TAKE training teaches women self-defense

Women learned self-defense tactics on friends and punching bags.

By Anna Koeppel

Published Sept. 18, 2007

Nearly 200 women in the Mizzou Recreation Complex on Sunday fought their friends to prepare for potential attackers.

Bill and Jill Leiker demonstrated potential attacks and techniques women can use to defend themselves.

The event, sponsored by Chi Omega sorority, was part of The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation's TAKE 10 tour, during which the Leikers traveled to 10 colleges and universities demonstrating self-defense techniques.

Ali Kemp was killed in 2002 while working as a pool attendant at a Leawood, Kan. community pool. In response, Jill Leiker began the foundation that same year.

Jill Leiker played the victim while her husband attacked her from several angles throughout the workshop, and the two talked participants through actions that could help them escape.

"Don't think for a second he's cutting me any slack," Jill Leiker said. "Any movement I bring back to my body, that just makes their grip stronger."

The pair listed areas of the body to target during an attack, including the groin, face and foot.

They cautioned women to re-evaluate their situation to decide which target is best.

"You have to constantly be running that in your mind: What's open?" Bill Leiker said.

Jill Leiker said if a woman goes into a "yellow alert" stance, facing a potential attacker with arms up, eight men out of 10 will go away.

After the Leikers demonstrated how to defend oneself from frontal and rear attacks, the students formed lines to practice moves on punching bags shaped like a man's head and torso.

The Leikers also demonstrated ways women can defend themselves if they are on the ground.

"Target areas don't change when you're on the ground," Jill Leiker said "The one place you don't want to be is on your tummy. In a rape situation, that's exactly where he wants you."

Jill Leiker then showed the attendees how to escape if an attacker has them pinned on their backs.

The Leikers wrapped up the defense training by discussing other ways women can protect themselves from attackers, including how to respond if an attacker has a weapon and whether women should carry weapons such as pepper spray.

He said many women who carry pepper spray don't practice using it, and won't know how to use it if they ever need to.

Self-defense programs, like the one taught by the Leikers, emphasize the importance of being prepared.

The Leikers then listed things potential attackers look for when selecting victims.

"Does your car look like a girl's car?" he asked. "'Julie' or 'Sarah' bling bling license plate? Stuff hanging from the mirror? Clean it out."

Jill Leiker added that women should "throw a pair of size 12 men's shoes in the back" of their car to fool potential attackers.

Bill Leiker said another way to deter attacks is to hang a "Beware of Dog" sign or put an alarm company warning sticker on a home or apartment window, even if a woman doesn't have a dog or alarm system.

Chi Omega sorority President Kristin Lamvik helped plan the event.

The chapter organized the same training last year for its members, and they decided to do it again this year and open it up to all students, Lamvik said.

"We really want this to be an annual thing," she said.

Chi Omega member Carrie Bien brought the idea for a self-defense training up to chapter leaders last year and helped with the planning both years.

Bien said the chapter mainly marketed the event to Panhellenic chapters but also notified other student groups.