Women from Decorah and communities across the region will have another opportunity to learn practical self-defense skills this fall through a training program led by Luther College professor Christian Schlaerth.
Schlaerth, an associate professor of sociology at Luther, received a $7,400 grant from the Winneshiek County Community Foundation to establish and lead a nationally recognized R.A.D. self-defense program in Winneshiek County. The program is open to women throughout the region, and participation is not limited to Winneshiek County residents.
Next class starts Oct. 10 at Luther
The next three-part R.A.D. Basic Physical Defense for Women session is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, in Room 112 of Luther College’s Main Building. Each session will last approximately three hours.
Space is limited, but additional classes will be added if community interest warrants them. The program’s organizers did not provide a deadline for registration, so interested participants are encouraged to contact Schlaerth directly.
Women interested in registering can email Schlaerth at [email protected]. They can also call or text (786) 999-2069 for more information.
What participants will learn
Schlaerth is a certified R.A.D. instructor. The course teaches participants how to recognize potentially dangerous situations and avoid them when possible. Training also covers using the voice and physical tools available to participants, with an emphasis on helping each person find the power to protect herself.
Participants should wear comfortable active clothing and sneakers. The sessions include light physical activity.
The program is designed for women of all ages. Schlaerth said the goal is to help participants feel safer and more confident while they travel, study or live, while also contributing to a safer Winneshiek County community.
“By establishing a R.A.D. program, we are preparing women of all ages to feel safer and more confident wherever they travel, study or live, while also creating a safer community here in Winneshiek County and helping to prevent future assaults,” Schlaerth said.
R.A.D. stands for Rape.Aggression.Defense. The college’s announcement identifies the class as R.A.D. Basic Physical Defense for Women. The program is described as the only self-defense program endorsed by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, the National Academy of Defense Education and the National Self-Defense Institute.
Grant pays for training equipment
The foundation grant helped fund a R.A.D. simulation equipment package, additional student suits, impact targets and impact shields. Those materials will support the physical and scenario-based portions of the training.
Schlaerth said national statistics indicate that one in two women will experience sexual violence during their lifetime. R.A.D., he said, seeks to address that risk by helping women recognize their existing abilities and use them effectively.
“R.A.D. Systems seeks to reduce that statistic by educating women on the powers they already possess and teaching them to effectively use those powers in a manner that is best suited to them.”
Training is free for members of the Luther community. Participants who are not part of Luther’s community may attend for a $25 fee, which covers the cost of the R.A.D. manual.
This is the second time Schlaerth has offered R.A.D. classes to the local community. In April 2026, he partnered with Luther College Campus Safety, Student Life and the Title IX Office to provide training for Luther students, faculty and staff.
Schlaerth is also willing to provide private courses for local organizations and employees of area businesses. Organizations interested in arranging a private session are encouraged to contact him for details. Future classes are expected to be scheduled and promoted locally.
Schlaerth began teaching at Luther College in 2025. He earned a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Miami, where he studied social theory, statistics and methods, race and ethnicity, and social psychology.