Created: 7/10/2006 3:58:39 PM 
Winston-Salem, NC -- The woman says a man stopped her vehicle on N. Patterson Avenue in Winston-Salem just before 3:00 am Sunday.
The man took out a knife, forced his way in her car, and forced her to drive to a site on New Walkertown Road.
That's where the victim says she was sexually assaulted.
The victim says the man then ran off toward Jackson Avenue.
This latest case is not unique to Forsyth County. Every two and a half minutes, someone, somewhere across the country is assaulted, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network.
Knowing how to protect yourself if you are attacked is key. There are numerous hotlines and crisis centers where people can go for help after the fact.
But in order to protect yourself before you?re attacked, self-defense classes can help teach you how to fight back.
When her 7-year-old son started Tai Kwan Do, Kelly Sroka decided to give it a try. ?I was very hesitant at first, for a long time. And I felt that I wasn't really good at it,? she said.
Two years later, Sroka is trained in both Tai Kwan do and HapKiDo, which focuses on self defense.
?If somebody was coming after me, I would be able to think about it and respond without just freezing up or panicking,? said Sroka.
But whether you are schooled in self defense or not, simple moves can make a big difference in protecting yourself.
The important thing to remember, says Monty Hendrix, founder of the Master Hendrix Martial Arts and Training Center, is ?if they have to strike, is to hit key targets. Easy key targets, such as the nose, the throat, or the groin.?
If I swing from this side, she turns, if I swing from this side, she turns,? said Hendrix, showing how one of the easier moves helps a person evade their attacker.
?Palm thrust straight to the nose, just like that,? said Hendrix, as Sroka aims the palm of her hand toward his nose.
?If I've grabbed or gotten a hold of her, she just reinforces to the shoulders and brings the knee straight into the groin,? said Hendrix, as Sroka placed both her hands on his shoulders while performing the move.
?Nine times out of 10, that's going to be enough to get away. The person's not expecting them to fight back. If they were expecting them to fight back, they wouldn't have attacked the person,? said Hendrix about the three key moves anyone can do to protect themselves.
As for Sroka, who attends classes with her husband Dan and their two children, she has only one regret: ?I wish I had done it much earlier in my life,? she said.
Self-defense classes like the ones offered at Master Hendrix Martial Arts can be catered to your interests and skill level.
Out of 300 students who train at the center, only five women are enrolled in HapKiDo, so the participation of other women is encouraged.
According to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the number of rapes in Forsyth County increased from 2004 to 2005.
Two years ago, there were 124 rapes. Last year, there were 155.
The number of rapes in Guilford County dropped last year, from 167 in 2004 to 126 in 2005.
In Alamance County, the numbers are much lower. There were 20 rapes in 2004, compared to 31 last year.
Davidson County has the fewest reported rapes, with 21 in 2004 and 20 in 2005.
Anyone with information on the rape that happened on New Walkertown Road in Winston-Salem is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 336-727-2800.
If you would like to learn more about the classes offered at the Master Hendrix Martial Arts and Training Center, call 336-282-3000. There are centers in Greensboro, Oak Ridge, Stoney Creek and Jamestown.
If you have been the victim of a rape or sexual assault, there are many services available to help you.
Family Services of the Piedmont has offices in both Greensboro and High Point.
You can reach the Greensboro office at:
315 E Washington St Greensboro, NC 27401 Main: 336-387-6161 Crisis: 336-273-7273
You can reach the High Point office at:
1401 Long St High Point, NC 27262 Main: 336-889-6161 Crisis Line: 336-889-7273
In Winston-Salem, you can reach Family Services at:
610 Coliseum Drive Winston-Salem, NC 27106 Main: 336-722-8173 Crisis Line: 336-722-4457
In Burlington, you can reach the CrossRoads Sexual Assault Response and Resource Center at:
P.O. Box 673 Burlington, NC 27216 Main: 336-228-0813 Crisis Line: 336-228-0360
WFMY News 2
