"If I'd been the girl then that I am now, I might have questioned that, asked why we get trained to defend ourselves but why they don't get told to not make it necessary for us to know such things. Back then, though, rape was barely even a blip on my register."

You probably implied some of the stuff I'm talking about too, but I wasn't sure.

Even in the face of equality between gender or race, there will be people who prey physically on others. Even if self-defense techniques aren't any longer needed against would-be rapists, there are still other situations demanding self defense.

I take pride in that should I be present for a would-be attacker of any sort upon another person, that I am equipped to deal with the situation. It isn't that I ask things to happen, but if they are going to, at least let them happen while I'm around.

... Rambling.

On a lighter note....

"And 'no' means 'no'. Always. Always."

Well. That depends on if 'no' is your safeword. 'No' is a pretty weak safeword if you ask me. =P