The Crandall System Level II "Just Get Away" Rome Free Academy Senior Girls Arm themselves with Knowledge Over seventy senior girls were in attendance for the teaching presentation of Grand Master Crandall regarding nonviolent techniques of being safe in the changing world around us. This program is in its third year of being taught in pulblic schools in New York State. The school staff, headed by the staff members of the physical education department, joined together to make time available so that all the senior girls could participate in this once-a-year program. The "Just Get Away" program can be taught directly to the students by Grand Master Crandall or, as in the Herkimer County BOCES, can be taught to the phyical education staff of the school so that they can teach the program within their own schedule. It started with an understanding that what was being covered were not in fact fighting skills, but rather techniques that fulfilled the name of the program which is "Just Get Away." Punches were covered as a point of awareness in how to close a hand for safety and how to get the flow of punching. Mats had been laid out for use in the demonstrations, but were not needed for the hands-on participation of the students. The students asked pertinent questions during the entire seminar which demonstrated, along with their open enthusiasm, that they truly wished to know and understand everything they could about self-defense. Each student had the opportunity to practice and demonstrate the techniques shown them with individual supervision as to how the technique worked and why. The underlying educational philosophy of the program is for students to understand self-defense and its relationship to others, whether potentially threatening or simply daily participants in their social surroundings. They are to understand ways to promote positive behavior from those around them and to discourage unwanted behavior. Students are taught to demonstrate and present personal and socially responsible behavior as well as to care for and respect themselves and others. They will recognize threats to themselves and their friends and be confident to offer safe alternatives to minimize the threat. Grand Master Crandall Demonstrates a basic concept of control with the help of Travis. The punches are flying as Grand Master Crandall kihaps (commands) the explosions of energy. Judy explains the power needed to get free. Learning can be fun. Travis holds a kicking shield for the students to punch. Amanda prepares to escape from a throat grab. Amanda shows what can be done if grabbed around the waist, and Travis demonstrates how to meet the floor. At the conclusion some of the participants get to practice on Travis. Christine and Nicole demonstrate for individuals as they move throughout the room. The school staff was provided with another copy of the videotape and teachers' handbook on the "Just Get Away" program. Assisting Grand Master Crandall in the demonstration and presentation of this program were two junior rank black belts who are in the assisting instructors program and are identified by the red uniform tops. Also present were first rank brown belt Judy Merren and Christine Carpenter and second rank brown belt Nicole Stanulevich.