Sheila Hickey, graduate of IMPACT Chicago Core Feb 2012
What was your experience in taking the Core this year?
I left this course
knowing that I can protect myself and someone I love in the event someone tries
to hurt us. I experienced a well structured class that combined demonstrations
with experiential learning in the form of modeled muggings. I felt well supported by the instructors and
fellow IMPACT participants who stood next to me offering encouragement.
What inspired you to take the DAAR?
I wanted to continue
to challenge any emotional and physical obstructions I have to protecting
myself from a would-be attacker.
What are your thoughts, feelings about taking the DAAR?
Up until 2 weeks ago
I was ambivalent about taking the course, but then I was threatened in front of
my home by two men with a baseball bat.
Thankfully, I had a 95 lb protective dog with me who reared up and bared
his ferocious self to these two would be attackers. They ran off being afraid of my dog. The incident caused me to think, what would I
have done if my dog was not with me?
I feel determined to
learn additional skills in self-defense that will enable me to believe in my
capacity to defend myself.
What are your feelings about IMPACT programming and self
defense in general?
I love IMPACT. I know that the teaching methods used to
promote muscle memory are effective teaching methods.
Why is, isn’t
it important to you? Others?
It is important to
me to believe in my abilities to protect myself. I believe in my right to defend myself with
practical defense techniques that are designed to enhance my physical
attributes as a woman.
What do you enjoy most about it? Least?
I enjoyed having the
physical and vocal support of other women during my turn to defend against an
attacker. The simulated attacks felt
very real. I did not anticipate having
such strong feelings of fear come up for me.
I was proud of myself that I did not allow the fear to interfere with
protecting myself from the attacks.
Sheila is enrolled in IMPACT Chicago’s
upcoming advanced program
Defense
Against an Armed Rapist taught the first weekend of December
on the 1st and 2nd. Spanning two consecutive days, with
six hours of training each day, this course will cover effective defenses to
common attacks with a club, knife, or gun, from the front or the rear, both
standing and on the ground. You must be a
graduate of the IMPACT Core program.
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