ASU Police Department expands self-defense classes to include more men, women

Certified R.A.D. instructors teach each 12-hour class.

Certified R.A.D. instructors teach the 12-hour classes. Participants should wear exercise-style clothing and closed-toe shoes.

By Peter Northfelt |
February 06, 2017

This spring, Arizona State University Police Department hosts self-defense classes designed to make everyone feel safer no matter what their gender. View all upcoming classes on ASU Events.

Men in the ASU community now are eligible for R.A.D. for Men, which is designed to empower participants to make safer choices when confronted with aggressive behavior.

“The ASU Police Department is excited to offer this self-defense class to the men in our community,” ASU Police Chief Michael Thompson said. “It raises awareness about potentially violent encounters and gives men the tools to recognize, avoid or, as a last resort, defend themselves.”

The 12-hour R.A.D. for Men course includes self-defense, situational and conversational scenarios. Men may register for the first class on Feb. 24 and 25.

R.A.D. for Men is available because of the sustained interest in women’s self-defense courses.

Since September 2015, R.A.D. Basic certified 225 women in 17 classes. Women who complete R.A.D. Basic certification may take R.A.D. Advanced, which began in November 2016.

The six-hour R.A.D. Advanced takes R.A.D. Basic to the next level and is scheduled monthly through April. The program covers multiple encounter types and low- or diffused-light simulation exercises.

R.A.D. Basic may be taken by any female ASU community member, and it is offered in spring 2017 at the Downtown Phoenix, Tempe and West campuses. R.A.D. Basic teaches strategies to consciously communicate boundaries and use your elbows, fists, knees and feet to defend yourself.
R.A.D. Basic graduates may take R.A.D. Advanced to learn more specialized self-defense tactics. The classes, offered once a month through April, also freshen basic skills. Each R.A.D. Advanced class consists of separate movements like elbow drops, ground defense and hand combinations.
R.A.D. for Men is offered Feb. 24–25. This is the first time ASU Police offers the class to both men and women. R.A.D. for Men participants will practice hands-on self-defense skills and recognize how aggressive behavior impacts their lives.

Officer Laura Gill leads the women’s advanced courses, which includes six different defense themes. Participants may take the courses individually to learn specific advanced strategies, and each class begins with a R.A.D. Basic refresher.

“I love watching the light in a participant’s eyes when she realizes she has more power and strength inside of her than she ever imagined,” Gill said. “It is amazing to lead a program offering that moment of growth to other women.”

ASU offers services and education:

Resources: