One of the many physical education classes the University offers is self defense, a one-credit-hour class that teaches students basic defense moves.

Ritchie Shuford, one of the two instructors for the course, said he helped to revitalize the course 12 years ago when he became the instructor for the class.

“I had a background in martial arts and mixed martial arts. Everything that we teach has evolved over 12 years,” Shuford said. “We’re giving them tools to help them get through bad situations.”

The University provides campus police, the blue light phones and a safety escort service to keep students safe. But some students, like Jordan Kennedy, a sophomore in animal science, take the class as an extra precaution.

“I like being able to learn how to beat people up in case I was ever attacked,” Kennedy said. “I like knowing I’m not completely defenseless.”

The course is open to all students, though Kennedy said it consists mostly of women who are freshmen, sophomores and juniors.

Sam Alinaghi, a sophomore in elementary education, said she likes the class demographics.

“I like how the class is all girls because we’ve grown really comfortable with each other,” Alinaghi said. “It’s easier for the awkward situations.”

Shuford said the men that take the course generally come in thinking the course is about fighting.

“I don’t teach you how to fight,” Shuford said. “Sometimes guys sign up for a week or two, but they usually drop the class.”

The use of verbal defense, strikes, pressure points, weapons defense and escapes from grabs, chokes and holds are part of the curriculum Shuford created.

“The first two weeks of class are all about avoidance, deterrence and de-escalation,” Shuford said. “We’re giving you tools to help you get through bad situations.”

Kennedy, who said her favorite self defense moves so far have been throwing elbows, also said she liked the finger jab in the eyes combined with the palm strike to the nose.

Alinaghi said she enjoys practicing moves outside of the class with her roommate and friends.

“Sometimes we’ll go home and just tackle each other or something,” Alinaghi said. “You never know how you’ll react in a situation.”

Though the moves learned in class are potentially harmful to an attacker, Alinaghi said the worst she goes home with is light bruising.

Kennedy, who also shows her friends the techniques she learned in class, said the moves demonstrated in class have never hurt or bruised her.

Alinaghi said Shuford creates pretend situations in class to drive home how important it is to be prepared for an attack.

 ”I like how the teacher makes the situation seem real to us,” said Alinaghi. “He always has constant patience. I think he gives us enough practice to where we have the moves in our head.”

Shuford said he realizes that “stuff happens,” and that everybody needs some type of training in self defense. 

He said his students have found the course useful in real life situations, as a man harassed a former female student of his. She told him to back off, was very assertive in her use of verbal self defense and the man backed down.

Shuford’s motto for effective defense is “get in the mindset to be nastier and meaner than the attacker is.”