Bucyrus women need to hear the REAL story on self-defense

Pity the poor woman in Bucyrus who attempts to ward off a violent attacker with a rolled-up newspaper or shoe instead of a .38 or .45. But that's the advice they got at this so-called self-defense seminar...

March 1, 2004
Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum

Classes on women's issues conducted

Dee Marquart wasn't afraid to fight with a Bucyrus police officer, and neither was a police officer's wife, Joan Wolfe.

Both women were eager to take on officer Tom Walker, but in self-defense.

A self-defense class for women was one of the breakout sessions held as part of the Affair of The Heart, a Ladies' Life and Leisure Retreat, held Saturday at Holy Trinity Catholic School.

Marquart, who works at First School in Richland County, and Wolfe, who works for the county and is married to one of Walker's bosses, Capt. Dale Wolfe, were only a few of the women glad to show off their self-defense skills.

"I have to know this in my job," Marquart said. This was Marquart's third year at the event and said she learns something new every year. "I've learned a lot about my own health and how to deal with people close to you with problems."

The course was conducted by Doug Benavides, owner of Tiger Paw, a marital arts school with locations in Lexington and Shelby.

Benavides, a drug and alcohol counselor at Abraxas in Shelby, provided the women with several techniques, some untraditional, to warding off a would-be attacker.

Several takedown techniques were demonstrated for people who might not have a lot of strength or are much smaller than their attacker.

He pointed out keys and even tissues braced in a fist can help deter the attacker.

"Even a rolled up newspaper can hurt poked in someone's gut," Benavides said.

He also said the technique of hit-and-run should be used.

"Don't stick around because sooner or later he'll get up," Benavides said.

He said the foot is a good area of attack, noting that there are several nerves in the foot that could be de-commissioned by high or block heels.

"If he can't run. He can't chase you," Benavides said.

Benavides and crew, along with Walker put on several self-defense demonstrations and used several volunteers.

"Don't be bashful. Hit him where it hurts," Benavides said.

Benavides' brother, Sam Benavides, a sergeant with the Richland County Sheriff's Office added, "Take it with you."

Sam also cautioned the audience about mace, saying while it was a good deterrent, handling it can be dangerous.

"If the wind is blowing the wrong way you'll get the dose," Benavides said, adding officers must take a hit of mace in training to know what it's like.

He described the sensation as "getting hot sand in your eyes.

Wolfe, who was in attendance for a second year said the program was a major asset for women in the area.

Commentary by Chad D. Baus:
No self-respecting self-defense class in Ohio should EVER be conducted with a discussion of the many merits of law-abiding women exercising their right to bear arms for self-defense.

Are we reading this right? Are they actually even warning women against mace?

The TRUTH is this - women who resist an attacker with mace, a high-heeled shoe, a rolled-up newspaper, a fingernail file, even a knife - are 4.5 times more likely to be injured in an attack than a woman who uses a firearm. And that is something the women of Bucyrus deserved to be told.

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