Hunter and company host benefit for IMPACT

IMPACT/Model Mugging Self-Defense organization holds a benefit concert this Thursday at the Gypsy Café. All proceeds will go towards scholarships for women who are interested in taking the Model Mugging self defense class. Performances will include Lisa Hunter and Repercussions.

Lisa Hunter has her own unique style of music, Truth or Dare Folk Rock. Lisa is a graduate of the course herself, and will be performing music inspired by it. She will be performing alongside the all women's drumming Group, Repercussions. They will be performing original rhythmic arrangements from Africa, Latin America and Cuba.

Courtesy of swingsistersound Lisa Hunter plays her sound at the Gypsy.

When people get assaulted how do they defend themselves? Do they even know how to defend themselves? How does one protect them self? One option is to learn how to fight back. This is what women are doing when they take a class through IMPACT/ Model Mugging self-defense. This organization was designed to prevent violence against women by teaching them practical self-defense techniques.

Model Mugging is a course that has women defend themselves in real life assault situations. Two Instructors teach the class, including at least one male instructor who serves as the attacker. The male instructor wears a protective suit, and he reenacts real life assaults. The suit protects him from the women who are encouraged to use "full force" when practicing self defense techniques. "Full force" is the term used when training the students to deliver knock out blows, or to the point where their attacker will be too seriously injured to continue the assault. The instructor can usually judge this by how much he feels through the pads when the women hit him.

Surprisingly, the self-defense techniques are not based off of any particular martial art. Instead the women are trained a more practical street fighting technique. The street fighting techniques utilize "muscle memory," which relies on natural reactions when attacked. Muscle memory is like learning to swim or ride a bike. No matter how long it has been since the participant has done the activity, they still remember how to do it and their body will naturally react to it.

The course is broken down into five classes that are six hours long each. Women learn how to defend themselves both verbally and physically. The classes are team-taught and women of any age, ability or fitness can participate. Scholarships are also available for those who need financial help. One of the instructors, Katy Mattingly, said she teaches the course to "enable women to feel safe in their body." She is hoping to get a large response to their benefit concert so that they can begin preparation for a possible winter course.

For more information about Impact please call 1-800-345-KICK.

10-13-99