ISU Police will be holding a Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) class on campus on Wednesday, June 20.

The class will cover realistic self-defense techniques for women. It is not a martial arts class.

The class is taught by certified RAD instructors within the ISU Police force and is structured for just women. The instructors go through a week-long class to become certified. At the end of the week, they are tested on their knowledge to make sure they are able to teach the skills to their classes.

The class is meant to build confidence in women and equip them with skills to fend off attackers and protect themselves in everyday situations.

Nichol Bleichner, ISU Police captain and RAD instructor, said that while the class is heavily physical, observing can also give participants some of the skills they need, and participants of all athletic backgrounds are welcome.

"[Participants] know their limits on what they can do physically," Bleichner explained. "But just even watching it, they can get a lot out of what we teach."

The class is taught like it is part of an exercise routine.

"It’s like learning a foreign language. You can get it right away, but if you don’t practice, you’re not going to retain it," Bleichner said. "[So we do] the class sort of like an aerobics class. We do things very repetitiously."

The course will have three focuses: risk reduction, physical defense, and dynamic simulation.

Bleichner explained that participants will be taught how to prevent attacks and how to get out of attacks. While some of the movements and exercises are based off of martial arts moves, the class is not classified as a martial arts class.

"The main goal is to teach how to prevent abduction," she said. "[It’s] not about becoming Bruce Lee in four days."

Bleichner said that the class offers knowledge that all women should have.

"It doesn’t make you invulnerable, but it does give you a better sense of protection," she said. "We teach anything from [being approached] walking out of Wal-Mart at night to actually being attacked, from the very simple to the worst case scenario."

The RAD class will take place from 5–7 p.m. It is free and open to the public for women ages 16 and up. Registration is available online at ISU’s website. The limit for each class is 30 participants.