While caught in a firm headlock, I began to wonder: How can something so potentially awkward not be awkward at all? I also asked myself: Since when did I start talking out loud in my head like Carrie Bradshaw in Sex in the City? But I digress. There I was, held in a tight headlock by Sensei Stephen Lisauskas, instructional supervisor of Brandeis Kokondo Academy, as he taught me how to make an attacker let go of my neck. I was to locate his kneecap, (which was conveniently close to my face), move my fingers halfway up his thigh, slide them to his inner thigh and pinch and twist the nerve that is there. The subsequent shot of pain would allow me to grab the assailant's arm, which will hopefully have loosened. I could then back out of the headlock and be free to chop down on his back.

Kokondo is a martial art which emphasizes safety, self defense and responsibility.

I was not prepared to be put in these incomparably uncomfortable positions when I walked into Kokondo class. But, suffering four seconds of very minor displeasure was made more bearable when I realized the technique might save my life in the future.

Sensei Lisauskas has been studying Kokondo for 16 years and has been teaching for almost 10. His instructor taught at Brandeis, so he studied here for his undergraduate education, and continued here after he graduated. He voluntarily comes twice a week to teach both students and other members of the community. Six people attended this class, which they said was a small showing. Also, only three members of the group were Brandeis students, while the rest were Waltham residents.

When I arrived at the class in the Alumni Lounge in Usdan, the charismatic Sensei (teacher in Japanese) asked me to remove my shoes, socks and jewelry. We started by stretching, and then moved on to more serious moves. I now know how to jab someone in the neck, kick him in the bladder and punch him in the face, all while being strangled. And what if an angry drunk comes up behind me in a dark alley while I'm by myself and pulls my hands behind my back, you ask? Well, I simply twist my arm to grip his left wrist (with my right arm) and make a fast rotation, brush my rib cage with my hand, rapidly straighten my hand forward with palm up in a jabbing motion, curl my hand into a tight fist (thumb on the outside), and throw my elbow back into him.

Certain members of the class wearing colored belts went on to do all sorts of fancy things that involved being thrown to the ground. When I found out we beginners didn't have to be thrown around, I was certainly relieved. There's only so much pain I can handle. But thankfully, I'm a natural, according to Sensei Lisauskas.

Members said Lisauskas made the class entertaining and informative.

"The reason I love Kokondo is that there is variety, and there's a great technical aspect to it," Lisauskas said. "There are punches, kicks, blocks, strikes, pain techniques, throws, chokes, containment, so the whole range of self defense is in here."

He also stressed the importance of being able to defend one's self.

"Learning to apply [Kokondo techniques] at the same time, and putting them together in a self defense situation is fascinating to me, but also being able to defend myself is something that is personally important to me, and important to my family and friends," he said.

Jason Wu '09 said he practices Kokondo because it is a fun and interesting type of self-defense.

"I've tried out a couple martial arts at Brandeis, like Kung Fu and Tai Kwon Do, but I like this one the most," Wu said.

Pre-school teacher Samantha Ziod, a fellow beginner, had only been studying Kokondo for a couple of weeks.

"I wanted to learn self-defense, and I love it."

Beginner Kokondo classes meet Wednesday nights at 7:30, usually somewhere in Usdan. If you want to be able to beat up bad guys and know how to locate sensitive nerves that, when pinched, will make a grown man writhe on the ground, then Kokondo is a good place to start. Now I can walk the streets confidently, knowing that if someone tries to strangle me, I can chop his head off.

Well, maybe not for a couple more classes. At the very least, I could give him a pretty nasty bruise.