Rape Aggression Defense Courses

Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) is a 12-hour women’s self-defense course designed to increase women’s awareness of potential sexual assault and to provide physical techniques to respond to
such an act.
 
R.A.D. is intended for women only because the presence of males in class (other than instructors or other authorized persons) may alter women’s emotional and physical responses to class material, hindering their ability to reach course objectives. It is of the utmost importance that women maximize their opportunity to learn in the company of like-minded peers.

The core of the course is based upon the Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) System principles conceived and developed by Larry N. Nadeau. His goal in developing R.A.D. is its motto: “To develop and enhance the options of self-defense, so they may become viable considerations to the woman who is attacked.”

This course is composed of three sections: 

• Risk reduction principles – Include a thorough review of personal self-awareness and the environment, whether in the home, neighborhood or unfamiliar community.
• Physical defense techniques – Include introducing bodily strikes using hands and feet and defenses against grabs and holds.
• Simulation – The activity that incorporates physical demonstration of all emotional and physical techniques taught through the acting out of scenarios involving instructors (padded/protected) as attackers and students (padded/protected) responding to the assault.

Register for a R.A.D. Course

Students

• Register for R.A.D. as a course, offered through the Department of Athletics and Physical Education under course number 69-129.
• Email the police department R.A.D. team at cmurad@andrew.cmu.edu to schedule a community class that works for you. Please have a group of 5-15 women and the flexibility to accommodate 12 hours of instruction.

Faculty/Staff

• Email the police department R.A.D. team at cmurad@andrew.cmu.edu to schedule a community class that works for you. Please have a group of 5-15 women and the flexibility to accommodate 12 hours of instruction.