SELF-DEFENSE SEMINAR COULD PROVE LIFE SAVING

LOOK THE PART.  If you do that, you’re likely to give yourself a jump on potential danger, And it’s particularly true for women and elderly folks.

Every year scores of unsuspecting women and senior citizens in general are attacked in a variety of settings, from parking lots to elevators to any number of points in between.

Have a clue.  If someone approaches you too quickly, be ready.

For anything.

“If you area about to get into an elevator and two gentlemen are in the elevator,  most women become uncomfortable,” said Lisa Piocquidio Johnson, a registered nurse who, along with her brother, Daniel Piocquidio, a martial arts instructor, have combined to produce a one-hour women’s safety seminar titled “Fearless Female”

“We teach them to think ahead, “Piocquidio Johnson said.

Stella Conley is grateful for the ideas she’s gotten from the Cranberry Township based brother and sister combo.

Being aware of your surroundings is the first step in self-defense, said Conley, 58, a semi-retiree from Moon, who twice has attended the seminar and plans to return again with a friend.

“We’re not talking here about being a black belt,” said Conley.  “If you get nothing else out of the class, you will get self-esteem, which is an especially good tool for combating bullying.”

According to Pittsburgh Police, the number of assaults reported in 2015 in the city against women and senior citizens totaled 2,751, of which, 1,801 resulted in injuries.

Women were targeted the most – 2,568 or 93 percent of the total cases reported – about 136 of those cases involved elderly women and 47 cases were reported against elderly men.

Piocquidio Johnson, who is certified in Rape Aggression Defense System (RAD) instruction, felt the number of assault cases overall could be reduced if people, while out and about, simply would make themselves  more aware of their surroundings.

“The majority of women-attackers are generally people they know,” she said.

RAD is an organization that a lot of police departments and colleges teach.  We combine the best techniques and condense them into a one-hour seminar.  The most important thing to k ow is we come to you.

“We’ve been to churches, local women’s groups, colleges, women’s shelters… We take this seminar to them.  We just need a small place in order to function.”

At the seminars, topics include awareness and avoidance, knife and gun defense and techniques against wrist grabs, chokes, hair pulling, tackles and multiple attackers.

“In one-hour,” Piocquidio Johnson said “you’ll be amazed at what you’ll learn.”

Actually, Conley’s second trip to a “Fearless Female” seminar recently was with a woman and her daughter both of whom are friends of Conley.

Said Conley, “I had a good friend whose daughter was bullied in school.  I saw that it would maybe help her to get more confidence.  The girl who punched her was a lot smaller than she was.  My friend’s daughter didn’t do anything to deserve it, but she was probably just an easy target.  After we went to the seminar, she really got a lot of confidence to carry herself stronger.”

The seminars teach the use of basic instincts.

“If you feel someone is about to attack you, get away,” Conley said.  “Put some space between them and you.  You can get food information on what to do if you’re grabbed from behind.  A lot of women wear their hair in a ponytail.  Having your hair pulled hurts.  You can learn some basic maneuvers, where you possibly can kick some in the shin.”

When you attend any of the “Fearless Female” seminars, a small but effective self-defense item known as a Kitty Defender Protective Keychain, is available.

Conley is definitely willing and prepared to use it, if attacked.

“You could find yourself about to be raped,” she said.  “That’s no time for you to feel sorry for anyone who’s trying to attack you.  A big thing I learned was to fold your hand in half and punch them in the chin, poke their eyes, put your thumb in their eyes.  You could be fighting for your life.”

The Kitty Defender Protective Keychain is a subtle but powerful tool that can be easily concealed.  It’s simply worn on a hand.  The weapon is in the form of a pair of sharp, protruding ears.

Piocquidio, armed with a black belt. And Piocquidio Johnson, with her nursing experience, have combined to provide a number of techniques they feel can be useful for even the slightest of builds.

“Many times, women don’t know what to do to protect themselves.”  Piocquidio Johnson said, “We even teach them voice awareness, which if they’re confronted is very effective.”

In other words, don’t be afraid to scream or yell.

“We want to make sure we’re teaching the most simplest of things,” she said.

For Conley, the seminars have been a real confidence booster in a quick and easy environment.

“There’s really no physical contact (at the seminars),” she said.  You’re paired up in twos and they show you a variety of techniques.  I saw teenagers there and I saw people a lot older than me.  Believe me, it’s definitely something worthwhile.”

A portion of proceeds from the classes benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

“This is not just a food class; it benefits a good cause,” Piocquidio said.