Ninth-grade girls learn women's saftey training in phys ed.

PE teacher Krysten Parson helps a student learn effective ways to stun an attacker to seek an opportunity to flee to safety.Guest instructor Steve Thomas, pastor at Walnut Hill Mennonite Church and an instructor with Peacemaker Academy in Goshen, uses his understanding of faith and his experience in Tae Kwon Do to train students how to prevent violence and transform conflict. His goal is to empower girls and women against violence.

In his two-part lesson, SAFE against Violence, Thomas instructed on both prevention and protection. To reduce the risk of assault he shared ways for women to secure themselves and to avoid hazards, but if assaulted to flee if possible and engage if necessary.

The first session focused on "Tongue Fu" or verbal defense. In the session on engaging, Thomas taught students ways to engage in physical self-defense, using minimum effective (assertive) force, not excessive (aggressive) force. He stressed that the purpose is not to fight or necessarily harm an attacker, but to stop the attack and escape to safety.

Peacemaker Academy instructor Steve Thomas teaches a student to break a board with her upper arm.