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From: mcewan@uiucdcs.UUCP (mcewan )
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Self-defense - (nf)
Message-ID: <5886@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 26-Feb-84 22:31:48 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.5886
Posted: Sun Feb 26 22:31:48 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 28-Feb-84 00:18:41 EST
Lines: 23

#R:bolton:-16200:uiucdcs:31600045:000:907
uiucdcs!mcewan    Feb 26 12:26:00 1984

    A well-placed kick can be very effective.  In the 1840's, a famous ballet
    dancer, Fanny Ellsler, was touring the U.S.  She was performing in
    Washington, DC (where Congress adjourned its sessions so members could see
    her dance).  An attacker confronted her; she responded with a grand
    battement, the high ballet kick that normally reaches up to the dancer's
    shoulder level at a minimum.  In this case, it ended in the attacker's rib
    cage, and he died a few days later.
    
/* ---------- */

I imagine that a ballet dancer can kick a lot harder than the average
person. I don't think I could even kick as high as an attacker's rib
cage, and even if I did it would be so slow that he/she could easily
avoid it. Aiming for the knees might work, though.

			The opinions expressed are my own and not
			necessarily those of any sane person.

			Scott McEwan
			pur-ee!uiucdcs!mcewan