Rape Aggression Defense Class

R.A.D. instructor Ken Landes holds the target steady as Megan Shepard prepares to strike. Megan and her colleagues Cayla Malter, Deanna Donnell and Whitney Schlotzhaue helped bring the R.A.D. System back to Marshall for its fifth visit last weekend. (By MAGGIE MENDERSKI/Democrat-News)

Prevention and self-awareness are essential components to the R.A.D. program. On Friday night Kirby Brayman, 16, Carlyn Crawford 17, Caitlin Crawford, 15 and the other women in the class practiced defensive positions. (By MAGGIE MENDERSKI/Democrat-News)

Deanna Donnell practices hitting as R.A.D. instructor Sarah Fuehring holds the target. On Friday night the women in the class learned defensive moves, which would later be put into practice during an aggression simulation on Saturday afternoon. (By MAGGIE MENDERSKI/Democrat-News)

The participants applaud after each woman hits her targets. Sisters Carlyn and Caitlin Crawford, 17 and 15 respectively, clap for their mother Darla after she strikes the target on Friday evening. (By MAGGIE MENDERSKI/Democrat-News)

The participants stand in a circle on Saturday afternoon as R.A.D. instructor Sarah Fuehring leads them in fighting drills. In just a few minutes, these women will participate in their first aggression simulation. (By MAGGIE MENDERSKI/Democrat-News)

Liz Kennon uses her voice and hands to ward off an imaginary aggressor. (By MAGGIE MENDERSKI/Democrat-News)

Saline County Junior Queen Candidate Bailey Fuerhing, center, suits up in protective gear to at a R.A.D. Aggression simulation on Saturday afternoon. She is assisted by her mother, R.A.D. instructor Sarah Fuerhing, left, and fellow R.A.D. graduate Ronni Clark, right. (By MAGGIE MENDERSKI/Democrat-News)

R.A.D. Instructor Sarah Fuehring assists Kirby Brayman, 16 in putting on protective gear. Kirby is about to fight a grown man in her first aggression simulation. (By MAGGIE MENDERSKI/Democrat-News)

Liz Kennon punches in numbers as R.A.D. instructor Sarah Fuehring pretends to be an ATM machine. Behind Kennon, Ken Landes and Mike Dobony provoke Kennon just as a real aggressor would. Sarah stays close by and monitors the confrontation. She shouts words of encouragement throughout the fight. (By MAGGIE MENDERSKI/Democrat-News)

After the aggressor throws her to the ground, Darla Crawford uses precise floor maneuvers to escape. (By MAGGIE MENDERSKI/Democrat-News)

When the aggressor attacks, Liz Kennon is prepared to fight back. (By MAGGIE MENDERSKI/Democrat-News)

After fighting 19 women, aggressor Ken Landes enjoys a brief break. (By MAGGIE MENDERSKI/Democrat-News)

Carlyn Crawford, 17 throws her aggressor to the ground and flees to safety. R.A.D. instructor Sarah Fuehring stuck with her throughout the entire fight. Fuehring never truly leaves the women she teaches, the skills stick with the R.A.D. graduates for a lifetime. (By MAGGIE MENDERSKI/Democrat-News)