Seniors slow to take up self-defense instruction

Heather Rawlyk

Thursday, July 1, 2004 | 9:18 a.m.

Arlene Kauffman has a vision: to teach Las Vegas seniors how to defend themselves against a criminal attack.

For the past two months the mother of three and holder of a black belt in ajing bansa has been attempting to reach the Las Vegas Valley's older generation through the National Rifle Association's "Refuse To Be A Victim" program -- but the self defense craze just isn't catching on.

Last month Kauffman held a seminar at the Stupak Community Center at 300 W. Boston Ave., but failed to bring in even one person to teach. Kauffman tried again last week at Leiburn Senior Center, 6230 Garwood Ave., near Jones Boulevard and U.S. 95, and generated interest among a mere three local seniors.

Only two of those participants showed up for the second part of the seminar, which was held at the senior center Wednesday afternoon.

To Kauffman, it doesn't matter if she's teaching a group of one or 25, she said.

"Today (Wednesday) we only had two people and a lot of people might think that's a waste of my time," Kauffman said. "But if in those few hours I could have made a difference in just one person's life, then that's a big deal to me."

Wednesday's seminar was casual, with Kauffman opening the floor for discussion between herself and one local couple, who said they attended Wednesday's seminar to "freshen up their defense strategies."

Vince Pillig, a 58-year-old loan officer and Vietnam veteran, and his wife, Sandi, a retired schoolteacher, are both members of the NRA and are no strangers to defending themselves.

"But it's a good idea to just be reminded to look out for your surroundings," Vince Pillig said.

Among other things, Kauffman taught the Pilligs about home security, identity theft protection, travel safety and a few self-defense moves.

Sandi Pillig volunteered to learn how to escape if someone grabbed her wrist, by twisting her hand and pulling her arm toward her body. The couple was also taught to stomp on feet, elbow groins and perform a backward head-butt on an assailant who grabs them from behind.

Vince Pillig had a few moves of his own and showed Kauffman his way of escaping a "choke hold" by grabbing the instructor's pinky finger and peeling her arm from around his neck.

The couple then examined different types of Taser stun guns and a bottle of Mace, provided by Kauffman, who listed the weapons as "good, legal options to carry for self defense."

Kauffman, who said she likes to "teach without preaching," shared her own self defense stories and strategies for home security.

"I have told my three sons if they are going to enter my room at night, to announce that it's them and they're coming in," she said. "That way, I will know if it's a stranger hovering over me in the dark."

Perhaps the Pilligs should consider this strategy. Vince Pillig shared a story about one night when his daughter's friend was spending the night at his home, without his knowledge.

The former Marine said he heard noise coming from downstairs at 4 a.m. and checked to see if his daughter and wife were in their beds. Once he saw both of them asleep in their bedrooms, he pulled out his gun and made his way downstairs to investigate.

"The bathroom door opened and here is my daughter's friend, scared out of her wits because I'm pointing a gun at her," Vince Pillig said. "I recognized it was her and apologized. You just can't be too careful in that situation."

Kauffman wants to see more seniors practice safety strategies and will continue her seminar as long as there is interest. The next seminar is set to take place in the fall at St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Henderson, she said.