Ann Marie Bernitt lay with her back on the ground while the staffer straddled her, mimicking an attacker putting her in a chokehold.
Bernitt, a professional black belt and Jiu-Jitsu instructor, was not concerned about her situation. She used both hands to grab her "attacker's" arm in a "monkey grip," hooked her leg around his, and in one fluid motion, sent him flying over her head onto his back.
Bernitt taught the womens volleyball and soccer teams simple and important ways to defend themselves at the beginning of the semester. She would like to start a one-credit self-defense class for all Covenant College students.
This class's exact location and time have yet to be determined since the class is yet to be approved.
"The main thing is first getting faculty support for it, and once we have that, we need the department's support," said Professor Matos Wood, assistant professor of marketing.
Whether enough students are interested is another key factor.
"We got it through the curriculum committee over a year ago, and last fall, I was working with a coach who is no longer with the college, but she was on board pushing for it," Wood said. "Since she left, it lost a little momentum."
In the past, when Wood presented this idea to the committee, she had 21 students who said they were interested.
Are students still interested today?
"Absolutely. I believe women should know how to protect themselves, especially in our day and age," says Kelsey Carmen, a junior living in Andreas.
This class would be beneficial for more than just self defense.
Adding a self-defense class would also benefit students who need an extra credit hour but want to avoid taking a seminar class.
Instead of another lecture it would be a "fun physical way that is different from what you currently take," said Wood.
Woods's goal is for this class to be open to all students, not just women.
The vision is to have a couple of different versions of this class. Some of the positions taught are intimate, and since comfort levels differ between men and women, separate classes between genders would be ideal.
This self-defense class could be available as soon as next year if it gets enough support from students and faculty. Anyone interested in taking the course should email Professor Wood at arwen.matoswood@covenant.edu.