Girls Fight Back

By: Stephanie Schirmer

Posted: 4/14/08

Your meeting ran late and you have to walk to your car across the parking lot. Alone. Your heart starts to race, but you tell yourself that you are just being silly and there is nothing to fear, it's just dark. You think you hear footsteps behind you and you walk faster. You get to your car and can see a man's reflection in the window of your car.

What would you do if there was no one to help you but you?

On April 7, a guest speaker came to UTSA and gave a lecture in the Retama Room at 7:30 p.m. Her name is Erin Weed and she has been on countless speaking tours to encourage and show women they can fight back instead of becoming victims since January 2002. The inspiration for this empowering idea was inspired by a very tragic event in Erin's life. On June 12, 2001, Erin Weed was shocked to hear that an old friend of hers, Shannon McNamara, had been murdered.

Erin went back home and called up all of her and Shannon's mutual friends and they got together. They lit a bonfire and talked about Shannon, but Erin was surprised that the topic turned from Shannon to the women's own insecurities about how they feel when they were alone. She couldn't understand how these strong, tough women could feel like they were also helpless when by themselves.

Two weeks after she had gone to Shannon's wake and funeral, Erin was fired from her job, so to relieve stress, she began to run and think about what to do with her life. This is the point in her life that she decided she wanted to empower women so they didn't feel afraid, helpless, or be put in a situation like Shannon's.

She signed up for self-defense classes in New Hampshire at an FBI facility and learned techniques and moves she didn't think she was capable of. Her mantra when she feels afraid or helpless now is, "I am so dangerous." She doesn't mean this statement in an arrogant way, but as a means to remind herself that she doesn't need someone to save her; she can save herself if she needs to.

Erin also has the motto of "There's nothing more dangerous than a pissed off woman!" She explained its meaning as such: if you piss off a woman she can be as dangerous as a mother bear.

"The Basics"
The self protection basics everyone should know:
1. Identify the vulnerable points or "hot spots" on your attacker.
a. Of course there are the obvious "tender bits" of the male anatomy, but there are other places like: the temple, the eyes, the nose, throat, back of his head, his back, the ribs, the stomach, the knees, the shins, and the feet.
2. Find where you are strong.
a. These places are: the flat of your hands, your elbows, your knees, and your heels.
3. Then "add force" or put your strong parts to the "hot spots" on your attacker.

If there is a "creepy-weirdo" following you to your car, home, or some other place you don't want them following you, turn around, make eye contact, put your hands up in front of you and say,

"Stop, leave me alone, I don't want any trouble."

This is a verbal and physical sign that you don't want that person near you. If he comes up to you after you have done this and grabs you, think to yourself "Game on!" Using "Tips from Erin" and "The Basics" of self protection, pull back your free hand and hit him in the nose with an upward motion to knock him back a little. When he is off-balance, he will be exposing a very sensitive area that you should take advantage of. Make sure to grab his shoulder, so he doesn't just fall back when you bring your lower thigh/upper knee into his groin. When he doubles over in pain either

A) Elbow him in the back or
B) Grab his head and bring your knee to his face.

While he is disabled, you can make your get away and call for the police to help.

For more information or to purchase any safety items go to the following links for Girls Fight Back:
Web site: www.girlsfightback.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/girlsfightback
Facebook: Erin Weed. Denver Network "The Official Group of Girls Fight Back!"