders thrown back, look up and be alert." Knowing your surroundings and paying attention to who is around you are the next steps toward deterring an attacker.  Even if you are afraid, making eye contact with a blank, unsmiling face will keep an attacker from seeing your fear and acting upon it, McCormick said. "A smiling face is an open invitation to an attacker," she said. "As women, we smile at strangers because we naturally give comfort and we take care of people," McCormick said. "We are not fulfilling our jobs as a female if we donít smile at a passing stranger."  Men, on the other hand, deal with such situations in the exact opposite manner, she said.  Submission is often a way of facilitating survival for women, while men are expected to fight, McCormick said. "What do most men say when asked what they would do in the event of an attacker attempting to rape them?" asked Course. "They say, 'I'd kill him.' But women are expected to sit there and take it," McCormick said. McCormick instructed the attendees of the workshop to sit on the floor in a circle. She then told the women to reach for the leg of the woman to their respective right sides. The other woman was instructed to look her in the eyes and say, without smiling, "Don't touch me. I donít like it."  Nervous laughter rippled through the circle as the exercise began.  The women who attended the workshop were also taught how to get physical. Attendees were taught how to incapacitate an attacker by aiming for the different soft spots in a body, such as the throat, shins, and feet. This would give a woman enough time to run away, or at least give them enough time to scream for assistance. Senior sociology major Christine Newman considered it an evening well spent.  "I almost didnít come, but I talked myself into it," she said. "The class gave me a feeling of empowerment. Now I know what to do when an attack happens that a guy won't expect."		5 men held for smashing windows Recent figures show CSULB enrollment keeps growing American-Indian remains wanted back Listening Lounge offers brain food Karate instructors teach basic self defense Senior U. teacher 1 of 35 chosen for space camp Free speech still free Bookstore prices outrage students Prof. angry about CFA story L.B. Symphony pleases despite various problems Big Wu comes up short LBSU out of tune Dolley rises from the depths Women's soccer coach experiencing growing pains in team's second season Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.