yes. even if they're teaching "desperate defense" kind of things, when running away is not an option for some reason, this is the absolute worst way of using a lab coat in self defense.

at least teach them to wrap it around their forearm and use that as a shield, or something. the thing is made of very sturdy fabric( at least they used to be lol), and if you manage to bait the attacker into a bad stab and they get their knife stuck in the lab coat you have a chance to disarm them.

i sincerely hope this is the part of the course where they demonstrate what NOT to do.