Self Defense For Women

Prevention Tips - Avoid Assaults

2011-05-15T11:16:00.003-04:00

Assault Prevention Tips:

While becoming a victim of crime is never the fault of the victim, the National Crime Prevention Council has established the following list of practices that may help safeguard individuals from becoming victims of assault:

Stand tall and walk with confidence.
Watch where you are going and what is going on around you.
Walk along well-lit and busy streets.
Walk with friends.
Avoid shortcuts, dark alleys, deserted streets and wooded areas.
Know your neighborhood.
Identify police and fire stations, libraries, schools - as well as the hours of operation of local stores and restaurants.
Don't carry more money than you will need for the day, but do carry emergency change for a telephone call.
When you are out late at night, have a friend accompany you - don't go alone.
Also, let someone know where you will be going and when you will return.
Never hitchhike.
When driving, always park in well-lit places and lock your doors.
Before entering your vehicle, check for offenders hiding in the back seat or on the floor.
If harassed or assaulted, scream and attempt to run to safety.

While these steps may do more to protect victims of assault by strangers, some are applicable to those assaulted by non-strangers. Finally, whether it is a stranger or non-stranger assault, it is important to report the incident to local law enforcement immediately. Crime prevention and awareness, as well as consistent reporting, may be the strongest defenses against becoming the victim of an assault.

It is my firm belief that awareness to potential assault situations is paramount in the process of prevention. It has been my experience that when confronted with possible assault/mugging situations that it has always been a surprise. One should always have their senses tuned razor sharp when living or working in areas with a high rate of violent crime. This is not to say that one should not be aware of their surroundings even in areas or situations that are more familiar. Excerpts from: The National Crime Prevention Council.

Bold Rapist Makes Getaway

2011-04-02T17:05:00.002-04:00

It doesn't matter where you reside. In the suburbs or the inner city, rape is an ongoing problem that is in the news every night.

Women can take measures to help insure their safety. One is to keep doors and windows locked. Another is to have these points of entry guarded by window alarms and room alarms. They are very affordable and are quite loud enough to wake you up if your home or apartment is entered.

Once the alarms are tripped, make sure to arm yourself with an effective self defense deterrent such as a gun, a telescopic steel baton or a good defense spray that won't contaminate your room, such as Mace pepper gel.

Call the 911 Emergency Hotline immediately and stay on the line giving the operator all of the information that's requested. If you see a stranger in you neighborhood that's acting suspiciously and seems to pose a possible threat. Call the Police immediately seeking advice and assistance. Stay Safe!

Self Defense By Deception

2011-01-11T00:25:00.002-05:00

For anyone who has read this blog or my other blog, linked on the side navigation bar, you'll know that besides being a life-long martial arts practitioner, I believe that in a violent confrontation, you must always try and gain an edge when possible.

I believe that women should own and know how to use a hand gun, that they should be familiar with basic martial arts techniques. I also believe that a woman should be acquainted with, own and know how to use self defense products like Mace pepper spray, stun guns and kubotans - a.k.a. pocket sticks.

Taking it a step further, as in hand to hand combat, the element of surprise can give you a very distinct tactical advantage. In comes my favorite deterrent, pepper spray. Nothing like giving an attacker a face-full of pepper spray to allow you precious seconds to escape or mount a counter attack. My favorite hidden pepper spray is lipstick pepper spray. It looks innocent enough but contains 20 - 1/2 second bursts, and sprays up to 10 feet!

Then there's hidden stun technology like the Stun Master 1.2 million volt rechargeable pen stun gun with a high intensity LED flashlight which is a whopping amount of power in a small unit and also includes a built in flashlight, integrated charger and a free nylon holster!

It's just getting harder for the bad guys to catch a break anymore ladies. Your own primal self defense instincts along with a few solid kicks and strikes, coupled with a hidden self defense tool, just may be the combination of elements you'll need to keep yourself safe and unmolested. There's only a winner or a loser in a self defense encounter - do what it takes to insure that you're the winner!

Cheers, I'll be back with you again soon!

Season's Geetings!

2010-12-24T15:55:00.002-05:00

I'd like to take a moment and wish all of our readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and prosperous New Year!

Stay safe ladies - if you plan on drinking then make sure you don't drive!

Best Regards, Ronin

Self Defense For Christmas?

2010-12-18T10:50:00.002-05:00

Another Christmas is coming up next week and many of us haven't finished their shopping yet. How about giving a gift that shows you really care? A diamond necklace or a bracelet won't keep your wife or daughter/s from becoming a victim or keep them out of harm's way. Expensive jewelry may be the kind of gift that draws a thief to a woman, looking for an easy "score."

We don't want that do we?!! How about buying a gift like Mace spray, a keychain kubotan, or a personal alarm? They can all be had for great prices and you can use them as stocking stuffers. Shopping time's passing quickly for this season. Give one or more of these items to your loved ones and help them to stay safe!

Self Defense Seminars

2010-12-02T10:33:00.001-05:00

If you keep your eye peeled, you'll often see ads or articles in the newspaper and other local tabloids announcing self defense seminars that are being held to teach women the basics of self defense.

These usually are taught by martial arts instructors with very good skills and are streamlined to present the most basic and easy to use self defense techniques that will work 100% of the time. They are the easiest to learn and usually don't require years of formal training to apply to an attack scenario. I highly recommend attending one. Bring a girlfriend or two with you to make you feel relaxed, comfortable and have more enjoyable experience.

You'll usually be shown foolproof moves that will stop an attacker from further aggression. This includes everything from the proper mindset, to hand to hand techniques and the best self defense products such as OC pepper spray, kubotans or everyday items that are easily found nearby.

If you get a chance, please spend a night or more and attend a Women's self defense seminar. You'll have fun and feel much safer with your newly acquired skills!

Last Ditch Self Defense Pt. 2

2010-11-06T10:55:00.002-04:00

In our previous post, I'd argued with a police officer who in my opinion puts his students at risk, teaching sophisticated self defense techniques, in this case a comb, rather than using a proven deterrent like Mace pepper gel or standard OC Pepper Spray, which can be applied at a distance - giving you the time you need to get away.

I placed a picture on the top of this post to show you a very comfortable distance to stop an attacker - not allowing yourself to come into grappling range to mount your self defense.

I recommend that you check out these links to our Crime Information blog which has two very popular posts on the most frequently asked questions about pepper spray.

Read part 1 - the first five questions and answers and then part 2, which has the last 5 pepper spray FAQ's.

You'll gain some insights into the kinds of questions we field and the answers that we're most likely to give. Stay safe now and see you soon!

Last Ditch Self Defense

2010-10-27T10:58:00.002-04:00

You're at your front door or at your car and a man is rushing toward you quickly with the look of bad intentions. What are you going to do? Are you a seasoned fighter and ready to go hand to hand with this guy if he attacks? Probably not.

I recommend deterrents that will wreak havoc on an attacker with a minimal amount of training and are affordable and easy to use. My most recommended deterrent is Mace pepper gel or pepper foam. This sticks to the attacker only. The gel product has an 18 foot range and releases no ambient particles of OC pepper into the environment. This means it can be used inside a vehicle, a room or apartment and the only one who gets Maced is the assailant.

My question is why would you ever want to unload a canister of fogger delivery OC pepper spray in your own home and have to breath that stuff in right?

I argued politely with a police officer who doesn't care for defense sprays. Many do and are required to carry it and use rather than escalating the use of force. He teaches techniques based on martial arts that in my opinion, have almost 38 years of karate training, are difficult to learn and practice easily and put you at risk.

I will include a video below the last line of this post and you can judge for yourself, just how easy it would be to use his technique as compared to blasting the bad guy with pepper spray or CS tear gas.

I would teach that what you'll see is not only a last ditch method, like a kubotan or a stun gun. And, only if applied properly, buys you a second. But, at this point you've allowed your attacker within grappling range. These are dangerous waters to be in. See you soon!

Mace Pepper Gel - The Best!

2010-10-17T19:04:00.001-04:00

I got a question today and though I've covered it, I'd still like to reiterate that Mace Pepper Gel is the stuff you want when the SHTF.

The person had researched several "so-so" pepper sprays but hadn't come close to anything really effective so I had to steer him to the best defense spray deterrent on the market - Mace Pepper Gel.

You can click the link above to read a previous post and watch the video below - the cops endorse it and explain it very well. For a few dollars more, you're worth it. See you soon!

Don't Hesitate - Fight Back

2010-10-05T16:49:00.002-04:00

In any fight or self defense scenario, even some of the toughest attackers will expose targets of opportunity. We've discussed in the past, that to survive such confrontations, we must be self defense minded or have our head on a swivel - looking for those moments and chances to launch decisive counter attacks.

For example, an attacker who may be leading up to assaulting you might avert his gaze for a moment at a loud sound or to quickly glance at the surroundings. In these moments we find our targets of opportunity. It only takes a split second - a slight break in the attacker's attention for you to make good with your counter-attack with a kubotan, pepper spray, or driving knee to the groin.

This type of action requires that we NOT lose our cool and time slows down. Seconds become like minutes - it's all about controlling our fear through building a confident mindset and the spirit to prevail and not to be taken advantage of.

Self defense seminars can help you with this, as well as a few months of martial arts training. Familiarity and confidence in the use of a self defense product can also help immensely. In an increasingly violent world, women must consider and weigh their self defense options. Enjoy the video ladies!

3 New Rechargeable Stun Guns With Flashlights

2010-09-23T23:10:00.001-04:00

Safety Enforcement has added 3 new models of rechargeable stun guns with a flashlight. They include a high power stun gun, a bright LED flashlight which is great for checking out dark areas before you enter, integrated chargers for keeping your equipment in peak operating condition and low prices.

We highly recommend the use of defense products like Mace, Pepper Spray and Stun Guns to help level the playing field for women who live, work in, or pass through risky areas. We also advocate their use for anyone who would attempt to rob, rape, or in anyway molest you physically.

Women are generally weaker and most frequently targeted for violent crimes. Turn the tables on attackers with one of these new stun guns! See you soon.

Women's Self Defense - Having a Plan

2010-09-03T15:30:00.003-04:00

Last week my wife was not feeling well and decided to sleep in the living room. She left the door to the back yard open and had an overhead fan running. Before retiring to our bedroom, I asked her what she would do if some drug addled rapist or a burglar came crashing through the door. Her reply was to get a handgun or at the least one of my tactical folding knives and defend herself.

This might have sounded like a good idea to her at the moment, since I'm an avid gun and knife collector, so I do have those items nearby. The problem was my more direct question; "well exactly what will you do?" She had no good idea. She only knew that there was a handgun "over there someplace" and there was a folding knife as well as some pepper spray, in the drawer of the end table.

She's no trained knife expert and even though I'd walked her through the steps of locating the handgun and bringing it to bear on an attacker many times, she really had no inkling of it's exact location, let alone bailing off the sofa, scrambling across the room, locating the gun and pointing it, with any chance of beating someone that crashed through an aluminum screen door.

Just as we all can perform certain tasks like rubbing our eye to remove a dust particle or scratching our arm in the right place without the slightest thought, I told her that this type of reaction, like locating and using a weapon was much the same. It had to become a natural action through many hundreds or even thousands of "dry runs" until it was as normal as taking a step while walking.

We parted with the advice - repeated several times - that she would run screaming to our bedroom where I would be there, waiting and prepared for any eventuality. Don't think you have a plan. Be sure you have a solid plan for self defense and practice your plan until it becomes a natural response!

Self Defense - Personal Alarms

2010-08-16T13:14:00.004-04:00

Women's self defense products are usually thought of as pepper sprays, stun guns and pocket sticks. I'd strongly advise another layer of self defense - personal alarms.

Personal alarms create a loud alert and most include strobing lights. Attackers don't want to be seen or noticed. It only makes sense that when a woman who may be in imminent danger triggers a 130 decibel alarm with strobe lights, the assailant is going to lose interest quickly and move on to a victim that isn't going to make so much noise or put up a struggle.

Most personal alarms a between $10 - $15 and operate by a switch or a pull chain which causes the alarm to stay on until the owner replaces the pin back into the unit.

Personal alarms have long been a mainstay in personal defense products - buy one. See you soon!

Self Defense - Taking Away Weapons

2010-07-16T20:59:00.006-04:00

It's been awhile since I was able to post de to a leg injury that has kept me off my PC. Things are getting better but I still have to keep this one short.

We have an old saying in martial arts. If an opponent grabs you he has lost one or two weapons and you are at an advantage, If you hurt an attacker's arm or leg, you have taken away some of their weapons - the limbs needed to inflict damage on you.

We advocate the use of Mace pepper spray to take away an assailant's vision and disrupt their breathing. This gives you a distinct tactical advantage.

If you've ever worried about the wind blowing pepper spray back at you or the proximity of the attacker being such that particles will be release into the air and cause you be Maced as well, then worry not. Mace Pepper Gel is the best defense spray you can carry!

It shoots a high pressure gel with pinpoint accuracy up to 18 feet away and sticks to the attacker like bubble gum. They can't get it off and the pain will blind them or cause enough pain to allow you to get out of harm's way.

Mace pepper gel allows no ambient particles to escape into the air and is safe to use anywhere without risk of becoming affected or contaminated in any way. Get some ladies you'll be safer with it. See you again real soon!

See the effects of Mace on Police officers who train using it:

Happy 4th of July - Independence Day Sale

2010-07-04T15:38:00.001-04:00

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy 4th of July holiday! Our friends are having an Independence Day sale. Pepper Spray and Mace defense spray are 10% off. Just type "4th if July" in the comments box during checkout and we'll adjust the charges!

Women's Self Defense From The Ground

2010-06-22T23:57:00.000-04:00

Many encounters with an assailant will end up with you being thrown or knocked to the ground. This can still be a position from which you can defend yourself.

Let's say an attacker has initiated an assault or robbery attempt. You have your pocket size canister of Mace in hand and you've sprayed him in the face. Although being temporarily blinded and in pain, he can still catch hold of you while flailing about and throw you down to the ground.

The best advice would be to get up and run if possible, but if he seems bent on crowding you and following up on his attack, there are several kicks that can be launched from the ground that should finish the job.

I've chosen a video for you that will illustrate some of them. For most ladies that exercise, these kicks should be easy to learn, since they are modification of leg lift exercise that you already do. See you soon!

Stun Guns - Defense For Women

2010-06-07T12:56:00.002-04:00

There are many stun guns available on the market that are compact, light and powerful. A woman can easily slip her hand into a purse or pocket and slip the safety switch to the "off" position if an attack or unwanted touch becomes imminent.

Stun guns can be very powerful and produce the results you need to get unwanted hands from reaching into you car or actually dropping an opponent to their knees without lethal or permanent damage.

Stun guns are high in voltage but low in amperage which is what makes them safe for use. Enjoy the video and see you soon!

Pepper Spray Self For Self Defense

2010-05-31T22:54:00.002-04:00

OC Pepper Spray can be your best bet for survival in an attack scenario. It's inexpensive, legal and simple to use. A few well placed sprays can totally debilitate your assailant and give you the time you need to get away or to defend yourself.

Police and armed forces personnel are subjected to this substance in training so that they'' know, first hand, what it feels like to be sprayed with pepper spray. There are models available with just OC pepper inside and others may be mixed with CN tear gas and a UV marking dye which helps the police identify the perpetrator.

I can't recommend pepper spray enough. It will stop a man in his tracks and can also be used against dangerous or aggressive animals too. Enjoy the video - a picture's worth a thousand words. We'll be back with you soon!

Self Defense Products

2010-05-13T15:55:00.005-04:00

Not all among us have the time, dedication and perseverance to become experts in martial arts. We all have the time to become experts with self defense products though. There are some pretty fine deterrents available and they don't cost any more than lunch at a fast food place.

Imagine that you're being assaulted or are on the verge of being assaulted and you have no black belts or a firearm. How will you get away? How will you avoid being robbed, raped or worse? Very simple really, a canister of pepper spray will give you a real punch to deliver into your attacker's face and can save you from becoming a statistic. A severe burning sensation, blinded eyes, disorientation and nausea will stop even the most determined assailant.

There are also formulations by Mace that really pack a wallop. Police Mace in the "Triple Action" spray combines OC pepper, tear gas and a UV marking dye to assist the Police in identifying the attacker. We urge you to build up your self defense product arsenal and you can't start with a better choice than pepper spray!

Self Defense for Women - Groin Kicks

2010-05-08T03:54:00.001-04:00

Raking shots with the shoe or foot into an attacker's, ankle, shin, instep and toes can be very effective. If you're still on your feet, kicks or stomps to these target areas are simple to use, plus there's little chance of injury to yourself when striking the opponent. In most grabbing/grappling situations, these areas will be found to be vulnerable to attack if you take advantage of the opportunity. Even the most skilled professional fighters sustain several of these strikes before they either begin giving them back or attempting to block these painful attacks.

The groin kick is another "primary" target area. This means that like a knock-out punch to the jaw, a properly delivered groin kick can stop the best fighter dead in his tracks. If your assailant is another woman, a solid groin shot against another female is comparable to a groin strike against a man, so I'm told.

The triangular shape of an open stance opponent, begs for the groin kick. If thrown with the slightest bit of arc to the technique, the leg will reach the target even if your aim is a bit off. A rising groin kick will strike anywhere from the inside of the knee, upwards and the opponent's posture will allow it to slide up to the groin.

As always if permissible, which it is almost anywhere in the USA, we recommend that you carry a proven self defense spray like Mace pepper spray and tear gas. The use of a defense spray when an attack becomes imminent, will afford you the opportunity to run away, or if you must, stay and fight using stomps, groin kicks, knees, elbows and palm strikes while the attacker is at a disadvantage. See you soon!

Use of the Kubotan - Yawara - Pocket Stick

2010-04-29T02:49:00.002-04:00

Finally, I'd like to show you a video I displaying a very wide range of kubotan self defense techniques that can be used with the aid of this simple palm sized stick.

There are very sophisticated drills used by a few martial arts systems displayed, another subject altogether, modified for the use of the kubotan or yawara stick. See how the tip is constantly shifted to travel in the line of a strong strike.

In some cases the attacker's back is toward the camera, but be assured that the defender's arm across his body is holding or trapping with the tip of the kubotan being used, to dig into the body parts being touched.

Using your imagination one can drill imaginary defense scenarios that employ the use of a simple kubotan, yawara, pocket stick or small cylindrical object. Watch this video a few times and try to duplicate some of the strikes and striking patterns. See you soon!

Kubotan - Self Defense Stick

2010-04-26T03:24:00.005-04:00

Self defense for women should be as simple as possible. Martial arts training isn't realistic for most women. For those women who are trained martial artists, we respect you and your ability to pass this material on further than we can perhaps.

Today let's look at the kubotan, yawara or pocket stick. All these are synonymous for the same thing; an implement that is used in the hand to concentrate energy into a focused spot or pressure point. This causes acute pain that can give you the edge in getting away or in mounting an effective counter-attack.

Unlike a pepper spray that can temporarily blind an attacker and cause pain by use of OC pepper or tear gas. The pocket stick is for hand to hand encounters or in situations when you either don't have a defense spray, or can't employ it due to wind or other conditions.

We encourage the use of non-lethal self defense deterrents in conjunction with other methods of self defense or strictly on their own merit, they all have their place.

Building on our last post let's see a few more pocket stick techniques. See you soon!

Self Defense For Women - Foot Stomp

2010-04-11T20:02:00.004-04:00

I hope you ladies had a chance to have a good look at the chart that was presented in the previous post. It details many vital areas that you can strike with your hands, elbows, feet and knees. Even more pain or injury can be inflicted with the use of a striking device such as the Kubotan.

The Kubotan concentrates your power and channels it to a small impact surface which greatly multiplies the force applied to the attacker's vital area. Martial arts practitioners have used the Kubotan or Yawara for centuries. Modern versions are very lightweight, discreet to carry and give you a lot of bang for your buck!

Today we'll look at another simple, yet effective way to disable an attacker without even chipping your beautiful manicures. Enjoy it - it's a great technique for your self defense toolbox. See you soon!

Women's Self Defense - Vital Striking Areas

2010-03-29T00:39:00.002-04:00

We've been looking at some basic strikes, such as groin kicks, palm strikes, elbows and more.

The question arises: where are the best places to strike an attacker. Well there are lots of charts to direct you, but it's much easier to have a real live expert Instructor explain them to you.

If you get an opportunity to take a self defense seminar, take a friend and a notebook, you'll get loads of information to take home with you.

Enjoy this video. It's not "comprehensive" but it's a start. See you soon!

Simple Tools For Self Defense

2010-03-16T22:04:00.002-04:00

The best way to defend yourself is not to be in a situation where you might be attacked. We have been discussing some defense maneuvers to counter punches and slaps to the head area. We'll be getting back to that next post.

It takes a certain amount of skill or practice to block a strike and effectively apply self defense measures. Let's back track a bit shall we?

A woman can defend herself very well if she is aware of her surroundings and is equipped to retaliate quickly.

I would suggest that every woman has a good quality and very bright flashlight. This illuminates "would be" attackers and also makes tasks performed in the dark, much easier. Being discovered quickly can confuse and dissuade predators from attacking.

Beside her flashlight, a woman should have some sort of self defense deterrent. I recommend that a canister of Mace be carried as well. This gives you a bit of distance ladies, so you can inflict a dose of pain, yet don't have to make contact or wrestle around with an attacker.

We'll be back soon with more good self defense instruction. See you soon!

Self Defense For Women - Punch Or Slap

2010-03-09T19:07:00.003-05:00

In our last post we looked at self defense against a haymaker or a roundhouse punch. This is a commonly used power shot, used to really knock a person's block off.

Today let's look at a simple self defense "counter" against a straight punch or slap. Again ladies, take note that you don't need to make a fist, which can hurt very badly if your hands aren't conditioned properly, to take out the attacker.

This video displays powerful strikes using the palm of the hand as well as knees, which can be launched to the groin, bladder area or stomach. These techniques can be practiced alone or with a partner.

If you don't carry a gun or a self defense deterrent such as Mace pepper spray or tear gas models, then you may want to try these out. See you soon!

Women's Self Defense - Defending A Punch

2010-02-25T19:34:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, we were discussing defenses against sucker punches or "haymakers." Ladies be aware that you don't need to break a fingernail to strike your assailant.

I have included a video below that most closely describes the best method to use. As a seasoned veteran, I use an even more sophisticated variation of this "stop hit" method, called mirroring or shadowing. This to move as your opponent moves and not directly into the line of fire.

You have to be very good to do shadowing or mirroring techniques, so I didn't include any video that shows it off.

For now, you can see that simply catching the striking arm with a circular block, sets up palm strikes, knee and elbows.

Try these with a friend if possible and do the movement slowly - no need to walk into a big punch until you've trained for awhile okay?

Stay safe and we'll see you soon!

Women's Self Defense - Assessment

2010-02-18T11:17:00.001-05:00

Women who are keen on having the ability to defend themselves, will want to make as they say in Alcoholics Anonymous, a fearless and searching inventory of their physical fitness, abilities, as well as some intangibles such as; to what limit they will go in defending themselves, how hard and how long they would devote themselves, to training in pursuit of self defense skills.

Some women I have in mind may be 18 to 25 years old and should be in top condition and able to practice punches and kicks, running (away) or wielding a telescopic steel baton for instance. This however isn't always the case. Many women are getting fit and strong well into their 40's. So each woman must be brutally honest and make an assessment of their physical fitness levels, as well as their desire to take a self defense seminar, purchasing some sort of bag or other device, made for practicing punches, kicks, elbows and knee strikes.

For women who feel strongly about taking a proactive role in defending themselves and are in average to above average state of fitness, I'd recommend a few crash courses in women's self defense. These can be found in many local martial arts clubs, in the newspaper or seen on flyers, posted in public places such as supermarkets and stores. Take more than one and you may find that you learn much more from one instructor versus another. This is not to say that one is better than another, but just as each of us are individual human beings, so are martial arts clubs, seminars and so forth. You will find that you learn much better from one endeavor than from another. So check out what's going on in your area and take a friend to pal up with and learn a few things that may help in keeping you safe.

Then there are many women, who by the level of their fitness, age, mobility and mentality, can't get out and take this type of training. This group can have the same desire to defend themselves as the former but for one reason or another can't. For you ladies, I'd suggest learning to use a handgun properly or purchasing a self defense aid such as a stun gun or pepper spray. These items can keep you from being victimized as well.

For those who have a desire to be able to effectively defend themselves, you're already very aware of crime against women, prepared to learn self defense and motivated. This is excellent. From this point, do your self inventory, note your abilities and limitations and make a choice of which direction your path will be to a more secure life.

Physical training along with a bit of leverage such as a stun gun or pepper spray is great, but a 75 year old Granny with sharp eye and a good six-shooter is deadly. See you soon and stay safe!

Self Defense Tools For Women

2010-02-05T21:59:00.002-05:00

Nothing gets someone's attention like a good smack alongside the head. Just kidding there, but I wanted to let you know that Safety Enforcement, an online store that specializes in self defense products, has recently upgraded their telescopic steel batons from a softer, foam gripped model to one that's got a nice rubber grip on it.

The carry case is much nicer too. I'd recommend that you check them out. They come in 16", 21" and 26" models. Better news is, the price is still the same.

You want to be careful of your target areas when striking someone with a telescopic steel baton. Stay away from the head in most cases, short of being accosted by a person who's armed with a deadly weapon. A good shot to the arm, legs or back will speak volumes. See you soon!

Women's Self Defense - Bedroom Attack

2010-01-28T00:24:00.002-05:00

I've found a video to share with you produced by Michael Pace. He's passed my test of "close scrutiny" and I've found him to be very knowledgeable in the intricacies of self defense scenarios and is a top notch instructor. He knows his stuff. If you read the previous post below this one, you can see in the video that he has a real grasp on behavior, proper response and how your behavior directly affects the escalation of a conflict.

I first saw this next video of his about a year ago and it's of great value to women, who may find themselves beneath an unwanted body some day. The first portion is the actual encounter and it happens very quickly, but then he breaks it down, detailing the sequence of events in a very simple to understand method. It gets my rubber stamp of approval. This will work ladies - learn it - you may need this information to save your life one day.

Another way to avoid being surprised in bed is to have a security alarm for rooms, doors and windows. An alarm will wake you up, then a handgun or canister of Mace pepper gel, will stop an attacker and allow you to make your escape. Too many women take their safety for granted - don't be one of them. See you soon!

Women's Self Defense - Strategies

2010-01-13T14:36:00.002-05:00

Women must be assertive, not necessarily aggressive unless warranted, in fending off a possible assault when handling real life situations in the street.

There's a time and place for everything in the realm of women's self defense. By thinking through or practicing your response to aggressive individuals, you'll put yourself at risk less often and avoid being attacked.

There are situations for raw, primal aggression and there are times when a more measured response will keep you from harm. Please remember that you can be a perfectly charming lady but in times of crisis situations, you may find that a less refined approach is what is needed.

I've added a video below that discusses various responses to the same situation and what the possible outcomes could be. Just because you're a member of the fairer sex, that doesn't mean that you have to put up with jerks. Sometimes being too nice can get you hurt.

See you soon with more ideas on viable responses to aggression. Stay safe!

Women's Self Defense - Handguns

2010-01-06T14:04:00.001-05:00

I have rarely met a woman who doesn't enjoy firing a handgun. That however, is quite different from how many women I know who would actually obtain a Conceal Carry permit and use a handgun for self defense purposes.

Almost every woman I've encountered would rather use more benign measures such as self defense products like stun guns, pepper spray or personal alarms.

I researched this story that a friend sent me but it doesn't appear in the periodical on the day it supposedly took place. Some women work very hard to support themselves and will not put up with a thief robbing them of their hard earned pay.

Apparently, a Houston Texas woman was charged for shooting a man in the back 6 times. At her arraignment she was asked by the Judge to explain. She told the Judge that she was waiting at the bus stop for about 15 minutes after waitressing at a nearby cafe, when she spotted a shady character sizing her up.

She explained that her purse was over her left shoulder and her right hand was inside and gripping her revolver that she kept hidden inside. Within seconds, she was spun around from her left side 180 degrees, which left her staring at the shady character running away from her with her purse in hand.

She looked down at her right hand and saw that it was still gripping the revolver and screamed to the perpetrator "you're not stealing my paycheck and tips" and fired all 6 rounds into his back.

When asked how she knew she fired 6 rounds she replied "I knew because when I pulled the trigger the 7th time, the gun just went click."

This plucky woman was acquitted of all charges and was back on her job at the cafe the next day.

I couldn't confirm this story, which supposedly took place March 5th 2009, but I do think that this sort of thing happens daily across our Country to women that are targeted as easy marks by every sort of low-life crook. I have always believed that men and women should be properly trained in the use of a firearm, then apply for and be issued Conceal Carry Weapon "CCW" permits.

If this was the case, crime rates would plummet and 1000's of unlucky men and women would survive criminal attacks. See you soon - enjoy the video!

Common Sense Self Defense

2009-12-24T15:59:00.007-05:00

I was traveling home and a Police car came flying past me! I wondered where he was going in such a hurry?

I arrived at home shortly afterward and walking inside, I found my wife on the phone with a friend who has a police scanner. A 19 year old youth was killed in an auto accident, just moments earlier. Now I know where that police car was headed.

I thought about how painful this Christmas would be for the family of the youth who lost his/her life. What a terrible blow this holiday season would be for so many years to come for the family.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope that you'll all be careful in your travel and in your celebrations. Common sense self defense dictates that you be aware and if you drink, please don't drive. See you in 2010!

Self Defense for Women - Alternatives

2009-12-08T01:05:00.003-05:00

Last week we looked at the Kubotan as an impact striking device. As mentioned, it can be used to strike vulnerable areas on an attacker or used as a handle to swing your keys in a raking motion.

Previously, we looked at the use of simple OC pepper spray to blind an opponent while you make a getaway or mount a counter defense.

Today let's escalate your self defense alternatives. I own a couple and there are many out there, but my favorite self defense / EDC (every day carry), small fixed blade knife is the RAT IZULA, named after the fiery bullet ant of South America.

It's very versatile and can be worn as a neck knife, lashed to any sort of bag or camping gear, in a pocket, on a belt - your imagination is the limit. The kit comes with the basic knife, a well made sheath, a fire-starter, an emergency whistle, paracord for wrapping the handle and more.

I purchased mine from Knife Works at a very affordable price. I chose the black model depicted above. But, they come in Pink, Desert Tan, Olive Drab, or Stainless.

The IZULA is a workhorse for a small knife and will take all the use and abuse you can throw at it. IMO, it's a must have survival knife in the woods or in the streets. Just watch the video below to see the IZULA in action!

There are plenty of cheap knives available and they are always useful tools to have on hand. See you soon!

Self Defense For Women - Alternative Weapons

2009-12-03T20:50:00.000-05:00

When I began my karate training over 36 years ago, my Sensei always mentioned that everything around us was a weapon. He would expound upon the virtues of an ashtray or a shot-glass to the attackers head. An umbrella used in a stabbing manner or a cane used to strike an opponent - just about anywhere.

In self defense courses for women, there is usually some mention of the use of keys. Keys can be used between ones fingers to rake or stab at an assailant's face or eyes. Most often, the use of Kubotans are demonstrated as keychain weapons. You can use the lightweight kubotan by itself with a tight grip, to concentrate a tremendous amount of force in a strike, to soft areas of the body. They're usually available with pointed or flattened tips at the striking end.

With your keys on a kubotan you hold this nifty little weapon and swing them into an attacker's face, producing a high velocity rake that may offer you the opportunity to run away, or mount a counter attack if you feel you have no other option.

Everyday objects are all around us and they can indeed be used as weapons. All it takes is a little bit of creativity and the determination to survive to make them work. See you soon!

Alternative Self Defense For Women

2009-11-20T13:57:00.000-05:00

I've studied several traditional martial arts for my entire life and there's always something you can find to gain an edge. I have handguns, knives, rattan and steel batons, long & short swords, pepper spray and a stun gun.

I can relate to women who feel vulnerable to attack. As I age, I find that certain skills that I possessed are diminishing. I can't out-muscle a young strong athlete like I did 25 years ago, I must get an "edge" and divert his attention or catch him in an unprepared moment and then deliver a telling blow.

I purchased a 975K volt Stun Master Hot Shot stun gun a couple of years ago for my father who is now 90 years old. Of course my sons and I had to give each other a few poke with it first..ha-ha! I must say that it delivers instant pain to an arm, causing it to release and fly back. After a couple of 1 second bursts on the arm, even my wildest son, who's down with anything, wouldn't take a third hit to the arm. I took 2 on the arm and one quick burst to the abdomen.

Let's say that was all I ever wanted in regard to testing that little monster. The body shock made all of my abdominal and chest muscles contract violently and I recall thinking that "this must be what a heart attack feels like."

We gave Grandpa his Hot Shot stun gun for Christmas and my youngest son - a great sport - took a few more pokes and then called it quits. These things really work.

I purchased one for my car's glovebox. I can think of no better way to remove an arm that's reaching in to grab me than to give the attacker a burst from the Hot Shot.

My batteries have lasted for over a year and it's still crackling like the day I ordered it. They are replaceable at stores like Wal-Mart or Radio Shack. They're easy to find, just take the old ones in and they'll find one that matches. (we got Grandpa some new ones a couple of months back - just to be sure)

The Hot Shot has a lifetime warranty (that's very cool) and is an awesome close quarters self defense tool. They're the size of a pack of cigarettes, have a safety switch with a red LED light to let you know it's armed, and the activation button sits right on top of the palm sized, ergonomic design.

Get one for your glovebox, pocket or purse. You'll be glad you did. See you soon!

Women's Self Defense: Pepper Spray and Mace

2009-11-10T23:36:00.003-05:00

Let's end our series on grabs ladies. We've covered a multitude of grabs and escapes in our previous posts.

If I see or think of a really simple one that I haven't mentioned or displayed - I'll add it. There are so many but teaching them via a keyboard can be quite difficult.

Today I'd like to share a video by Chemin Alldredge, who is featured in a few of the videos I've posted. She offers sound advice on the use of Pepper Spray and Mace.

You can purchase the exact canister of Mace that she is displaying in this video. Just click your mouse on "Pepper Spray and Mace" in the previous paragraph and you're there!

So let's listen to what Chemin has to say about this potent self defense spray. See you soon!

Defending 1 or 2 Handed Frontal Grabs

2009-11-06T00:19:00.001-05:00

Women's self defense doesn't have to be "hard" or employing the use of a lot of physical strength. If you read my techniques for escaping grabs in the previous post you should have that idea already.

In today's segment we're going to watch a young lady employ a slight shifting movement of her position and employ her hands in deflecting movements, known as parries.

Parrying an attacker will usually give you a nice edge, since the assailants momentum will cause them to become unbalanced and sometimes lead them to a different direction than they intended. This allows you to push them away, strike them or simply make a quick escape.

I hope you enjoy this video. It is short but you know what they say about a picture right? We'll be back with you soon to display a couple of other scenarios that tie into the one you're watching today. See you soon!

Self Defense For Women - Frontal Grabs

2009-11-01T23:57:00.002-05:00

Frontal grabs are straightforward and pretty simple to deal with, I've got some nice escapes and counters to share with you today ladies, or guys too.

For instance, what would you do if a guy reaches out and grabs a bunch of your shirt with his left hand, while drawing back his right hand to hit you?

What would you do if you're confronted by an angry attacker and he or she reaches for your shirt, sweater or jacket lapels and grabs you with both hands?

Well, click on the first two words of this post "frontal grabs" and you'll get to read some of my easiest and most effective defenses for frontal grabs!

See you soon with some video to illustrate some more defenses for frontal grabs - promise!

Self Defense For Women - Shirt Grabs

2009-10-24T11:11:00.004-04:00

Here we are again working on those grabs. In any self defense for women instruction in a dojo or kwoon, a lot of time is spent on techniques to get an attacker's hands off you in the most efficient manner possible.

In my last post "Defending Rear / Side Grabs" I asked you to follow a link to my own instructions on some very simple and effective techniques for removing grabs from the rear or either side. I covered different hands, like right hand to right side, right hand to left side and so forth. There's a lot of great material there if you have the patience to read it, then imagine the movements and finally to actually practice them.

Today I will show you a video on how too get out of a grab to your shirt. I hope you enjoy it and I'll be back soon with a few more grabs before we move on. See you soon!

Defending Rear / Side Grabs

2009-10-21T12:31:00.001-04:00

We're coming at you today with some more grab defenses. Ladies you know that the first thing a man or woman who means to accost you is going to do right? Grab you!

Let's keep working on our self defense against grabs. I am showing you my personal instructions (hard to do in text) by instructing you to click on the words "grab defenses" in the first sentence. That will take you to a lot of great information that you can practice on your own and then try out on a willing subject. Better yet, get a friend, spouse, sister or brother to these on.

Remember these are very effective techniques and to go slowly until the movements begin to flow naturally and there's no thought involved. You are responsible for staying in control and not harming your training partner!

I'll be back in a couple of days with some videos from other ladies who will illustrate their defense against grabs from the rear and the side. See you soon!

Self Defense Alternatives

2009-10-17T21:41:00.001-04:00

Before we move on to more grabs I'd like to show you a benign, yet very potent self defense solution for women.

Grabs, as we've been discussing, are what women experience as a precursor to an attack, beating, rape or a mugging among other crimes.

If you want to get unwanted hands off of you in less than a second, I guarantee that this will work for you. It's easy to learn, very inexpensive for the service it provides.

What am I talking about? The Hot Shot 975K volt stun gun. These are tiny, palm sized little dynamos that deliver a heck of a punch. Just a touch will send someone's arm flying off of you.

Held to the body, it will cause large muscle groups to convulse and a few seconds in the abdomen will make anyone feel really bad, or to go down. They are non-lethal.

My neighbor shot a few seconds of video on his digital camera. It's his 90 year old Dad hitting one of the kids with a split second burst. You'll see that it does indeed work and that the volunteer doesn't want anymore either.

The volunteer is a 26 year old Army Sergeant, home on leave for Christmas during his 2nd tour of duty in Iraq. I mention this so you know that he's in shape and can take some abuse.

You can use the link provided above or on the right side to pick up one of these self defense products. They have an on/off safety switch with a red LED light, to let you know it's armed and a large ignition switch on top of the perfectly ergonomic unit. See you soon!

Defense Against Frontal Hair Grabs

2009-10-13T10:52:00.003-04:00

This is our fourth and final post on defending against a hair grab. If you've been reading or just happened to stumble into this post, you'll see we started the hair grab defense series with my own personal favorite. Check out this post and follow the link to read it.

Today we're going to watch a short video that works against a frontal hair grab and includes some follow up strikes. If you're ready to try those out, then by all means include them in your practice. Remember that my hair grab defense will work 100% of the time from any direction that your hair is grabbed from and you may want to learn it first.

In our next post we'll be exploring some techniques to easily remove grabbing hands from various other parts of your person. See you soon!

Women's Self Defense - Hair Grab

2009-10-12T23:58:00.004-04:00

In my last two posts I've given a link to my article on the best hair grab defense and then another, with a video on a hair grab defense.

IMO, grabs are the "frontline" of self defense that women all women should know. I want to show two more videos on the hair grab before we move along to other grabs. I'll just post these final two, a rear hair grab first and then a defense against a frontal hair grab in a few days.

Please be advised that the link I posted 3x's down the page, covers a hair grab from any direction. So let's get these last two hair grab defenses under our belts so we can move along. See you soon ladies - don't forget to practice!

Women's Self Defense - Hair Grab Defense

2009-10-06T11:56:00.001-04:00

Today I'd like to illustrate a simple escape from a hair grab that is quite easy to execute. Thanks to the folks in this video, as a picture speaks volumes.

As you will see in this video, just a simple "anchoring" of the attacker's hands and a couple of steps, removes the grab immediately. The mechanics are illustrated quite nicely.

In my next post, I'll be showing you one more hair grab escape by a young woman who is much more advanced in her self defense skills set and then we'll move along.

Don't forget to try these with a friend if you can. They are quite effective and will save you a lot of pain and suffering if a determined assailant "gets in your hair." See you soon!

Women's Self Defense Against Hair Grabs

2009-10-02T12:28:00.003-04:00

Most women, (but not all), have plenty of hair to grab in a confrontation. I'd suspect that at some time in a woman's life she's been grabbed by the hair or grabbed another's hair.

Hopefully, this has been in play as a child. All too often, women are seen in TV news clips or on the web, at sites like YouTube, fighting and being thrown around because their assailant has grabbed a fistful of that lovely head of hair.

Wife beaters and other male attackers will also use the hair grab to control their victim and it's quite effective! I am old enough to have worn long hairstyles (yup I'm a dinosaur) and I learned the most effective hair grab defense over 30 years ago. It ALWAYS works, with one caveat.

You must have you senses about you. That is to say, you must be keenly self aware and ready to move instantly. If you can manage that attitude about your self defense, you'll never be grabbed by the hair and tossed around again.

There are other things one can do when grabbed by the hair, but this is the most natural and effective defense against a hair grab that I've ever learned, practiced and taught.

Follow the link above and read the material carefully. I promise it'll be worth your time. See you soon!

Escaping Grabs - Self Defense

2009-09-27T15:22:00.001-04:00

I'd like to show you some very easy escapes from grabs today. We'll look at some video on a frontal choke and I'm including some links to articles I've written on escapes from hand grabs that any woman can easily employ.

These maneuvers only take a little bit of practice and the body mechanics are guaranteed to work every time. So watch the video closely and remember what you've seen, then read the enclosed article links. I spent a lot of time on them and I know they always work - for anyone.

We'll spend more time on escapes on our next post. See you back here again soon!

Self Defense for Women - Palm Strikes

2009-09-24T18:47:00.000-04:00

In previous posts and videos we've looked at Dr. Ruthless use the palm strike to devastate her simulated attacker. Pretty cool huh? Doesn't even mess with your new manicure either!

I use the palm strike quite often, even after 36 years of martial arts training. Do I have strong wrists and conditioned knuckles? Of course, but a swift palm strike is so easy and NEVER causes even the slightest discomfort - as opposed to punching a good sized man in his head. That will usually tend to sting the hardest knuckles for a bit.

I'd like you to watch this video to reinforce your knowledge of the palm heel strike and how easy it is use.

I'll be back in a couple of days with some "escapes" which will be shown in a video and links to others that I have written myself on one of my self defense products websites. See you soon!

Establishing Your Base For Self Defense

2009-09-20T14:12:00.002-04:00

Having a strong "base" or stance is important in delivering powerful and effective strikes in self defense scenarios.

Used not only for delivering strikes, but when you are well balanced and strong in your stance, you'll find that a solid base will assist tremendously in any type of block, kick or escape maneuver.

Just like the old adage says, "before you build your house - build a strong foundation." We'll watch a video on the horse stance. This is the first stance taught to martial arts practitioners. The meat and potatoes so to speak, of foundational training. It isn't hard and with a bit of practice, you can have a strong foundation too.

Give it a couple of minutes and you'll see for yourself what it looks like and how to begin building your arsenal of techniques from this position. See you soon!

Women's Self Defense Tools

2009-09-17T13:08:00.003-04:00

Women can use their hands, feet, elbows and knees as weapons. Everyone knows what a well placed kick or knee to the groin area of an assailant will do. One good shot and the fight is over!

Remember ladies, all you want to do is carve out a second or two in order to make your escape. Barring that, you'd want to follow up with an explosive counter-attack, if you have no avenue of escape.

I'll be presenting a few videos to display each of these simple techniques. Let's start with a good old fashioned kick to the groin.

See you soon ladies!

Common Self Defense Weapons for Women

2009-09-14T09:43:00.004-04:00

In martial arts, we are taught that "everything" is a weapon. In an attack situation, look to anything available at hand to assist you from becoming victimized from an assailant.

There are many self defense deterrents readily available to use against a stranger who wants to take advantage of you.

I have found another great video, in a series, that I will be presenting. Please feel free to comment, ask questions or shoot me an email. I'm here to help you and have the experience and "no how" to address any of your self defense concerns.

Please forward this site's URL (web address) to your friends if you find it of value!

Self Defense Advice for Women

2009-09-12T15:55:00.001-04:00

Well, you've had a chance to see Dr. Ruthless. What did you think? A real ball of fire huh?

We're going to start looking at some weapons (punches, palms, kicks, knees, elbows) and see how the mechanics of these techniques are learned and employed in a self defense scenario.

Before we do this, I'd like you to listen to a lady who knows what she's talking about okay?

Simple Self Defense Solutions

2009-09-07T13:36:00.003-04:00

Well, we've discussed some simple self defense "day one stuff" which are concepts which usually hold true in most cases and there are more to come.

We've looked at some nice videos that illustrate body movements such as having a prepared mindset, turning the centerline, ducking, dropping and exploding into an attacker.

I would be remiss and less than honest with you, if I didn't point out that I have two websites, listed on the right side navigation bar where one can buy self defense products.

Since this blog is all about "Self Defense for Women" and "simple self defense solutions" let me add that there are many ways to gain an edge in a self defense scenario besides hand to hand combat. There are some superb self defense tools that can be purchased for just a few bucks online, that will afford you a real advantage in a combat situation.

I like: "small and potent" in a self defense item. For those women who are very serious minded, you just can't beat a small handgun with a Conceal Carry permit for self defense. They are certainly the best you can do for yourself and with the proper training and will stop 99.9% of attacks cold!

For those who can't or won't use this type of self defense measure, there are many non-lethal items, such as pepper spray which is my favorite recommendation.

I watch a lot of those Animal Attack television shows and there's one thing, short of a gun, that always works in stopping Grizzly Bears, Mountain Lions, Wolves, African Lions and even crazed Chimpanzees from killing people. And what is it we ask? You guessed it - Pepper Spray!

We'll discuss a self defense product from time to time, but for ease of use, non-lethal properties and price, one can't do better than a canister of pepper spray.

See ya soon!

Fighting Back To Survive

2009-08-31T10:48:00.004-04:00

Hopefully, any ladies who have stumbled upon this blog, have taken a few minutes to read a few posts and maybe watched a video or two.

In our last post "Self Defense For Women - Striking Back" we discussed that "when an opponent touches or grabs you - they have opened a target area that you can easily strike."

We were also treated to a video by Dr. Melissa Soalt, aka Dr. Ruthless, who encourages women to tap into their primal instincts to survive. I encourage you all to click on her name, visit her website and get to know her.

Attackers can easily have the tables turned against them if you are prepared to tap into your survival instinct and stop thinking "I can't do that." Of course you can!

How many times have we read or heard stories of women lifting an automobile to free a husband or child? Think about it. You have the power within you to accomplish amazing feats.

A woman knows the intention of her assailant right? Ordinarily, the attacker will not know YOUR intentions. For too long, it's been said to comply or just go along with an attacker and let them have their way. This is wrong. This thinking gets women beaten, raped and worse.

You can and will be able to withstand an attack and survive if you prepare yourself!

See you soon....

Self Defense for Women - Striking Back

2009-08-26T09:46:00.005-04:00

Dwelling on the concepts that "usually" hold true, we've looked at them all except for one which is really a summing up of the four easy concepts that we mentioned in our post - Self Defense Basics. There are many other truisms but we'll look at this one today and remember - all of them are covered in the videos we've shared.

"When an opponent touches or grabs you - they have opened a target area that you can easily strike."

We usually teach beginners that every limb is a weapon. We start off with 4 - "right and left hand," plus "right and left foot." Within weeks, we expand to 8 - including both knees and both elbows. This is really quite easy ladies. You don't need to have hardened knuckles to strike an opponent to the head. A sharp strike with the "heel" of your palm will cause adequate damage to make a fight of things, or escape and get away.

You feet will mostly be shod with shoes of some type, so no worries there either. Elbows and knees are both devastating weapons when brought into play and need no conditioning to render an attacker harmless. In self defense training for women, anything goes and anything is a weapon.

Yes, traditional - hardcore martial artists condition their bodies and all of the striking surfaces they employ. This isn't necessary for you and should only be considered if you would decide to pursue that avenue of self defense discipline in the future.

Let's take another look at a video which illustrates what I've just mentioned. Remember all of the previous posts and videos are useful in learning these simple concepts!

Simple Self Defense for Women

2009-08-21T14:23:00.001-04:00

Continuing the concepts that "usually" hold true, let's look again at this one:

"If your opponent touches or grabs you - they have one less weapon in play than you do."

I have a video below that will display how true this is. If you watch this video you'll see that the attacker has committed to an action and taken some of his weapons out of play.

There are multitudes of strikes that are safe for a woman to employ that won't hurt, while inflicting tremendous pain on an assailant.

Back with more, very soon!

Self Defense for Women: Concepts

2009-08-15T15:03:00.001-04:00

Today we continue our foundational series of simple self defense:

"If you are attacked, that opponent has committed to a course of action."

"The course of action that an opponent has chosen can be exploited."

In my 3+ decades of martial arts training, fighting and observing, I've noted that counter-strikes produce the most devastating knock-outs or destructions of target areas.

So what does that have to do with the concept quoted above?

That's simple. If you're aware and a very keen observer, you'll notice that when an attacker commits to a course of action, their body's momentum becomes exploitable.

If an opponent attacks - you have many options to allow that momentum to lead them:

Into empty space ( rotate your centerline - causing them to miss )

Into empty space (step out of the way)

Into empty space (push them down)

Into a counter punch / counter kick ( watch the videos I've already posted again)

These are very subtle self defensive movements that can produce dramatic results.

They can be quite easy to learn in the privacy of your own home or with a friend who is "like minded" and would like to train with you occasionally .

Please read this again and watch the videos again for ideas. In a day or two, I'll post another video and discuss the next concept!

Don't miss it and NEVER become discouraged. Remember, anyone can enhance their self defense skills if they want to!

Self Defense - Removing Targets

2009-08-13T00:55:00.003-04:00

If you're just joining us, I outlined some simple self defense concepts that generally hold true. The first one was" "The easiest way to avoid being struck is to remove the target."

I've posted two videos that display how simple movements will allow you to avoid punches, kicks, grabs and various attacks by simply taking a small step, or turning your body. In self defense training for women, we want to make things as simple and as subtle as possible. That's why I asked you to watch the two videos and disregard all of the blocking and counter-punching techniques.

My intention was for you to see how little it takes to make someone's attack. "miss the mark" and fall short of harming you.

The gentlemen in the videos were trained fighters, I am as well, but I can't stress enough, that you don't have to move as much as they demonstrated, in order for your evasive movements to work successfully.

So ladies, by staying loose and keeping your wits about you - you can train all by yourself if you care to, by just practicing a few stepping movements, as well as rotating your trunk or "centerline" to disrupt an attacker and cause him/her to be unable to hit you.

In my martial arts training, many years ago, I was taught that if a punch missed you by an inch - that it was the same as missing you by a mile. Many women have never seen the great Muhammad Ali stand right in front of very large, muscular boxers and never be touched by their punches, as they came crashing toward him from every conceivable angle.

He's often called "the greatest" and he earned that reference, in part, because he was almost "impossible to hit," in the prime of his career. To watch him slip punches is comparable to watching any great artist ply their trade. Watching him avoid punches, taught me more than any other fighter, how easy it could be to move out of harm's way.

In our next post we'll continue to build on our study of self defense by exploring the next concepts:

"If you are attacked, that opponent has committed to a course of action."

"The course of action that an opponent has chosen can be exploited."

"If your opponent touches or grabs you - they have one less weapon in play than you do."

"When an opponent touches or grabs you - they have opened a target area that you can easily strike."

We'll have commentary and videos and spend quite awhile on these concepts. I hope you'll stick with us and share this blog with your friends.

Your comments are welcomed and my email address is located in my profile!

Self Defense Tips - Defending the Center Line

2009-08-08T13:15:00.002-04:00

Here we are again with another video that illustrates how to protect yourself from strikes to the body.

These attacks (kicks, punches, pokes, grabs) are usually directed toward the "center line" of your body.

You can watch with your audio on or off, but focus on the movements that remove or turn the centerline away.

Disregard all counterstrikes or mention of them. Just concentrate on the ease of stepping out of the way or preferably, "turning the body" to move your centerline out of the way of incoming strikes.

I'd like to mention that the movements displayed are "more than necessary" to defend your centerline. It only take a few inches of movement in the directions illustrated to avoid being struck, or at least dissipate the energy of an incoming blow to your body's center line.

Please keep that in mind - the video below, is geared toward advanced martial arts students but is applicable to women who are interested in learning self defense.

Please enjoy it, think about it and watch it again. Maybe even stand up and try to imitate some of the movements?

Thanks for stopping in. I'll be back soon!

Self Defense Tips - Removing Target Areas

2009-08-05T23:31:00.002-04:00

In my last post, I pointed out some generalizations that "usually" hold true.

The first was: "The easiest way to avoid being struck is to remove the target."

I believe that self defense, geared for women, should always start out with natural and instinctive movements.

I am going to share a couple of videos that will help you to understand what I mean by "removing your targets." In this first video, don't pay attention to anything regarding punching or blocking. Simply pay attention to the movement of the head, waist and legs. Notice that it doesn't take much movement to avoid being struck in the head.

Also, you may get an idea of how easy it is to use your imagination, or to construct simple training aids to assist you in learning these concepts.

I'll be right back with another nice video that I found. It illustrates how turning your waist will cause body strikes to be missed and deflected into space, which allows you to get away or even strike an attacker while he is off balance. See you soon!

Self Defense Basics

2009-08-02T00:55:00.001-04:00

I remember some early lessons that I still teach today.

These are generalizations that "usually" hold true:

The easiest way to avoid being struck is to remove the target.

If you are attacked, that opponent has committed to a course of action.

The course of action that an opponent has chosen can be exploited.

If your opponent touches or grabs you - they have one less weapon in play than you do.

When an opponent touches or grabs you - they have opened a target area that you can easily strike.

Alright? Those are a few that we'll discuss in future posts. More will follow.

Each generalized concept can be applied to hundreds of self defense scenarios.

We'll discuss or link to many self defense applications for the concepts that I've listed above.

Stick with me ladies, I'm going somewhere with this information. I'll post back soon!

Approaching Self Defense Training

2009-07-29T20:06:00.004-04:00

Here's some more "day one" stuff for you to consider.

You want to learn to defend yourself right?

Okay - try to be yourself. You're not in competition with anyone so learn at your own pace.

Have enthusiasm for self defense training it may save your life some day.

Be open-minded or an empty vessel as it's said - soak up everything you can and find out what works for you and what doesn't.

It's easier to teach a student, or for a student to learn, if they aren't filled with poor information or preconceptions that must be broken down before any real learning can begin.

Try and identify your strengths and hone them down solidly with practice.

Try and identify your weaknesses and improve on them with practice.

Never be overly aggressive but be thoughtful, deliberate and confident.

Losing your head will lead to trouble in a fight or even a verbal confrontation so be calm and use your head. Your brain is your most powerful tool, so use it first before employing any form of self defense.

Remember self defense training addresses many aspects of life, not just fighting but maybe preserving your reputation, or taking action on something that is physically or mentally healthy.

We defend our body from disease with antibiotics, vitamins, rest, good hygiene, clean living.

We defend our minds by not being given over to rude behavior, unhealthy attitudes, harmful gossip, as well as, various sorts of close minded, biased expressions of ourselves.

Soon, we'll encounter victories in physical and mental forms of self defense due to our superior attitude and superior training.

More to come.....

Self Defense for Women

2009-07-26T23:10:00.006-04:00

Let's go over a bit more of our last post's "day one stuff" okay?

This post should have come before yesterday's but you can sort it out right?

One thing I didn't mention to you is that you want to make a serious assessment of how you'll respond to a situation when someone has attacked you or is showing aggression.

When trying to help teach self defense for women we must ask - will you:

Fight back against aggression?

Comply with an attacker?

Check out the situation first?

Make a decision based on the situation?

If you chose any of the last 3 answers, then you have no control over the situation and will have to trust to luck, good fortune, your "people skills," or whatever, to decide your fate.

That's really what's going on - speaking quite frankly. You must resist (fight) in some form or fashion to survive. It's a very brutal world outside your doors and be it verbal, mental or physical aggression, you must decide to resist. This is key to your self defense as a whole!

Say your associate at work comes up and for some reason cracks on you, calls you a bi**ch, for reasons known only to him/herself. Fighting back doesn't have to come in the form of a punch in the mouth okay? There are certainly many sharp come-backs to an insult like that ladies. How about - "do you kiss your mother with that mouth?"

You ARE special, you ARE unique and yes, you ARE a beautiful person. There's no reason to suffer indignities that others will try to heap on you everyday. Sometimes, so subtly, that you don't realize it until long after an incident happens.

Self defense is not always about punching or kicking - it's a mindset!

This mindset slowly becomes ingrained into behavior and after some time, it becomes 2nd nature. You don't have to be mean, cruel or nasty to practice self defense. You can defend yourself in daily matters, such as described above with dignity. Your self esteem will soar.

Don't be fearful of hurting feelings

Don't be fearful of harming someone

Don't be fearful of anything

Remember that to live without fear is freedom!

I'll catch you all soon and we'll get started on the simple stuff again.

Simple Self Defense

2009-07-25T13:51:00.001-04:00

The first tip I'd like to share with women or anyone for a self defense strategy is to keep things at their most simple and direct levels.

All too often, I'll look at a YouTube video or a self defense technique on a website and be staggered at the amount of information given, to apply a defense measure.

Here's some simple "day one" stuff:

1. If you are afraid of being attacked by someone - avoid them.

2. If you are afraid of being attacked somewhere - don't go there.

3. The best way to avoid being struck is not to be there (move your head, step aside).

4. The best way to avoid being grabbed is by rapidly moving the targeted area out of the way.

5. Resistance is NEVER futile - fighting back greatly increases odds of survival.

Back with more day one stuff in a bit!

We've Changed Our Theme!

2009-07-24T22:30:00.004-04:00

This blog has previously been about crime information and prevention. After much thought, I felt it would be nice to convert to a blog that offers self defense tips that are easy and simple to use.

It's my hope that women, who're the primary victims of crime and have the least amount of time and inclination to go out and learn to "beat people up," will be helped with some of the simple tips and tricks that I've amassed over 36 years of traditional martial arts training.

I also own two self defense product websites, so expect to see some nice products reviewed and linked to, which will make one's life a little more secure.

Come and visit anytime. Feel free to comment or ask a question.

To live without fear is true freedom!