Marty Lang holds Bob Panky in a head-
lock to demonstrate a basic self defense
By Laura Hatch
Battalion Reporter
Two single lines of women stand facing each
other on a wrestling mat. They glare into each
other's eyes while shouting determined-
sounding yes's and no's.
What is it for? Self-confidence, self-defense.
Marty Lang, instructor of the self-defense for
women course offered by the Texas A&M Univer
sity department of health and physical education,
explains this odd exercise as a defense tactic.
Being only 5 feet tall myself, I wanted to know if
this sort of defense can really work. It's part of a
self-confidence concept, Lang said in an inter
view. A woman of any size can get herself out of
an assualt situation by remaining calm and stand
ing her ground, she said. Lang herself is five-feet,
one-half inch tall.
If an attacker has a gun or a knife at a woman's
throat she has to give in to protect her life, Lang
said.
"I think the number one thing is that someone
can control your body," Lang said, "but only you
can control your mind."
Lang, who is certified in self-defense by the
Women's Self Defense Council of America, said
the most important part of self-defense is mental
control. Lange said she was introduced to self-
defense instruction while attending the Universi
ty of Iowa. Being a small person, Lang wanted to
learn how to protect herself.
While teaching a self-defense course for a
junior high in Illinois, she attended a seminar on
self-defense. Helen Grooms Stevens, who has a
black belt in judo and is special defense consultant
for the San Diego Police Department, headed the
"three days of very intensive training" that Lang
describes as "a real eye opener."
Lang said that many of the things she had been
teaching were proven not to work and in some
cases, to do more harm than good. Some common
techniques that are not advisable are:
Screaming, crying or pleading: These only rein
force that attacker's belief that the victim is help
less.
Use of a windmill thrust to break a grip around
the throat: This can sometimes cause the fingers to
lodge deeper in the throat, inaeasing the chances
of choking.
Yelling "fire": This is also a sign of weakness;
the victim is depending on someone else who may
not be there.
Mace chemicals, nail files and keys: The woman
may not have them ready in the event of an attack.
method taught to women in a Texas
A&M University health class.
Staff photo by Greg Gammon
Although such chemicals are legal in Texas, they
are illegal in some other states.
The use of knives and fists: These can be very
dangerous unless the woman knows how to use
them well.
Lang said once a woman has made the decision
to fight, "you must be 100 percent committed."
"I don't want to focus on this as being a male-to-
female assualt. You have as much of a chance at
being assaulted by a woman anymore, as you do a
man," she said.
Only 30 to 40 percent of assaults are ever taken
to court, Lang said.
Women are sometimes very reluctant to go into
court because, "many times, women are accused
of bringing it on themselves." she said. "They are
the ones who are guilty until proven innocent."
Society has conditioned women to believe they
are at fault, she said. Women do have the right to
wear what they want and go out when they want.
"Now dealing realistically with the world
though, sometimes you may not want to go out on
Main Street in a bikini at 2 a.m. in the morning,"
Lang said.
If possible, a woman should try to talk her way
out of a potentially dangerous situation.'Using
her surroundings to distract the person can help,
she said.
Lang cited a woman in a large city who was
approached by a man who told her, "I"ve always
wanted to rape a woman."
The woman, trying to remain calm, asked him,
"Why do you want to do that?" Noticing a coffee
shop near by, the woman suggested they talk over
coffee, Lang said. This calm attitude upset the
power balance the man was expecting, she said.
Once the man was calmed, the woman went to
the restroom and called the police, Lang said.
"Pleading does not work," Lang stressed. "Try
anything; tell them it's your period, tell them you
have a social disease. They may not believe it, but
if that doesn't work, keep talking."
Throughout the course, Lang said, she will
teach students various kicks, grasp releases, a few
strikes and most importantly, to believe in their
own self worth.
Women have always been able to protect their
childmen or someone they love, Lang said, but
the self protection instinct has been bred out of
them.
All of this defense consciousness is to put that
instinct back, Lang said, so if a women is faced
with a "them or me" situation, she can say, "it's
going to be me."
aiu. 'sruxfj
ORC, Travel
offering trips
By Kitty Fraley
Battalion Reporter
Spring break is a time for
relaxing and "getting away
from it all," whether you are
into sun and surf, the snow
scene or backpacking in the
wilderness.
Spring break starts March
16 and runs through March
22. So, including weekends,
that means nine days of
freedom.
The Memorial Student
Center Travel Committee is
sponsoring two trips for Texas
A&M University students, fa
culty and staff over spring
break.
The first is a Bahama cruise
aboard the "A&M Loveboat,"
Debra Lanham, chairman of
the Travel Committee, said.
The cruise will be March 16-21
and will cost $595.
This includes round-trip air
transportation from Houston
to Miami, ocean transporta
tion and four nights aboard
the ship.
Also included are all meals
and services aboard ship, port
taxes and tips and gratuities.
The deadline for the trip
was Feb. 6, but it has been
extended till Friday, Feb. 13,
to fill two empty spaces on the
cruise.
The second Travel Commit
tee trip is a ski trip to Wolf
Creek, Colo. This will cost
$325 and will be March 13-21.
The trip includes round trip
transportation to and from
Wolf Creek via Greyhound
charter, six nights at the Rain
bow Lodge and five day lift
tickets.
Transportation to and from
the ski area and two meals a
day are also included.
The MSC Outdoor Recrea
tion Committee has three trips
planned, Bryan Hall, chair
man of ORC, said.
"All equipment for the trips
offered can be rented from the
ORC," Hall said.
The seventh annual raft trip
to Big Bend National Park will
be March 13-20 and will cost
$85. Sign up will begin Mon
day and last through March 8.
There is a 30 person limit on
the trip, but Hall said there
will be a waiting list in case of
cancellations.
The cost includes transpor-
taiton, food, raft fee and other
equipment.
No rafting experience is
necessary, Hall said, and
transportation to Big Bend
will be in University van.
A cross-country ski trip in
the Estes Park, Colo, area is
also planned for March 13-21.
The trip will cost $150 and
has an eight-person limit. Sig
nup begins March 1 and lasts
until March 12.
Experience in cross-countiy
skiing is necessary, Hall said.
"Snow conditions are an
important factor," Hall said,
"because with no snow or just
a little there will be no trip."
A backpacking excursion to
Big Bend is planned for March
14-20. Sign up begins Feb. 23
and lasts until March 8.
No experience is needed
and there is a 12 person limit.
The $65 cost includes food,
transportation and group
equipment.
More information about all
trips is available in the Stu
dent Programs Office, 216
MSC.
Dennis Ivey's
LakeviewClub
The Very Best In Country-Western Music and Dancing”
Thursday & Friday
Music By
DENNIS IVEY and
The Waymen
Thursday:
Lone Star Draft Beer 5 ^
Ladies $1.00 Men $3.00
Friday:
Draft Beer pitcher
$2.00 Person
cup
Saturday Night
ERNEST TUBE!
and The
Texas Troubadours
$6.00 Person Draft Beer $2.00 Pitcher
3 Miles North of Bryan on Tabor Rd.