Assault victims learning to fight back.

A Tulsa woman who survived an attack a year ago is teaching others how to fight back. <br><br>Cheryl Clay says she's lucky to be alive.<br><br>"He was going to kill me by the end of the night.. he

Sunday, October 6th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A Tulsa woman who survived an attack a year ago is teaching others how to fight back.

Cheryl Clay says she's lucky to be alive.

"He was going to kill me by the end of the night.. he told me that."

Clay's talking to Tulsa women about the day one year ago when she almost died.

On October 5th 2001, Clay was brutally assaulted. She was beaten up, bruised, and left to die. All at the hands of someone she knew.

"This man grabbed me and shoved me on the concrete to the point where my head and my body was slammed down and busted my head open."

And for three excrutiating hours, she says she didn't know whether she'd live or die.

"I was the lucky one, even though I went through this I was not raped, no broken bones, and I'm alive."

Eight-five percent of women who are assaulted are done so by someone they know. That's why she says self-defense classes like these are key."

Clay and about a dozen women attended this self defense class put on by the Oklahoma Blackbelt Academy. It's one of four free classes held every year to teach these women basic self-defense techniques to survive.

Clay says she was unable to defend herself at the time and relied on her smarts to get herself out the situation. But she says don't wait for the worst to happen.

She says if a woman is attached the best thing is to trust your instincts and be aware of your surroundings.

"If someone offers to help you be alert, he may not always be sincere."

And whether you use your head or your hands Clay says it's best just to be prepared.

It's a tool that could someday save your life.

The Oklahoma Blackbelt Academy has free classes to teach women about basic self-defense techniques.

For more information call them at 836- 5425.