The ability to defend oneself is not only a valuable life skill but can be lifesaving too. The Rutgers Police Department offers self-defense courses to Rutgers faculty, students, and staff who would like to increase their knowledge of self-defense.

Led by Newark Officers Daniel Opromollo and Javier Hernandez, the instructors have a breadth of experience in self-defense. Opromollo holds a certification in Defensive Tactics Instruction as well as three black belts in Tang Soo Do, Hapkido, and Tae Kwon Do, and has studied martial arts for 35 years. Hernandez has a background in boxing and Krav Maga and has been a Defensive Tactics instructor for 10 years, as well as a batons and oleoresin capsicum spray (pepper spray) instructor.

RUPD’s most recent course was held for student employees of Events and Conference Services at the Paul Robeson Center on the Newark Campus. The course, split into two sections, one for men and one for women, covered the basics of self-defense, such as detailing a fight stance, basic punches (jabs, crosses, hooks, and uppercuts), basic kicks (snap/push kick, roundhouse, side kick), and it covered escaping from different kinds of grabs and chokes. The course also features a “What If” section, where students can ask the instructors about a self-defense scenario, and the instructors will explain how to get out of it. 

“I think anybody can really benefit from any kind of basic self-defense. It’s always better to know something than nothing, even if it’s just regular boxing or any type of martial arts,” said Officer Hernandez. “It can build confidence and allow you to handle difficult situations.”

One of the key takeaways from the class, however, is to try to avoid a physical altercation altogether if possible.

“The first lesson of the class is try to avoid a fight if you can help it,” said Officer Opromollo. “Running away is always the first piece of advice but if you can’t, and you have to stand your ground and fight it is always good to know how.”

Over 30 people participated in the session, one of the course’s biggest turnouts.

“On behalf of the Rutgers Newark Events & Conference Services department, we would like to extend our highest level of appreciation to RUPD for this training,” said Talisha Johnson, Assistant Director, Events & Conference Services. “Feedback from our student staff saying, ‘I had fun’, ‘I learned a lot’, and they ‘felt seen and safe,’ was music to our ears.  Trying to be innovative and capturing what is necessary for the well-being of the students, in this current climate, is paramount to our success as a department and university.”

Self-defense courses can be requested from RUPD.

This article can be found in the IP&O Insights Newsletter May Issue.