A unique request from a female student at Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School (PSO) has resulted in a new pilot program, which has the potential to guard girls her age from violence against them.
When Grade 11 student Ryley Meville approached PSO phys-ed teacher Chris Drouillard about the possibility of offering female students a judo self-defense program, he thought it was a good idea.
Drouillard suggested she talk to the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) about providing financial support, which she did. In her presentation, Meville said such a program would be life-altering and could result in life-saving skills.
The PAC members liked what they heard, and before long, they had a short program in place, headed up by local judo instructors Sabine Smolarek and Andy Stoeckli, from Shin Bu Kan Judo in 100 Mile House, who were just as keen on the idea.
Additional funding for the self-defense program came from Community Links Safe Schools and the Judo Canada Eclipse Program.
What the program entailed was that for one week during each phys-ed block, female students were instructed in judo-based self-defense techniques. Those students who have phys-ed in the second semester will be offered the same opportunity.
Over the course of the program, female students learned how to react and fight back in a variety of dangerous situations, including being pushed, choked and getting dragged, says Smolarek.
“They became confident in using body language, yelling and screaming for distraction and using elbows, knees and feet for kicking and punching.”
She adds most girls came into the program curious, shy or skeptical, but she felt all left with the knowledge and skills to keep them out of trouble.
One of the exercises was role playing with male instructors, where the girls were put in dangerous situations.
“They had to react and they did a great job. Some of the shy girls almost exploded”
Drouillard says that he has been hearing lots of positive things from students about the program.
“I’d like to see this made into a legacy program. It gets girls in the position to reduce harm to themselves and others, and it helps them to develop decision-making processes and it creates good citizens.”
Drouillard adds this is the first program of its kind to be offered to female students in British Columbia secondary schools.
