Shock, Scream And Run: Self Defense For Women/And Chinese Aerobics

Much like Nina Chenault's Street Smart, Street Safe: Self Defense for Women (reviewed in our May-June 1993 issue), this program combines simplistic defense moves for women to use against attackers and an exercise program. The basic strategy--shock, scream, run--employs swift retaliatory strikes accompanied by a loud scream of "no," followed by running away. Unfortunately at least three aspects of the Tigerlily husband and wife team's approach are troublesome: first, usually only one technique or series of moves is shown for each situation; second following up a groin strike with a "cat claw" to the eyes and face seems pretty iffy if the woman' object is to get away; and third, using one's purse to strike an assailant is a reflexive and most likely ineffective move, not a "technique" to be added to one's self-defense system. Finally, as is often the case in these demonstrations, the male model attacker conveniently offers no resistance to any of the steps in attack sequences that can be 5 or more steps long. A much more comprehensive and better choice is still Scenarios in Self-Defense (reviewed in our September 1992 issue). Not recommended. (Available from: Tigerlily Video, 34 Gould St., Box 707, Reading, MA 01867; (617) 942-0055.)