KATELYN COLLEY|COLUMN|OCTOBER 21, 2018

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) — His grip was tightening around my neck as my oxygen was beginning to dwindle. I quickly shifted my body weight, elbow-locked his arm, and began my ballistic attacks, starting with forceful groin kicks and finishing strong with knee strikes to the face. This is something I experience twice a week at my local karate studio. Krav Maga, a type of Israeli self-defense martial art, is meant to prepare people for the harsh realities of day-to-day life and prevent them from becoming another statistic. These classes build self-defense knowledge, technique and pure confidence to be able to navigate through dangerous situations and put an end to the vulnerability assaulters crave.

According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), “one out of every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime.” This devastating statistic showcases just how common it is in our society for women to be deliberately targeted. To be even more specific, teenage girls have the highest risk for assault today. To fellow high schoolers, these facts are frightening. Like many of my peers, I was tired of seeing headline after headline, study after study, about the prominence of assault in our community and across the world. Krav Maga classes provided this sense of hope that so many girls long for and genuine instruction on how to get yourself out of the danger zone.

The abuse and assault does not just apply to women, either. According to the RAINN organization, “one out of ten rape victims [in the United States] are male.” Society has not only affected women’s safety, but it has also contributed to the concept of toxic masculinity that has equally spread like wildfire. Men are far less likely to report these incidents because of this, yet still experience the same aftermath effects (depression, anxiety, alcoholism, etc.) as women. Frankly, no matter the probability or statistic, anyone can become a victim at any time. That is why it is essential for people to educate themselves on self-defense tactics and situational awareness strategies.

In Krav Maga, we are taught to address the immediate danger, counterattack violently , and evacuate the danger zone. This three-step process explains what to do in situations involving assault and harmful conditions. Most people can agree that this process, however, is much harder to carry out than it looks. Just elevating one’s confidence to the point of appearing invulnerable is difficult enough for many people. This gives further credibility to taking self-defense classes. For those who weren’t exactly born with confidence, they can truly learn how to develop confidence by knowing their own strengths, especially in combat. Any form of assault deals with various levels of physiological and psychological strategies of combat and do not solely rely on physical fitness. It is important that people know all of these combat levels so they can fully protect themselves.

One way to ensure this generation feels prepared to deal with any attack is through self-defense programs at schools. Currently, Stanton College Preparatory School does not have options for these programs, which is exactly why I plan on creating a self-defense club based on Krav Maga principles my junior year. Stanton desperately needs this kind of confidence and protection promotion in their environment, as it will most likely increase assertiveness and alacrity in the student body, overall. While Stanton prides itself on preparing students for day-to-day college life, it should be just as critical that it prepares us for the harmful situations that inevitably come along with this, as well.

The Danger Zone