Imagine yourself in a crowded holiday parking lot. You slip into a spot, and suddenly — unexpectedly — find yourself engaged in a shouting match with a driver who was headed for the same space. Encounters like this can turn violent in seconds.
Most everyone has been involved in an unexpected encounter with a stranger. But few know what to do when a fleeting contact blows up into full conflict.
Those who want the skills to escape potentially dangerous situations are learning at classes taught by instructors trained in the FAST Defense method. There are teachers at gyms and martial-arts studios along the Front Range, including in Fort Collins, Longmont and Parker.
Who it’s for: FAST — the acronym stands for Fear Adrenal Stress Training — helps train people to be safely assertive during confrontations.
The beginner’s class emphasizes instinct rather than technique, and is appropriate for those who have not received previous defense training.
The person being attacked has to muster all her strength, abilities and instincts to avoid being a victim, says Kevin Cronin with 360 Safe Zone in Parker. “There is a difference between ‘I want to live’ and ‘I don’t want to die.’ ”
What it’s like: To gauge participants’ experience and get them in the mind-set of self-defense, Charles Orchard of Total Ryu Traditional Martial Arts in Fort Collins practices a series of scenarios such as coming face to face with a stranger who intrudes on your personal space.
“Where do you feel the tension? In your back? In your chest? In your arms?” Orchard asks his students as he has them stand toe to toe staring at each other. “That’s adrenaline.”
The atmosphere of the room intensifies as Monica Hall, an owner and instructor at ACTIVE 1 Self-Defense in Longmont, demonstrates a few basic techniques such as eye gouging and kneeing an opponent.
“Martial arts are great for confrontation, but they aren’t realistic,” she says. “I am a second-degree black belt, but if I do a roundhouse kick, it’s not going to hurt — I’ll fall on my butt.”
The first line of defense is to use your voice to fight off an opponent, which also keeps your heart rate down, she says. Hall says to yell, “No! Back off!” or just scream.
After teaching students a few maneuvers, she divides the girls into two groups and they practice kicking, gouging and screaming their way out of a simulated attack.
The adrenaline rush part of the confrontation is demonstrated when the instructors have class members stand in the middle of the floor, with eyes closed, while an attacker sneaks up and reaches for their neck.
“Knee, scratch, scream!” Hall coaches. After about 30 seconds in the ring with the “attacker,” he surrenders, and we successfully escape.
“I love doing this and seeing the fear of getting grabbed turn into anger,” says Orchard, who played the attacker.
The morning after: Depending on how physical you had to get to escape your attacker, you might have some soreness.
Advice: You will be practicing full-force strikes against male instructors, so don’t hold back. There will be a lot of yelling, and your personal space will be invaded several times throughout the 3-hour class. So, if you have been in violent situations in the past, let your instructors know.
If you would like to attend the class but have reservations, the support of a friend may be beneficial.
Details: Class prices range from $60 to $100. For more information, contact Charles and Jill Orchard, Total Ryu Martial Arts Inc. at 970-481-8641 or totalryu@msn.com; Monica Hall, Active 1 Self-Defense, 303-881-5020 or Monica@active1selfdefense; or Pam Thompson at 720-394-6447 or Pam@360Safe . General information at .
