AMY SZPARA

LAPLACE – Unified Taekwon-do of LaPlace will begin a Rape Awareness Program Feb. 16. Classes will be held every Friday for six weeks from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at their 425 W. Airline Highway location. The class will cost $60, and there is no uniform. Participants will be encouraged to wear whatever they feel comfortable in – sweat pants and T-shirts, work clothes or their everyday attire. “It’s a self-defense course,” said Master Kirt Robertson of Unified Taekwon-do. “It’s not martial arts. We want people to come in what they would be walking around in.” The class will aim at teaching basic self-defense techniques. Geared toward females ages 13 and up, the course will strive to make women more aware of their surroundings and more cautious. “I’ve been wanting to implement this program for a long time,” said Robertson. “Now I have a group of students and instructors to help me teach the course.” Certified to teach the course, Robertson constantly reviews tapes and literature on rape prevention. Along with him, Michelle Watson, an LPN and former St. John corrections employee, will teach the course. Sensei Pete Hernandez will also provide instruction. Robertson said not only will the program teach rape prevention, it will also provide information to women concerning what to do if a rape does occur. “We will provide information on getting assistance if it does happen,” said Robertson. “For example, don’t jump in the shower and erase the evidence. There’s a lot of information to take in. They will find out some things about themselves in the class.” According to Robertson, the students will learn how to take back power for themselves, how to learn to view their bodies as their own and how to get the words I will not be a victim’ ingrained in them. “It will heighten their awareness,” said Robertson. One important aspect of the class will focus on using natural weapons, things that women have around them every day: a purse, keys, a heel of a shoe, an ink pen or pencil. “They’ll get it in their minds that they can use those things. They’ll say, I can use this,'” said Robertson. “Most people know what to do with keys and pencils. They know they can use them. The problem is getting past the panic stage,” said Watson. “We teach them to keep a level head. After the course, it’s an instant response to defend themselves.” “It should be an automatic response,” said Robertson. “If a woman stabs a man in the leg with a pen, that gives her 30-40 seconds to get away. We’re not talking about breaking his neck or martial arts. It’s how to get away and get to a phone. He’s bigger, and she just needs to know to use the weapon and get away.” Watson added that they will teach women how to carry themselves with confidence. She said rapists usually pick out their victims. “Being highly confident is a big plus,” she said. “If you walk like a victim, you will be a victim.” Watson hopes to have a lot of young women who are just entering the dating scene take the course. Date rape and acquaintance rape happen much more frequently than stranger rape, and she hopes to teach young women to avoid becoming a statistic. They will cover date rape drugs and ways to cut the odds down when attending parties or going out on dates. “We’re not getting women in here to become paranoid,” said Robertson. “We just want them to learn the danger signs. Anyone can be a victim.” Robertson said women will learn how to respond to an attack from standing and sitting positions, as well as learn how to fight off an attacker while lying down. Though Robertson is a strong advocate for women carrying handguns if they have been properly trained, he said that he also believes they should know how to use nonlethal force. “You can’t be afraid to hurt someone,” Robertson said. “If he’s out to hurt you, you have to be ready to injure him. It’s better than being dead or dead for life mentally.'” “Our main goal is to empower women,” said Robertson. “Rape is getting worse and worse, and it is time for a class like this. I’m very passionate about this program. I can’t see someone’s life being ruined by another person,” he said. “Rape is not about sex. It’s about control. We want women to get some control back. Our main thing is to let the public know that we’re here to help them.” Robertson and Watson hope that parents of young women will encourage their daughters to take the course. “If parents have questions, they need to ask me. I’m hoping that moms and dads listen before they turn off from this. They might think it’s too hard a lesson for their daughters, but it’s much better than having them have to face a rape.” Anyone interested in entering the program, having a daughter enter the program or in getting more information on rape prevention or rape resources, can call Unified Taekwon-do at 653-0156 between 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.