Basic Training
A gift from my Dad to your teen
My late father, Arnold Snortland, was especially good at being a girl dad. For contemporary Californians, I will regale you with a lesson I learned long ago during a harsh winter on the South Dakota prairies and connect it to how you can prepare your teenagers for driving in mostly sunny California.
“I’m taking you out for a little spin.” I didn’t realize he’d meant that literally. “Before you and your little friends go driving in the snow, I’m going to show you what to do if you hit ice.” Sure enough, he took me out to a small frozen lake, actually a reservoir, where the town of Huron, South Dakota, would have a “dunk the clunk” raffle every winter and spring. The idea was to raise money by betting on the date the lake would thaw enough to send the old car they’d parked in the middle of it to the depths. The person who guessed the correct date would win the cash pot.
Dad wouldn’t let me drive to the reservoir because it was already icy at 30 below zero. As he drove down the bank, I saw that the “clunk” that year was a dark green, beaten-up 1950 Pontiac Silver Streak. Then he said, “OK, now you drive.” I got out and went to the driver’s side, then sat behind the wheel.
He told me to hit the gas. I did, tentatively. “No, really hit the gas,” at which point I fishtailed. And that was a big fish! He said, “Now relax, just go with it; don’t fight it.” Whoo boy, did my adrenaline spike! I didn’t scream and managed not to wet myself. “OK, now slam on the brakes.” I did, and that didn’t work out so well, either, sending me into another skid. I narrowly missed the Pontiac.
He didn’t talk to me much; he let me experience the danger, with my heart pounding like a jackhammer. Daddy put me in a “mock” dangerous situation so I could truly feel what it was like and learn how to manage my fear. As a result, I’m an extremely safe driver in both fair and foul weather. I don’t panic; I stay calm, and I unthaw quickly.
This kind of training forms the foundation of my strong recommendation for IMPACT Personal Safety (IPS) workshops, whether it’s the 3-hour Intro, the 2-Weekend Intensive, or the 4-Weekend Basics classes. We teach realistic, adrenaline-based self-defense techniques, with classes led by female instructors and utilizing mock assailants. Our intrepid, mostly male assailants are padded from head to foot, allowing students to punch and kick at full force without injuring the person inside the suit. Our instructors are like the frozen lake and icy roads, and the students are like me when I was learning to drive in dangerous conditions.
The mind and body don’t realize that it’s all a simulated attack. When that big padded man charges at us, we don’t think, “Oh, this is pretend.” Our entire being is on high alert. Adrenaline-state training is how first responders, EMTs, firefighters, and police officers practice simulated, realistic drills to learn to control their adrenaline rushes, since we are wired to freeze when facing danger. We may never completely eliminate the freeze response, but we can greatly reduce its duration so we can take action. In the IPS workshops, we learn the basics so we can become our own first responders. Relying on a larger man or law enforcement to protect us is foolish because by the time they realize something is happening, it’s already too late.
Not only do I recommend IPS classes for anyone of any age or gender, but I especially encourage parents to get their teens into one, not only for personal safety but also for car safety. We want kids to know how to stay calm if a crash is imminent; to literally know how to drive defensively. I also believe that automobile insurance companies should offer a significant discount to teenage drivers who complete one of our courses because the teen has learned to manage the freeze-or-panic response in dangerous situations.
I see self-defense as a part of what I call “physical literacy.” Physical literacy covers basic health habits like hand-washing, covering your mouth when coughing, looking both ways before crossing the street, and more. Especially during April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, it’s crucial that we teach teens to listen to the internal alarm system that warns them when something or someone feels wrong. For example, to confidently say “No” to someone who wants them to get into a car with an intoxicated driver. It’s deliberate that IPS classes begin with practicing a strong “No.” Many people say, “Oh, that’s easy. I’m very verbal,” but verbal skills can disappear — or sink in that frozen lake — when adrenaline kicks in.
Please get yourself and your family enrolled in an IPS course. Not all self-defense classes are the same; choose one that offers realistic scenarios, adrenaline-pumping lessons, and prioritizes safety. It will be a gift that lasts a lifetime. To register, click here, and for more info, click here.
Save the Date: Denim Day 2026
Don’t know what Denim Day is? This page will tell you! Join me and many others on Wednesday, April 29, at 9:00 a.m. at the South Lawn of LA City Hall for a rally and press conference.
If you’re interested in Ellen Snortland’s online creative writing class, send an email. There is still a much-needed GoFundMe to help Ellen and Ken recover from the devastating loss of their home and possessions. You can donate here.