Staff photo by Susan Guynn Capt. Kirby Lee Maybush, of the Frederick County Sheriff's Office Civil Unit, talks to a group of women about self-defense during the recent Women in the Outdoors event at Woodmont Lodge, near Hancock.

How do you get PMA?

It starts with PMS and WTS.

OK. OWA (out with the acronyms).

A positive mental attitude, that's PMA. With that, "You can protect yourself," Capt. Kirby Lee Maybush told a group of women at a recent Women in the Outdoors (WITO) weekend at Woodmont Lodge, near Hancock. The event was sponsored by the Monocacy Valley chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Maybush, of the Frederick County Sheriff's Office Civil Unit, was leading a session on self-defense. Maybush said he's taught thousands of women the basics of self-defense over the years. Being called to hundreds of crime scenes -- from domestic violence to rape or physical abuse -- motivated him to teach women not only how to defend themselves, but empower them to believe they can do it.

Sad that anyone should have to always be on the alert and on guard, but it's better to learn how to react and what you can do to protect yourself than not know what to do should you find yourself in a threatening situation.

"You like to say you know what you would do, but you don't know until you're in the situation," said 22-year-old Kelly Haas, a nursing student in Baltimore. Originally from Charles County, she enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking and jogging. She said being aware of what's going on around you is probably the most important self-defense tactic.

Becca Stack, 23, of Nanjemoy, agrees. Growing up in the country with family that likes to hunt and fish, she never felt concern for her safety until she moved to Prince Georges County to attend college. Now, about to move to Alexandria, Va., to begin her career, Stack said in urban environments, you need to be completely aware of "what you hear, of what you see. You have to constantly be aware. You have to look around and not have tunnel vision," she said, after Maybush's presentation.

That's not to say crimes are only committed in urban areas. Unfortunately, rural areas, state and national parks, and other recreational areas can just as easily become crime scenes. It happens in movies, (I won't watch "Deliverance" again) and it, tragically, happens in real life. I have to admit I felt fear after reading last year about the 24-year-old Georgia hiker who, while hiking with her black Labrador retriever, was brutally murdered.

But fear is paralyzing; knowledge about what to do in a threatening situation is empowering -- even though it offers no guarantee of a safe outcome. Every situation is different, but in my mind it's better to defend yourself than not to.

Recognizing threats

Maybush said there are two types of threats -- internal and external. Some you can control, some you can't.

Internal threats are things that can reduce your ability to defend yourself or recognize a threatening situation. They include drugs and alcohol. Even over-the-counter medications that can make you drowsy reduce your ability to defend yourself, said Maybush. "The mind is the most powerful weapon you have," he said.

External threats are the thugs of the world -- muggers, robbers, stalkers, abusive people.

Maybush said if your gut instinct tells you something's not right about a situation, listen to it. "It's OK to say no. It's OK to be rude," he said, if you feel uncomfortable or threatened.

Self-defense doesn't mean you have to fight. It can be as simple as taking an alternate route to avoid a potential problem. Maybush shared some tactics women who were being harassed by a man at a bus stop (in an unnamed town) used to thwart a potential attack. One woman intentionally urinated herself; another started picking her nose and drooling. One of the worse things you can do, however, is to feign a faint. Now you're on the ground and it becomes more difficult to physically defend yourself.

Here are a few more tips for walking down the street or hiking on the trail:

n Never walk with your head down. Maybush has a "15-second rule," which states that when you're walking, glance around every 15 seconds to see what's happening behind you. Hikers also say it's helpful to look at the setting behind you, too, so that if you head back the way you came, you can recognize the cityscape or terrain from the opposite direction.

n Stand at a 45-degree angle when talking to someone, placing your strong side closest. Your strong hand becomes your attack hand and use your weak hand for protection. Maybush, who served in the Army Special Forces in Vietnam, has been studying karate for about 40 years.

n "Never face your attacker head on," said Maybush. By pushing or pulling you, he or she can throw you off balance too easily. This is an easy one to try at home. Stand facing your "opponent," than stand at a 45-degree angle and let him or her try to push or pull you.

n Close to close. There are points on the body that are extremely vulnerable to pain. But Maybush said you want to hit the closest part of your attacker's body with the closest part of your body. That could be a head butt to the stomach, a palm thrust under the jaw, an elbow jab to the ribs, a slap or backhand to the face, a finger thrust to the eyes (this is no time to be squeamish!), a knee to the groin, or using feet to kick or just run!

n Have PMS -- physical, mental and spiritual strength; and WTS -- the will to survive.

Maybush is available to teach his self-defense class to groups of women. He even does in-home presentations. And there's no charge. It's part of his job. To schedule a class, call him at 301-600-3625.

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Outdoor eventsfor women

KAYAKING, CRABBING AND OUTDOOR COOKING, July 19, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join the staff of Maryland's Department of Natural Resources Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program for a day on the Eastern Shore in this Beyond BOW event. The cost is $50. Beyond BOW events are for women who have some experience in the activity. For more information, call 410-221-8838, ext. 107.

FOR WOMEN WHO WANT AN INTRODUCTION to an outdoor activity, from hunting and fishing to journaling and hiking, Becoming an Outdoors-Woman weekends are just the ticket. The next weekend will take place in Garrett County, Sept. 5-7. Details will be available in July. For more information, visit www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/bowevents.asp.

A WOMEN'S OUTDOOR WEEKEND is scheduled for Sept. 5-7 at Rockwood Manor in Potomac. This is the third year for this event, sponsored by Montgomery County parks. Activities include flatwater kayaking, stream fishing, archaeology, yoga, hiking, mountain biking, archery, horseback riding, trap shooting, fly tying, nature photography and GPS navigation skills. The cost is $235 and includes food, dorm-style lodging, activities and equipment. For a detailed description, visit http://mcparkandplanning.org/parks/wehavethewhere.

(Contact Susan Guynn at sguynn@newspost.com)