THUNDER BAY – NWO Therapy held a R.A.D. (rape aggression defence) class on Saturday, where participants gained knowledge while practicing self-defence.
Chad Beaver, a therapist at NWO Therapy, said it’s a great program for self-defence.
“The R.A.D. program was based out of Louisiana, developed through the police department. It is something I’ve been doing since 2017,” Beaver said.
This is NWO Therapy’s first opportunity to bring the R.A.D. class to the community.
“I’ve been a mental health therapist for 20 years. I deal with trauma often in people. The first step to overcome trauma is to make sure you can prevent it from happening again.
“That’s what I teach in a lot of this class. It’s a hands-on approach to dealing with anxieties, stresses and fear. Knowing how to control yourself is a good thing to learn,” he said.
Ideally you never want to use these things, however sometimes you don't have a choice, Beaver said.
“Some people I’ve taught haven’t been shown the fundamentals of how to make a fist or how to kick in the right way.
“It’s all great things to know in everyday life. Hopefully nobody ever needs to use it.”
Beaver said the class is for everybody. It was originally designed for women, but men can take the class as well.
After working in the mental health field for 20 years, Beaver said he's seen how much this training can help people.
“It’s all connected. Mind, body, spirit, and the idea of knowing self-defence brings up self-confidence. It allows us to hold our heads up high and watch the world around us,” he said.
“It expands our view of life, and of the world.”
Louise De Cal, a participant in the class, felt more comfortable after taking the course.
“It’s really important. When I walk my dog at night, it might be dark and sometimes I’m scared.
“I think it’s always important to be prepared for anything that may happen,” she said.
This was De Cal’s first time attending a self-defence course. The repetition and practice are really important, she said.
“That was the key thing I learned today when we were doing exercises. Doing them multiple times prepares you to feel comfortable with them,” she said.
R.A.D. is the largest network of its kind with over 11,000 instructors receiving training. The instructors teach at various colleges, universities, municipal law enforcement agencies and other community organizations internationally.
More than 900,000 women have been trained since the program began in 1989.
For more information on NWO Therapy or the R.A.D. class visit the website.
