Sisters women learn self-defense in SOAR program

Sisters women learned the fundamentals of self-defense in a seminar last weekend.

As the world wages its war on terrorism, a Sisters man continues the battle he started more than 15 years ago.

Tim Davis, head instructor at SOAR Tae Kwon Do in Sisters, held a self-defense seminar on Saturday, January 26. Sixty women participated in the six-hour course. That is the largest number that Davis has had turn out since he began giving such classes in the mid 1980s.

He is not surprised at this surge. Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, Davis has noticed an increased interest in self-defense.

"People are looking for a way to feel like they can take control of their lives," said Davis.

The course does more than help an individual feel better. Davis enables his students to be aware of dangerous situations, and teaches them how to avoid these situations before they ever occur.

The greatest tool of self-defense, he says, is prevention through awareness --common things like parking in a well-lighted, visible area, or having keys in hand, ready to use them as you walk to your car or home; avoiding areas where someone can hide; and staying close to groups of people.

Sometimes a physical confrontation cannot be avoided. Davis teaches the proper tactics and tools that one can use in self-defense.

While emphasizing the need to avoid physical confrontation, Davis taught the women to defend themselves using their bodies, keys, eye-glasses and voices as weapons. The men, armored with a large padded suit and helmet, gave the ladies a practical lesson in the exhausting physical reality of an attack.

Davis emphasizes realism.

"The amount of misinformation out there is incredible," he said.

It is very important that people equip themselves with the right information and know how to use it, Davis said, noting that many women don't realize their own potential.

Davis notes that terrorist acts are not limited to militant groups. Any act that terrifies someone, such as a rape, a mugging or an armed robbery is an act of terror.

"We have women who were brutally attacked before, and to them that was a terrorist attack," said Davis.

"Its amazing when you get these women together, some of the real life stories that come out," he said, adding that sharing such stories is commonplace. "For some of them it will be the first time that they talk about it in public. It can be therapeutic for them. For them to see what happened to them shared with other people -- helping other people. It's taking the good out of the bad."

For Lisa Adkins of Crooked River Ranch, the self-defense course was her first.

"I now realize that a lot of the situations I have been in were negative," said Adkins, "I learned about resources that I can use such as my body or voice. I feel a lot more equipped and empowered."

"The course is beneficial for the ladies," said Oregon State Police trooper Alan Santiago. "It is important that we all become aware of our surroundings. We live in a volatile country right now."

Santiago was among a number of men who volunteered their time to the class.

Davis has taught the martial arts for over 18 years and has applied it in real-life situations. Through various security jobs, he has been involved in more than 2,000 real-life altercations, and has made some 250 criminal arrests.

He teaches Tae Kwon Do nightly in Bend and Sisters.

"We have a very unique program here, it's very family-oriented," said Davis.

Ron Barber, who attended the seminar to support his wife, appreciates the family atmosphere.

His family attends classes nearly every evening to practice their skills and stay conditioned. Barber also appreciates the aspects of the course that go beyond the physical.

Morals, confidence, respect and integrity are all things that Davis teaches in his classes.

Davis says that he sees a change in every single person who takes the class.

"I see people become more aware, more open-minded and get in better shape. I see them become confident, expand their boundaries and get more involved," he said.

These qualities were visible in the seminar. The cry of "Girl Power" rang out as the women cheered each other on. They shared stories and asked questions.

"The sense of helplessness is going down where the sense of confidence is going up," said Davis.