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Show (StfpfteSSiOnS J4f f Hf Coeft) B1 Wednesday, February 20, 2008 WOMEN IN SELF DEFENSE Hi t f v i " s r f '. By Mary Bernard Express Writer "We teach the basic elements of women's self defense in one six week course," explains Wayne Stevens, 4th degree blackbelt Master instructor in Tae Kwon Do. "This is a down-and-dirty martial arts course." In the U.S., violence against women is a growing and dangerous danger-ous trend. Many women hold the attitude, "It won't happen to me." Stevens says that this may be the most problematic aspect of teaching self defense to women. He explains that aggression is more likely to come from a familiar source rather than a stranger. According to women's self defense author Laura Ann Kamienski, "Friends and ac- Holfeltz demonstrates a protective protec-tive stance calleda"p6ofrise, which is the Korean word for form. Evans notes that self defense is essential for women of all ages. Trotter demonstrates protective action as she moves to fend off her attacker. Evans stresses properform saying, "It's a mental issue to know where your feet are at all times." A f r U- , h '' i -3 i i X n s i i : ! ! . .. :' . i - ! n i M I j J i ''" ' D!, TC '. if, Each office Is independently owned and operated. ..V v V ? ' , A portion ' y ofevervuleisv .J donated to the 1820 West 1' Children's Miracle Hwy.40,SteF . Network. 435 - Outstanding Agents. Outstanding Results WrW IV'' - ! C ' ' K quaintances commit most of the sexual assaults reported. Strangers are responsible for about one in five assaults." The author goes to say that women tend to tolerate bad behavior from partners. Cultural conditioning is responsible for more than just the way women perceive danger. It affects the way they see self defense. Stevens explains, "They don't want to hurt anyone even when their own safety is involved. We have to convince women that self defense is not being violent, it's being wise. A lot of women are too passive in dangerous situations." situa-tions." Fawn Evans, Stevens' partner and 3rd degree blackbelt herself, says, "We actually have to tell women that it's okay to fight back when you must. We have to break through that cultural barrier." Stevens and Evans are teaching teach-ing Vernal's newest women's self defense course. "We instruct women on situational awareness," aware-ness," Evans explains. "Understanding "Under-standing what aggression is and why it cannot be tolerated." Evans has been practicing Tae Kwon Do for 10 years and teaching for five. "I practice Tae Kwon Do, or a Korean martial arts form, every day. I love the physical effort and mental philosophy phi-losophy of the poomse, or the Korean word for form." Evans smile and laughter is disarming. It is hard to see this sociable woman as a danger to any would-be attacker. "I begin by teaching students the poomse," she explains. "The form block-strike-kick is put together in a pattern of regular action. That's martial arts." The subtlety of Tae Kwon Do's defense actions are performed repeatedly and consistently by the students. The performance is practiced with every session of the class until the actions are second nature to the students. "We teach the participant how to react the proper way, if they are attacked," Stevens adds. "More than that, we teach them how to distinguish dangerous attention. If somebody touches you in an unwanted aggressive or controlling control-ling manner, we teach students how to protect themselves." "First, we break the mindset mind-set that many women hold," Stevens says. "Society teaches women not to fight or use their strength. We tell them to take the opportunity for self defense when warranted." Teaching women to defend themselves is a mission of mercy for Stevens. He has been practicing practic-ing the martial arts for 30 years, beginning in college. A retired law enforcement officer with the Bureau of Land Management, Stevens came into the region as a range conservationist. "I've known and worked with Evans for years, teaching her, her sister, her daughter and sons in the martial arts, " he says, emphasizing empha-sizing the generational nature of his martial arts philosophy. "We worked out at the Vernal Ver-nal Athletic Club," Stevens continues. "The owner actually approached us with the idea of a women's self defense class. This our first run at it and we hope it will grow as women learn of the class." Evans adds that there is no way to tell when someone will be the victim of an attack. "In an attack, a person's mind goes blank," she says. "In an attack there's no time to think, there's only time to react. We teach them so that their reactions will kick in fast." Evans recites the five tenants of Tae Kwon Do or courtesy, perseverance, per-severance, self control, integrity and indomitable spirit. For her, these are the building blocks of a lifeway. The instructors use this philosophy to improve their students self-image. Too often, violence comes from the people women know - people they do not believe will ever hurt them. In self defense, the woman must value herself over the attacker. Women, Evans explains, need to distinguish what constitutes threatening or dangerous situations. situa-tions. But in an aggressive situ- 1 Vernal, Utah iixkisi.j 7f?i5 0482 781 - 2500 Yi Fawn Evans, a 3rd Dan Tae Kwon Do blackbelt, connects with Jennifer Holfeltz on form. "It snaps," says Evans, teaching students how to punch. "It crackles, too." ation there is no substitute for practiced responses. "Once you've practiced enough on the body's weak side, it will kick in as fast as you notice danger," Evans teaches. Each person has a more dominate handside, so it is important to practice all of the self-defense techniques using both the right and left side. "It is not easy to teach women to use their physical strength," Evans explains. "We try to reach In the Dojo, where Dan Tae Kwon Do self defense is taught, Donna Trotter is about to take action. F t Li . r Bj; v:; I : ( S i . i V- 7 .( i . i i ' - - , .. - j Evans stresses more than aggressive moves in her teaching by combining the tenants of Tae Kwon Do and self defense for the students. till 1 "I Ml I VI - 3 bedroom, 2 12 bath home. Over 2,300 square feet. Fully landscaped yard. Call Amy Harking 790-0482 !:' i (V ' ' V'i i . fj by appealing to their mental strength. If you have to hurt someone to save yourself, do it." "We teach them that their brain is the best weapon they have," Stevens said. "Woman are taught not to hurt others. We have to de-construct the image that self defense is aggression. It is not, it is self protection with power." Reluctance to instruction sometimes comes from the mistaken mis-taken belief martial arts will encourage danger for women. They stress that the more women know about their own protection, protec-tion, the safer they will be. The sad fact is, according to Stevens, women have been injured or killed because they ignored signs of escalating danger. "The benefits to instruction f .... . ... , - , , . -! ' ! i . fa.,..,.. u--a Holfeltz learns to block and defend unwanted advances by an attacker. 'l i I m I' . . . V Remodeled 2 bedroom, 1 bath home. Priced to sell. Call Arlene Thomson 828-5573 Atlene Thomson 828 5S73 are immediate," Evans says. "Our students learn what to look for in order to stay safe. They learn assertiveness and how to use their Kep (pronounced "key eye"), or yell. When they say stop they meant it. In an aggressive situation, they will not use polite manners. Once, they determine a situation is bad, they react." Teaching assertiveness, self-assurance self-assurance and pride these instructors in-structors are certain to have a successful program in the Basin. It is week two of the course, meet-ingonMonday meet-ingonMonday at 10 a.m. Classes run for about an hour and a half, and the Vernal Athletic Club offers of-fers child care for participants. All proceeds for these classes are donated to the Women's Crisis Center. Contact Fawn Evans at 790-3099 or Wayne Stevens at 789-3923. J Jan Sharp 828-4000 Don't face cancer alone. Call 800-ACS-2345 or log on to www.cancer.org 247 for information or to find ree services available in he Uintah Basin. February 1 Uintah Recreation District fall and winter programs for youths, teens and adults. Call 781-0982 for more information. Golden Age Center Dances, 155 S. 100 W. Vernal. Every Friday night 8 to 10 p.m. Kays Band, all are welcome. Winter Kundalini Yoga classes. Wednesdays 12- 12:45 p.m. & 6-7:30 p.m. Call Margaret 781-8711 for more information. Ski Bus-The Canyons, Uintah Recreation District, 12-18 (high school), Feb. 23 & March 8. Ten Star All Star Basketball Camp. Call (704) 373-0873 fro brochure or visit www. tenstarcamp.com. Liber Academy Student Arts Exhibit, Western Heritage Museum, 328 E. 200 S Feb. 5-29. Call 789-7399. 12-Step Recovery Program, meets Thursday, 7 to 8 p.m. at 2100 W. Highway 40. Open and anonymous. Call 790-7917. 790-7917. February 20 Writing a Personal History, Part 3, 7 p.m. Family History Center, taught by Lila Caldwell. Call 789-3618 for more information. February 20-21 Parent and Teacher conferences Wednesday & Thursday from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the large gym at the Vernal Junior High School. Parents should plan to attend. February 21, 22 & 23 Esquire Estates Annual Sale, trailers and recreational vehicles Call 789-4895 for more information. February 22 USOMATA presents the UNLV Chamber Players at 7 p.m. at the Vernal Junior High School auditorium. Tickets $5 per person. February 22-23 Know Your Liberty Seminar, Steve Pratt, World , Vision Assembly of God Church, 444 W. 400 N., Vernal. Friday 7-9:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. February 25 Movie and Popcorn 'Shrek the Third," Uintah County Library Multipurpose Multi-purpose Room, 155 E. Main, Vernal, 3:30-8 p.m. Contact: April McRae 789-0091 789-0091 ext. 21 amcrae co.uintah.ut.us February 27 Story Time, Uintah County Library Multipurpose Multi-purpose Room, 155 E. Main, Vernal, Three story time sessions each Wednesday. 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. February 28 Morning Glory Quilters, Uintah County Library Multi-purpose Room, 155 E. Main, Vernal, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Contact: Melinda Barlow 435-789-0091 mbarlowco.uintah.ut.us. losting an event? Post it for free on our community calendar at v- v. 4 bedroom, 3 bath home in Ji nn n. Nice open floor plan. Located near the Green River, letj on almost 2 acres! beautiful views! Lots of room to roam, animals permitted. Call )an Sharp 828-4000 |