Self Defense By Deception

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!

Self Defense Seminars

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

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!

Women's Self Defense - Having a Plan

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!

Women's Self Defense From The Ground

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!

Women's Self Defense - Assessment

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!

Women's Self Defense - Strategies

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!

Common Sense Self Defense

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 Advice for Women

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?

Fighting Back To Survive

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

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!

Approaching Self Defense Training

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

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.