Oklahoma Women Learn To Fight Back

Every year, hundreds of women in Oklahoma are hurt by strangers or even by someone they know or love. Some of these women are even killed in those violent attacks.

But now a local police officer down in Norman is teaching women how to fight back. The course he teaches is called "My Body, My Life" and is taught once a month at Norman Regional Hospital. The purpose of the class is to teach women how to empower themselves. It turns out their voice may be their greatest weapon.

The women who take the course can be seen screaming and flailing, but they are not throwing a tantrum. They are actually learning what to do should someone try to attack them or kidnap them in a public place. It's called the flop, and it could just save your life.

This is just one of the many techniques these women learned at this one day seminar, which was created by Sgt. Bob Moore with the Norman Police Department. 

Learn more about the "My Body, My Life" program.

"I have three daughters," said Bob Moore, the Creator of "My Body My Life".

"And my passion derives from having three daughters, and realizing no matter how many guns I carry, no matter that I am a cop, no matter that I love them more than anything else in life. I could not protect them seven days a week. I had to develop something that they could protect themselves with."

Using one of his own daughters as an example, Moore shows how just by placing your fingers in the right place, you can incapacitate your attacker and take back control. Then it was our turn. We got to test the technique on the officers and each other. This way, we learned just how effective and painful these defensive techniques can be.

"I really appreciate it," said Debbie Blasiar, one student who took the class.

In fact, the "My Body My Life" program is currently being taught in every Norman Middle School and high school too. And it is getting excellent reviews from those who take part.

The class is not only being taught to men and women in Norman, but it is also to members of the military and their families at Vance Air Force base, as well as to members of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Muskogee Creek Nation Tribe too.

And starting this year, the program will travel to Alaska to help teach state troopers there how to address the problem with violence against women with some of these very same techniques.