Young people fight back against crime

"I THOUGHT that self defence was about throwing each other around the room," says Mary, a Transition Year student at Regina Mundi Girls' School in Cork. "But I was wrong. The course that we are doing is full of common sense advice that's easy to remember and really practical."

Kate from Ashton Comprehensive School, also in Cork, agrees. "Very good indeed," she says of the self defence course she did last year as part of her Transition Year programme. "I now feel much safer. Being shown that you are right to listen to your gut instinct if you feel uncomfortable about a situation is good advice."

"Self defence is not about the martial arts," says instructor John Clifford, who teaches self defence to students from primary school right through third level. "If you're aggressive, you will get aggression back. What it is about is being aware, cutting down the risks. And if you are attacked, it's about giving yourself a better chance."

The school programmes are designed to suit different age groups. Boys and girls are taught separately, but, predictably, most demand comes from Transition Year students in girls' schools. "The subject is as sensitive as the child," Clifford says. "What I teach in primary schools is obviously very different to the material I use in UCC. I try to cover situations that pupils can relate to, and I point out where there could be risks."

The Transition Year course at Regina Mundi also includes classes on home alone situations, the disco scene, safety while driving, and situations which can occur with boyfriends - as well as advice on how to deal with situation that arise when students are babysitting.

"I'm not preaching morals," Clifford says. "But I am telling girls that they have the right to stop anything they don't want to be a part of. In one section I also show the girls some basic moves which they can use to defend themselves if they are attacked."

The physical part of the programme is compelling stuff. A group of 20 girls watch avidly as Clifford grabs one volunteer by the throat. "Don't waste time trying to talk," he says. "Try to break my grip and run."

Another pupil is asked up. Her "attacker" pulls fiercely at her sweater which she then neatly wriggles out of, and heads to the door. "Never let an attacker pull you along with him," says Clifford, as he grabs 16 year old Paula by her hair. "Grab my wrists, stamp on my feet."

The role play looks real enough.

"He doesn't go easy on you," says one pupil, "but by practising you can feel what a real attack would be like."

Advice offered on babysitting is obviously relevant to teenage girls in particular. "You're not just minding a child, you're a security guard as well," Clifford explains to the class.

"Make sure you are safe. Check that doors and windows are locked. Never let anyone into the house. If the telephone rings, don't give the number or say that you are alone. And don't bring in a boyfriend to babysit with you - it puts extra, unwanted pressure on you.

Driving is another aspect which is covered on the course. Young female learner drivers are particularly vulnerable, he says. "Do you have a plan if you break down or get a flat tyre? How often do you check the spare?" the girls are asked. "Do you make sure doors are locked?" There's plenty of down to earth advice, but Clifford is not too keen to broadcast it outside the classroom, since criminals learn quickly too.

LATE-NIGHT discos present obvious dangers. "You want to look as attractive as you can, and you are quite entitled to," says John Clifford. "But remember going home from discos can be a risky business, especially when there's drink and drugs around. Never take that short cut. What would you do with the extra five minutes anyway?

"Get a taxi, or go home with friends. And if someone who is on drugs hassles you, smile and try to talk them out of it. Don't be verbally aggressive - it just doesn't work."

Some teachers feared was that all the talk about self defence would make students too afraid, too paranoid. Are these classes adding to a general media hype about crime?

"Definitely not," one of the girls in Regina Mundi insists. "Our instructor deals with reality. Self defence is about being prepared rather than being afraid. Before the course, we were too afraid to think about the vicious attacks on women which are happening. Now that fear is gone - we can do something to help ourselves.

Clare Kenneally, Transition Year co ordinator at Regina Mundi, says the huge demand for self defence classes really took her by surprise.

"The impetus came from the girls themselves," she says. "Almost 100 per cent wanted to do it. My concern was to keep a balance, not to make it too alarming."