Seven New Women’s Self-Defense Instructors Certified

PHOENIX (Feb. 18, 2006) – Seven new instructors from across the U.S. have been certified to teach the popular Rape Escape method of self-defense for women.

All experienced martial artists and instructors, the seven completed the rigorous two-day certification course which provides the basis for teaching all three levels of the Rape Escape courses which is believed to be the most modern and easiest method of self-defense for women who are not martial artists themselves.

The new certified instructors are:

Kevin Beale from Washington, D.C.;

William Corcoran from Reno, Nevada.;

Stephen Flannery from Tampa, Florida.;

Brian Gates from Patton, Pennsylvania;

Antonio Gonzalez from Brooklyn, New York

Mark Goodwin from Kensington, Maryland;

and Al Ortiz from Tucson, Arizona.

Also attending and assisting with the course were certified instructors Tom Striplin from Mt. Savage, Maryland.; Retta Shealey from Alpharetta, Georgia; Andrea Lore from Tempe, Arizona and Mike Wall from Paradise Valley, Arizona.

The course included: (standing from left) Tom Striplin, Antonio Gonzalez, Bill Corcoran, Mike Wall, Kevin Beale, Brian Gates, Mark Goodwin and (kneeling from left) Al Ortiz, Stephen Flannery, Retta Shealey, Andrea Lore and Jeanne Fleming.

The course is taught by Brad Parker, who developed the Rape Escape program over a seven-year period with the involvement of hundreds of women to formulate a strategy that allows women to realistically and effectively defend themselves during a sexual assault.

It is now offered to women throughout North America, Ireland, England, and Malaysia.

The Women’s Self-Defense Institute’s Web site has free information on preventing and avoiding assaults along with more information on the Rape Escape program at www.rapeescape.com.

More information on the instructors can be found at www.rapeescape.com/instructors.htm.