There was a lot of yelling, kicking and punching in Rochester on Saturday as women learned to defend themselves against male predators.

Offered by the Rochester Police Department, the Rape Aggression Defense program, or R.A.D., gives women the skills to get out of a dangerous situation.

“Their goal is to get through that door and to safety. We’re not teaching fighting. We’re teaching distraction and escape,” said retired police officer and R.A.D. trainer Steve La Rivee. “Everything is about building them up.”

The 12-hour training takes place in three sessions and teaches women first and foremost to be aware of their surroundings.

“A lot of this class is teaching awareness that might keep people from having to physically defend themselves,” said Rochester Sgt. Robert Small. “It’s preferable if they don’t get to that point.”

Trainers give women practical tips such as removing anything inside or on their car that identifies the driver as female, parking under a light, and purchasing blinds that cancel out light to keep anyone from seeing inside a home.

If women do find themselves accosted by an aggressor, the physical techniques taught through R.A.D. could help them get away.

Students are told to yell, kick and punch their way to safety.

Rochester has not offered the program for the past year and a half, but Small was eager to reinstate it.

“I have three daughters … No guy has any more reason to be invested in this than me,” he said.

Small encouraged Alyson Rego, a new officer, to get the training so the program could resume in Rochester.

Rego admits she was skeptical of the hype at first, but she was quickly converted.

“I’ve never taken a class like that. As a woman especially, you walk out and you definitely feel empowered,” she said.

For the culmination of the class on Saturday afternoon in the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School cafeteria, the students’ skills were put to the test as they faced three real-life scenarios against trainers dressed in protective padding.

Waiting outside, several of the women said they were apprehensive.

“I’m nervous, so I’m going first,” said one mom.

She and her daughter came to the training together.

“I’m here because my husband is away most of the time, so I thought it was a good thing to learn how to protect myself,” she said. “It’s been an eye opener.”

At 5’3”, another woman said she might not be able to take down a man, but she felt much more confident that she could get away if cornered.

“Hopefully, I’ll never need it, but it’s always good to know,” she said. “It’s been empowering.”

The scenarios are recorded so students can see how well they applied the training.

“You see how well you did and how much you learned,” Rego said. “It’s nice to see them grow, too.”

Rego is eager to hold more trainings, which the department offers free of charge.

She said there is already a waiting list for the next R.A.D. program. R.A.D. alums are also welcomed and encouraged to come back to future programs.

To find out more, contact the Rochester Police Department at 508-763-5112.