Protect yourself

Predators beware.

Fellow Times staffer Stephanie Netherton and I took a women's self-defense class and we're ready to use our moves.

(Umm...excuse the cheesy picture, but we're pretty proud of ourselves.)

Shreveport Police Department has something good going with this class that they offer for free. It's about two hours long and you learn basic blocks and manuevers that help you get away from any potential attacker.

I will admit, I was a little disappointed when the instructor told us his goal wasn't to teach us how to fight a man. Apparently, a woman has less than a 1 percent chance at winning a that fight. But the instructor did equip us with some pretty nifty moves that would enable us to both hurt the attacker and get away.

We also heard some good tips, that we've all heard before, but it's good to hear again as a refresher:

Leave lights on outside and inside your house when you're going to get home after dark.

Lock your door as soon as you walk in the house.

Don't always follow the same routine. Sometimes take a different route home, etc. just incase

someone is following you in preparation for an attack.

To learn the rest, you'll have to go to the class. But ladies, it's worth it.

And this class is great for any age, race or class. There were teenage girls there as well as older ladies that wanted to protect themselves. One woman was taking the class after being mugged recently.

The next class is from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. Dec. 12 at the training academy on Greenwood Road. Call 318-673-7170 to register.

Also, check out Stephanie's blog for her take on the class.