Program helps women stay safe

Wednesday, October 26, 2011 By ANDREA OWEN

As she teaches how to elbow, knee-scrape and face-punch, Tracie “Pinky” Matthews — from the fuchsia reflective tape on her guns to her Pepto-Bismol colored handcuffs — is a symbol of female empowerment.

According to the Bellaire Police officer, embracing her femininity and wearing pink was her way to “get back” at her fellow officers who would joke about her gender early on in her career.

Matthews, who has taught Rape Aggression Defense — RAD- since 2006, describes it as a program that educates women how to not only physically defend themselves, but also to build general “tools for confidence.”

When first approached to teach RAD, Matthews said that she didn’t know anything about the program, so she researched it.

“If I didn’t believe in it, I didn’t want to false advertise and teach it,” she said.

However, she explained that she was very impressed with the professionalism and the “full-force” curriculum.

The physical skills taught in the program — which is only to be used for defense under reasonable threat — range from simple blocks to full-out kicks and punches. Women are also taught precautionary measures such as how to secure their houses and carry themselves in public.

Bellaire High School senior Hasanthi Seth, who took RAD at the behest of her mother, said she was reluctant to spend one of her only free weeks of summer learning how to throw punches. But contrary to her initial impression, she was pleasantly surprised.

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