OP_051018

8 | May 10, 2018 | The orland park prairie News
opprairie.com
Women of all ages participate in local self-defense class
Orland Park selfdefense
group
teaches techniques
Amanda Stoll
Freelance Reporter
More than ever, women
are realizing the need to be
able to defend themselves in
dangerous situations. That
is where Orland Park’s One
Light Self-Defense comes
in.
The annual self-defense
class is taught by One Light
and hosted by State Rep.
Margo McDermed’s office.
This year, there was a
larger turnout than last year,
with an estimated 70 women
signing up for the free class
on April 26.
Jeanette Brook, an instructor
with One Light Self-
Defense, said their program
was much the same as in
past years. The training has
shown to be effective, easy
to teach and easy for women
to remember — save for one
tricky technique involving a
cross arm wrist grab.
“We have a variation in
one of the techniques that
we are excited about that is
easier to use,” Brook said.
“Most of the talking points
we’ve found have been valid,
and the other techniques
are solid. People have found
them effective, so we’re
happy about that.”
The cross-arm wrist grab
is one of the hardest types
of holds to get out of, Brook
said. But by the class teaching
women how to use the
positions of their hips and
elbows in combination with
a quick movement, they
should be better prepared
for that type of situation.
The main goal of the
class is always to first teach
women how to stay out of
situations that could become
dangerous; those “talking
points” Brook mentioned.
By following those tips,
Sean Mixson (left) and Gary Brook go through a
demonstration.
Brook said they may be able
to prevent themselves from
ever ending up in a situation
requiring the use of their
physical skills.
As a woman who is 5 foot,
3 inches and 110 pounds,
Brook is a model of how
even a woman of small stature
can be fierce fighters if
situations were to arise.
“Anything that we teach,
I have experience trying to
do the techniques to at least
300-pound guys and bigger,”
she said. “If I can’t do
it fast and effectively, we
don’t teach it.”
She said in addition to
smaller women, the training
is effective at building the
confidence of older women,
who might think their lack of
strength would hinder them
from being able to protect
themselves.
But that is not the case,
either.
“So many assaults now
are happening to older people,
too,” Brook said. “Many
older people are thinking
there’s nothing that they can
do about it, but there’s still
something they can do to
keep themselves safe.”
Quick and effective placement
of hits that will allow
a person a window of opportunity
to escape are at the
core of One Light’s teaching
curriculum, but the heart of
their organization remains
with victims of assault and
human trafficking.
“I’m very excited about
the hearts of people now, because
they’re not only coming
for themselves,” Brook
said of class participants,
many of whom donate to the
cause in lieu of a class fee.
“[It’s] almost like a pay it
forward and helping victims
who have been in situations.
I’ve been very encouraged
by that.”
“There’s so many things
that are happening now,
and people are not only
caring about themselves,
but they’re making a difference
in the lives of other
people.”
Kathy Hilton, chief of staff
at McDermed’s office, said
the class has been increasingly
popular in the last few
years. Last year, in particular,
they did not have enough
space to accommodate all
the people who wanted to
participate, and had to turn
people away.
Hilton said they have
started looking for locations
Monica Matelski goes through the palm strike drills April 26 during a self-defense class led
by Orland Park’s One Light Self-Defense at Lincolnway Christian Church in New Lenox.
Photos by Adam Jomant/22nd Century Media
Tarne Mixson teaches her group how to do a palm strike.
that can accommodate up to
100 people, so that does not
happen again.
The chairs in the sanctuary
at Lincolnway Christian
Church in New Lenox
were pushed aside, as women
broke into groups and
learned how to effectively
get an attacker to let go of
them. Whether that involved
being grabbed from behind,
by the neck,or by the wrist,
the class covered a variety of
different situations.
For those who missed last
week’s basic class, there is
slated to be another offering
on Aug. 23. The location of
that class is still to be determined,
but those interested
in signing up can do so by
emailing Hilton at kathy.ilhs37th@gmail.com.
Hilton said she has taken
the class multiple times in
the past and observes the
class when she is not participating.
“I found the class actually
very empowering and
confidence building,” she
said. “Don’t panic; buy time.
A class like this is just very
good for getting that simple
concept in people’s heads.”