2008 Woodie Awards
Black belt teaches students self defense
7th black belt in karate taught students techniques for self protection
by Sandi Tatum
Issue date: 3/17/08 Section: News
Student affairs set up a self-defense class in Jenkins Lobby. Jerry Taylor, 7th black belt in karate, taught the class to the two people who showed up to the event.
The class was intended for women, but men were welcome to come as well. Maghan Holmes and Chuck McCoy, both sophomores at Piedmont, attended the class and learned how to defend themselves in various circumstances.
"It's a good thing to know just in case an incident was to occur," says Holmes. For her, the recent murders at colleges triggered her interest in learning self-defense.
Students learned what to do in situations and how to protect themselves in case of danger. Taylor taught many important tips. He presented different types of situations they might encounter. He explained hand placements, disadvantages and advantages of being a certain height, and different exercises that involved kicking, punching, hitting, and wrestling.
Taylor explained what to do if you're forced into the trunk of a car. Victims should kick out the back taillights, stick their arm out of the hole, and wave like crazy. He said this tactic has saved lives; other drivers see you, but your abductor can't.
"You never know who is around and you need to know how to take care of yourself," says Holmes.
Men can also be victims. Taylor says that even though men are tough, once they have a few drinks, they're vulnerable and can be victims of violence.
Taylor emphasized that if you're in trouble, you shouldn't be sympathetic to your attacker. In many cases, people that were sympathetic were raped or killed.
Taylor is one of a few 7th degree black belts, or shichidan, in the United States. Before he became a black belt in Karate, he was in the Marines. To become a 7th degree black belt, Taylor had to climb through the other belt levels of karate and then through seven degrees of black belt training. According to the Karate-Do-Organization, receiving a 7th degree black belt takes at least 35 years of training.
The class was intended for women, but men were welcome to come as well. Maghan Holmes and Chuck McCoy, both sophomores at Piedmont, attended the class and learned how to defend themselves in various circumstances.
"It's a good thing to know just in case an incident was to occur," says Holmes. For her, the recent murders at colleges triggered her interest in learning self-defense.
Students learned what to do in situations and how to protect themselves in case of danger. Taylor taught many important tips. He presented different types of situations they might encounter. He explained hand placements, disadvantages and advantages of being a certain height, and different exercises that involved kicking, punching, hitting, and wrestling.
Taylor explained what to do if you're forced into the trunk of a car. Victims should kick out the back taillights, stick their arm out of the hole, and wave like crazy. He said this tactic has saved lives; other drivers see you, but your abductor can't.
"You never know who is around and you need to know how to take care of yourself," says Holmes.
Men can also be victims. Taylor says that even though men are tough, once they have a few drinks, they're vulnerable and can be victims of violence.
Taylor emphasized that if you're in trouble, you shouldn't be sympathetic to your attacker. In many cases, people that were sympathetic were raped or killed.
Taylor is one of a few 7th degree black belts, or shichidan, in the United States. Before he became a black belt in Karate, he was in the Marines. To become a 7th degree black belt, Taylor had to climb through the other belt levels of karate and then through seven degrees of black belt training. According to the Karate-Do-Organization, receiving a 7th degree black belt takes at least 35 years of training.
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