Student Organization Hosts Self Defense Event for Students
By Valerie Sanabria | Published by March 20, 2020
The Student Organization of Kean University hosted a self-defense class held at the D’Angola Dance Studio on Feb. 5. Members of the organization were outside the studio scanning students’ event passes and giving them a free personal mini-alarm with keychain.
Some students like Elizabeth Chacko, a junior at Kean University, were approached by a member of the organization hosting the event who showed her the flashlight on the mini-alarm as an incentive.
“Student Organization members.” Photo by Valerie Sanabria
“I was going to the gym,” Chacko said. “The flashlight convinced me.”
Chacko also mentioned that there was a robbery recently in her neighborhood which was a reason why she wanted to learn to defend herself against an attacker.
The description of the event on CougarLink stated that students were going to learn, “simple but effective techniques.” The class was instructed by Durand Howard, director of Blue Life Karate, located in Maplewood, NJ. Howard is not only a ninth-degree black belt holder but was also inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Honor.
The self-defense technique taught by Howard is known as “Kali,” which is a martial art form from the Philippines.
“The Filipinos started practicing with sticks when the Spanish took their swords,” Howard said. “A newspaper or a cell phone can be your weapon.”
The techniques taught to the attendees according to Howard were going to stop a person in three seconds.
“Students practicing techniques.” Photo by Valerie Sanabria
One of the first tips Howard gave students was to listen to your own instincts and run if you can. He also mentioned that women are faster and can stop a male attacker even if they are stronger.
Initially, there were only 12 students in the class and only two of those students were men. At the beginning of the lesson, Howard only used men to demonstrate the techniques but as time went by he began to include women.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), “1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men in the United States have been raped in their lifetime.”
Women are historically more likely to be victims of violence and as the lesson progressed, more women joined the class but no other male students did.
“Howard demonstrating technique to students.” Photo by Valerie Sanabria
Jacky Fonseca, a student majoring in Early Childhood Education, saw a poster of the event in the Science building and decided to attend the self-defense class to be prepared in case of an attack.
“I wanted to come to be prepared in case I go home and something happens,” Fonseca said. “In case someone tries to attack me or someone tries to kidnap me.”
The Student Organization of Kean University according to Lia DiPiazza who is one of the coordinators of the organization, creates events to teach students basic life skills.
As DiPiazza said, the self-defense event was hosted because “attacks go on college campuses so it’s good to be prepared.”
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