Spokane women learn new survival skills | Events

Enhancing the Survival Mindset is a class offered by the Spokane Police Department, helping women avoid or survive potentially dangerous situations.

The students participate in a brief lecture before learning hands on defense skills and how to handle real life situations they might encounter.

Opal Harbert is a multiple martial arts instructor. She was there to take advantage of what the SPD had to offer.

“Everyone’s got something different to teach. With different instructors and in going to each other’s classes we can learn things that we don’t know. We can better our skills,” Harbert said.

Harbert has never been in one of the dangerous scenarios the officers were training on but felt there was a reason for that.

“The more you train, the more you learn and the less likely you are to get in a situation. Just like they (the officers) were talking about in the other room, what I teach is of course situational awareness and not looking like a victim. You make yourself look strong. I think just in doing that your chances of being a victim shrink so much,” said Harbert.

One way that Harbert and the SPD recommend to avoid looking like a victim is simply to be aware of our surroundings. Make people know that we are aware of them.

Harbert came to inspire others to take the class and take advantage of any training available.

Student Kathy Wilcox said knowing what the defense tactics felt like made her feel more confident.

“Like I could actually do it if I needed to,” Wilcox said.

The SPD offers this class a number of times though out the year.

Enhancing the Survival Mindset Level II will be held on Thursday, March 29th from 5:30 to 9:30 PM. This class takes previous students to the next level.