The Crandall System Level II
Rome Free Academy Senior Girls Learn Self-Defense

The Crandall System of escape techniques and self-defense is taught in many schools by the physical education department staff. On some occasions Grand Master Crandall and his staff go to the schools and offer the program themselves. This is the case at Rome Free Academy where Grand Master Crandall and Mr. Tim Cummings and Mrs. Judy Merren taught the program to fifty-three senior Girls March 21st. of this year.

Left to right: Mr. Cummings, Grand Master Crandall and Mrs. Merren

The program starts 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." It was explained that the young ladies needed to be aware that they were targets, if for no other reason than the fact that they were females. Right or wrong, they are still looked at by assailants as the weaker of the sexes and more vulnerable. Also, that they had a responsibility to be aware of their seroundings and not leave that awareness up to someone else that they might be with at the time, such as a friend, fiance or husband.

The techniques are basic, lending their success to the greatest number of people. The more complex or fancy a technique is, the smaller the percentage of people that can successfully use the technique effectively when needed.


Learning can be fun

No doubt learning was taking place and in between each practical use of the techniques students sat and asked questions as to why they worked and what might happen if the attacker grabbed in a slightly different way.

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.

The Rome Free Academy physical eduation staff was given a copy of the instructional manual and videotape of these techniques so that they can go over the moves with the students in class as this instruction fits into the class schedule for the rest of the year.