Vance women show no mercy

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Nicole Poff
  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  In the 1984 blockbuster "The Karate Kid" Daniel Larusso presses Mr. Miyagi to teach him karate so he can learn to fight. Mr. Miyagi lets "Daniel-san" know in so many words that a karate student doesn't train to fight. He trains so he doesn't have to fight.
While the art of karate regards not injuring one's opponent as the highest expression of the art, it was not the philosophy of the self-defense class given to more than a dozen Team Vance women April 20 here.
"If you are attacked, aim for the eyes, nose, throat, temple or groin," said Katsutaka Tanaka, an eighth degree black belt and Sensei of Tanaka Martial Arts Academy in Anchorage, Alaska. "Hit one of those five areas as hard as you can and as many times as it takes."
Sensei Tanaka was in Enid to visit Kenwa Kai of Oklahoma, one of his 10 branch schools located throughout the United States. The head karate instructor there, Marisol Parr, is a Team Vance spouse and former Air Force officer.
The self defense class was one of the many activities provided for Sexual Assault Awareness Month said Sheryl McMullen, the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator.
"A major component of the Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Program is giving people the knowledge and skills to prevent potentially threatening situations and an awareness of how to respond if need be," said Ms. McMullen.
The participants were given a basic set of rules to adhere to if they encounter a situation where they are in danger.
"You have to have your mind prepared to do anything that you have to do to protect yourself," said Sensei Tanaka.
The sensei also emphasized that it's important to defeat your assailant mentally as well as physically because if they believe that their victim cannot overpower them, they will continue to assault their victim.
The class ended with the participants partnering together with one partner acting as the assailant and the other going through the movements to defend themselves.
"I don't think I had ever really thought about a plan of action should I be attacked by someone trying to harm me, but now I know that there are five body areas to target should that occur," said Martha Harris, 71st Mission Support Group secretary.
The purpose of self defense is to gain confidence in your ability to take care of yourself, said Mrs. Parr.
"I must add that getting away is the primary goal," she said. "You should not try to engage someone in a fight to show your skills."
Kenwa Kai Oklahoma will hold another self defense class Saturday at the YWCA. For more information call 234-7581.