Raising Safety Awareness With Self Defense

Posted on November 2, 2011 by SDD Team

While the biggest part of self defense training is learning the moves necessary to fight off an attacker there actually is so much more that is under the surface of learning these skills. Having the self confidence in your abilities to protect yourself combined with the knowledge to stay out of risky situations can go a long way to never actually using the martial arts techniques you have learned.

Self defense is more than just some memorized moves taught by an instructor to a room full of students. True self defense means being able to fight off someone much larger in size and in real life situations. Attackers do not warn their vitims when they are going to strike and this will put the victim off balance from the start. Not all martial arts styles will teach the moves needed to fight from off balance positions but learning military style self defense will prepare those who study this style the skills needed to fight in any circumstance.

Of course a quality self defense instructor who really understands the techniques they are teaching will teach their students to not only neutralize any threat but also how to avoid many of them in the first place. Self defense is a way of thinking not just acting that will have the student considering situations before they get into them. Being aware of your surroundings and the potential danger spots in each area will go a long way toward avoiding an attack in the first place.

Staying clear of dangerous situations while also giving off a sense of confidence will make it hard for the average attacker to take advantage of someone. Most often these bad guys go for those who look weak and in situations that favor them being successful. Knowing this can make it so self defense techniques may never actually be needed to protect yourself.

Can Weight Training Improve the Benefits of Your Self Defense Video?

Posted on September 17, 2010 by admin

There is some debate about whether or not the benefits of a self defense video can be enhanced with weight training. Self defense training relies are variety of different skills and abilities which many or may not be enhanced with weight training. They are speed, flexibility endurance, and strength. In order to determine what can of benefits weight gaining can provide, it is important to look at each of these elements individually and how they will be affected. Obviously, you can greatly enhance your strength, which is one of the key elements, so here is a look at the other three.

The first element to consider is speed. Speed is imperative to effectively utilizing a variety of moves that are taught in a self defense video. Through continual self defense training, your body can naturally become much faster. The problem that you can face with weight training is that by focusing solely on building strength, you can actually slow down your muscles reaction time. When adding weight training to your daily routine, it is important that you take speed into consideration. There are definitely a lot exercises that you can do to enhance, or at least maintain, your current muscle speed. As long as you incorporate these types of exercises into your weight training, you can minimize the potential negative effects of weight training.

The second element is flexibility. One of the problems that many people who utilize weight training face is a loss of flexibility. This is because weight training can limit your range of motion if the training is done poorly. This is because improper weight training can create a muscle imbalance. Your entire body is moved by pairs of muscles and when one muscle is stronger than its partner, your range of motion can become limited. Fortunately, if you train with a self defense video immediately after you lift weights, it can help maintain muscle balance. Self defense training relies on every muscle, which means that you will be strengthening every muscle when you are practicing your techniques. This will give a chance for the weaker muscles to catch up to the stronger muscles, because they will have to work hard during each move.

The final element is endurance. Endurance can be difficult to gain with weight training because if you are lifting to add bulk, then you will be exercises that are the exact opposite of endurance building exercises. However, that does not necessarily mean that your endurance will be affected. By still utilizing a self defense video to practice on a daily basis, you should be able to maintain your endurance. To maximize your endurance, it is best to do your weight training first and your self defense training immediately afterwards

As you can see, weight training can immediately improve the strength element that is utilized during self defense training, however if you do not plan your workouts correctly, the other three elements can be negatively affected. A great way to minimize the potential side effects is to use your self defense video immediately after your weight training. This is because your muscles are already tired, which will improve endurance; your muscles will be stretching when fatigued, which increases flexibility; and your muscles will already be physically exhausted, which will help you build endurance.

How Can You Get the Best Results From Your Self Defense DVD?

Posted on September 14, 2010 by admin

If you are going to take the time to learn martial arts using a self defense DVD, then you need to make sure that you are doing everything that you can to get the best results possible. Fortunately, while there are some important steps to take, none of them need to be that difficult to actually complete. Here is a look at some simple steps that can take to get maximum results.

One of the best things that you can do is practice in short intervals throughout the day. Many people like to spend a single, extended period of time practicing, however that is not conducive to actually remembering what they practiced. Instead, practicing three times a day for only 15 to 20 minutes at a time can do much more for retention and physical muscle memory retention. Along the same lines, it is important to make sure that you are mentally prepared to accomplish your goals. It doesn’t matter how you decide to learn martial arts, you need to mentally prepare yourself for the process. This will go along way to helping keep you motivated to attain your goals. If you are going to purchase a self defense DVD, then it important to get the most value from it as possible.

The next tip is about understanding your body. First, when using a self defense DVD, it is important to pay special attention to how moves begin and end. While it is natural to focus on how a move starts, many people pay little attention as to how the move should end. The end motion is just as important as the first move because it is actually the beginning of your next move as well. During this time, it is also important to pay attention to what your body is telling you. Some moves may need some modification in order for your body to gain the maximum results from each technique.

The final way to get the best results from your self defense DVD is to keep a daily practice log. This will provide a number of benefits. First, it will help you stay motivated to continue training because it will remind you how much effort you have already put into the entire process. Second, it is a great place to keep random tips and tricks that you pick up either from DVD, your own personal workout, or other sources that you use for information. Finally, it will help you measure your progress. As you learn things it can be difficult to notice how much you have improved.

As you can see, there are a number of different techniques and tactics that you can use to get the most out of your self defense DVD as well as when you learn martial arts. Some of the most common techniques include practicing in short intervals rather than extended periods of time, keeping a set of goals in mind to remain motivated, paying special attention to the beginning and ending of each move, paying attention to how your body moves and reacts, and finally, to keep a daily practice log that you can refer to at any time.

Ready, Willing and Able – a Winning Combination

Posted on June 30, 2010 by SDD Team

We’ve all heard the term before. Ready, willing and able can be used to describe the student eager to begin learning a new skill. It can be used in business, in school, in life. If you are in the mode to learn martial arts, you may say that you are ready, willing and able. But when it comes to a real and present danger staring you in the face, are you ready willing and able to fight?

Something very interesting happens, physiologically, during a crime or attack; something that even martial arts self defense can’t train you for. See, we can take someone who is ready, willing and able and train them with great technique. You can go far in your training of martial arts self defense with little thought to your mental attitude and focus. You can even develop a keen sense of confidence when you learn martial arts or combat self defense.

What you may not learn in simple martial arts self defense, however, is the single thing that could mean the difference between life and death – or at least injury. The thing that you need is to train your mind along with your body. The reason is that the mind is instinctive. Not long ago, man himself was the predator and the prey. In not so distant history, man was hunted by the “food” he was hunting. And in those times, man’s best defense was to high-tail it out of there as fast as possible. The sharp edge of a stick was not much of a match for a roaring grizzly bear.

The point is that, in a stressful situation, you are ready to run. In fact, your mind screams “Run! Run! Run!” This is what we are programmed for. So, you have taken the time to learn martial arts or combat self defense, or both. You have learned how to maintain awareness and avoid danger. And then you become the target. You are Ready and you are Able..but are you going to be Willing? Will your instincts take over or will you have also learned to fight against the instinct to freeze up and instead use your training to save your life?

Training in any type of reality based self defense is a big step in the right direction of true and lasting personal safety. But there is more to it and you should always remember that your mental ability to resist instinctive urges must be conquered. It is important that you train your mind along with your body on a consistent basis.

Know your Attacker

Posted on June 29, 2010 by SDD Team

When you put some thought into truly being able to defend yourself, you may not even consider who or what you are up against. Watching Law and Order, CSI, or the Bourne movies doesn’t really give you a clear picture of the mind of a criminal. However, knowing your attacker is an important part of any self defense; as important (or even more so) as learning powerful and effective martial arts self defense moves.

What do I mean when I say you should know your attacker? Certainly you don’t have time (nor the inclination) to start a conversation when staring at the barrel of a gun or the pointed end of a blade. You don’t care about your attacker’s name, place of birth, hobbies….no, you care about getting out of there. You don’t need to help the criminal, or cure him of his need to wreak havoc; you simply need to stop him – or her. (Hint: learn martial arts)

What I mean is, as you go about developing your martial arts self defense skills, or combat self defense skills – or both – spend some time thinking about crime and the people who commit them. To do this, you need to imagine the primitive nature of crime. Remember the whole predator/prey theory here. A criminal is like a lion ready to charge. You are no safer facing a criminal than you are walking through a herd of hungry lions! You need to understand this in order to have a chance of getting away to safety.

It all boils down to one simple trait shared by all criminals; and that is selfishness. Criminals are selfish to an extreme. They have no regard for you or your family. They only want what they want and will do whatever they deem necessary to get it. After a crime has occurred, there are all sorts of theories and out and out excuses as to why a criminal behaves as they do.

But this is not what is important to you. What is important is to avoid the crime altogether. What is important is that you learn martial arts or some other form of self defense that will incorporate mental training. Without mental preparedness – when you simply learn martial arts moves – you will be no match for your attacker. Your attacker will most likely carry a weapon. He or she will be completely focused on the end result they are after, fueled by their extreme selfishness. You need to know this and acknowledge it as a reality.

Self defense is not all about martial arts training. Self defense is not all about moves and techniques. Much of your personal safety is going to come from your mindset and what you are mentally prepared for. Know who may rob you; who may rape you; who you are up against, and you are more prepared to outwit your attacker from the get-go.

Your Reasons for Training

Posted on June 28, 2010 by SDD Team

I read something the other day from a newsletter dated back in 2001. The author of the newsletter stated that people perceive the chances of being attacked to be remote, and therefore need more of a reason to train than just the ability to protect themselves. OK..WHAT??

I’m not suggesting that we all live in a constant state of fear; however, there is something to be said for preparation. For goodness sake, you wear a seatbelt to keep yourself and your passengers safe, right? Why has it been made a law that we wear seatbelts? Precisely because accidents do happen. You cannot control what another driver sharing the road with you may do at any given time. You don’t know if they are driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol; or if they may be driving tired. The point is, you don’t know. Because you don’t know, you prepare by maintaining a high state of awareness when you are on the road.

You don’t just hand your safety over to other people on the road. You don’t hand your safety over to the black hole that is the internet. So why would it not be enough to develop this mindset when dealing with martial arts training, self defense training and so on? I don’t think I will ever understand personal safety NOT being enough of a reason to engage in learning great martial arts techniques for self defense.

But just in case your personal safety is not reason enough for you to go out and get some martial arts training or combat self defense training, perhaps you can look at the health benefits that come from training. Learning martial arts techniques takes focus both physical and mental. So you work out your muscles and your mind at the same time. Many parents put their kids in martial arts training in order to help them gain self discipline and get exercise. If this is good for the kids, then it is certainly good for adults as well.

Try as I may, I really can’t extol all the many benefits that learning self defense will bring you. There is one simple reason why. I was a victim of violent crime. I know the very real and present danger of standing face to face with a weapon wielding bad guy. In our case of mistaken identity, you may think that we would get off easy when our attackers found us to be NOT the right people. No such luck. My wife and I endured the worst experience of our lives, and for that very reason, it is plenty enough for me to continue my self defense training just to be sure I never face such a situation again.

You may never open your door to an individual looking to trick you just to get into your home. You may walk to and from work or school every day without incident. You may never be standing in line at the market when it gets robbed. You may live out your life in safety. However, my opinion just happens to be that you have no guarantees – unless you take matters into your own hands and learn how to stay safe at all times.

Who Really Has Control?

Posted on June 25, 2010 by SDD Team

In an altercation of any sort, it begs to question who is in control. Remember Sally, from my recent post? When she was approached from behind while entering her vehicle, it could be assumed that her attacker had been watching her. In fact, he could have been watching her for several days before making his move. This DOES happen, after all. So who would you say is in control in that situation?

Truth be told, the control in a situation is YOURS, as the prey. Even in the jungle, the predator doesn’t always come out on top. They do when they choose a far weaker opponent as their prey; but when they are up against a healthy, energetic opponent, that opponent has a fighting chance to get away. You also have a fighting chance, and you have far more control of a scary situation than you may initially think.

There are three aspects of a violent situation that you fight for. Those are time, distance and space. When you think of a street fight or attack type situation, your mind very likely goes straight to the actual attack. However, what you have control over is not simply the attack; but the entire situation. It is through time, distance and space that you control.

Some altercations can be expected, as they are “announced” through verbal aggressiveness. This occurs only sometimes, however. In such an instance, when your bad guy makes his presence known, you can create all three things you need in just seconds. First, put your hand up (palm facing out). Next, state “I don’t want any trouble”. TELL your opponent in clear language that you do not wish to fight. If it is not a clear fight you are facing (as in the case of attacks on women), then you can simply say “No!”. Also, keep walking. As you create that distance, keep your eyes on your opponent.

Now, does this automatically mean you are in control? Not necessarily. However, by not staying rooted in one place and not arguing, you take some amount of control. When you do this, you take it FROM your opponent, lessening his power over you.

These initial steps may not be enough to completely halt a mugging or attack. This is why it is important to receive martial arts training that focuses on self defense and combat. Martial arts techniques, in order to be effective, must be swift and must be easy. That means that you can recall them in mere seconds and deliver powerful martial arts techniques to stop your opponent physically if need be.

It is what you do in the first few seconds of a potentially dangerous situation that determines the outcome. That means your actions determine who wins and who loses. You CAN take control of your personal safety by receive martial arts training in the first place. Just be sure it is not a type that is geared for sport. Self defense is like combat, and martial arts techniques should fall in line with hand to hand combat techniques in order to save you in a real street fight type situation.

More on Weapons

Posted on June 24, 2010 by SDD Team

If you’ve been reading regularly, you may have come to the conclusion that I love weapons. Well, this is somewhat true. What I love is teaching people how to hand an assailant his walking papers in a big way. An assailant will have a weapon most of the time, because a bad guy understands the power of intimidation. If you want to stay protected, you must learn to think like a bad guy; and you must learn how to use weapons effectively.

In years past, there were many martial arts styles that regularly taught weapons in their training programs. Today, you find mainly martial arts moves used in sport being taught in local studios. I’m all for the martial arts and think there are plenty of martial arts moves that are effective for self defense. I also think there are certain martial arts styles that do really get into actual fighting in a combat sense. Not all; but some. I just urge people to research any type of training they are considering to be sure they learn martial arts moves that are easy to remember and effective enough to get you out of a sticky situation.

That being said…let’s talk more weapons. I’ve already sung the praises of pepper spray. I have also posted a short list of weapons you can use if you are under attack in your vehicle. Here, I am going to talk about improvised weapons you may be able to find if you are at work or on your way to work or traveling for work. These are all very real scenarios where violence could strike, and you need to learn how to protect yourself with whatever you may have on or around you.

The fact is that sometimes, you need more than martial arts moves; sometimes you need real weapons that act as a shield, sword (used loosely) or club. The main point for you to commit to memory is that you can use heavy, hard or hard cornered objects, or things with points or that can be folded to make a point. Using these types of weapons give you an advantage over using only your fist. There are two reasons for this: One, weapons extend your range of attack; and two, they can be more threatening.

If you are riding the train to work or leaving your favorite coffee shop and come face to face with danger, your briefcase or laptop can be used as a shield to protect you from an assailant with a knife or other weapon. Another way to improvise a shield at a moments notice is to wrap your hand with your suit jacket. You do this by holding on to the inside of the collar and wrapping the coat around the lower part of your arm and your hand. This sort of a shield helps you to stay safe in the event of a knife fight.

Something as simple as a magazine or newspaper can be made into a weapon and used against an attacker. By folding one corner over, you create a point at one end. You then wrap the remaining side over the side you folded over, and you have one pointed edge and an edge you can grip. This can be used to stab into the face, neck, or soft tissue areas to stop an attack. Keys, of course, can always be used to stab soft tissue.

And last but not least, there are the items in your pockets. If you have loose change, you can throw it in the face of an attacker. If nothing else, this may serve as a distraction that will allow you to get in a good blow (remember your martial arts moves!) and get away to safety.

Certainly, there are many more improvised weapons you can come up with. I will continue to list more over time; but I urge you to play a little game with yourself. When you are going about your day, look around and see what you may be able to come up with as a weapon. Keeping your mind sharp is one great step in maintaining your personal safety.

Teaching Girls about Dating Safely

Posted on June 23, 2010 by SDD Team

Date rape is a term that shouldn’t exist (right along with rape in general); but sadly it does. Yet many of us fail to teach the women in our lives how to get through the dating scene without falling victim to the persuasion of another..or the trickery.

If you have a woman in your life that is actively dating, be sure to share this information with her. It doesn’t matter if she is a teenager are a woman on the dating scene for the second time in her life; safety is important and can easily be forgotten by people of all ages.

Some people go to the extreme of thinking that the only way to avoid date rape is to avoid going out to clubs, bars, or parties. Not so. While I understand the point – there are certain dangers that go hand in hand with clubs and drinking – there is no need to forego having some fun every now and then. In fact, for the most part, there is very little concern that date rape will occur on the dance floor or in the club where you are having a girl’s night out.

It is important to party safely, however. When you go out, go out in groups with friends that know you well. Talk to your friends about safety and make a commitment to keep an eye out for one another. If you are all on the dance floor at the same time and your drinks are left at the table, cover each with a napkin in an attempt to avoid something getting slipped in. This is no guarantee but it can serve as a safety measure.

If you go out on the town with the same group of women all the time, I say it’s a great idea for you to arrange some training where you can all learn effective martial arts moves that serve as self defense techniques as well. This way you are a force to be reckoned with on all fronts.

There are many martial arts styles out there; but not all are set up to teach you actual fighting techniques that you can use on the street. Martial arts moves that are effective for self defense will be ones that are easy to remember and use quickly. Should you find yourself in a dangerous situation where you need to employ martial arts moves, you don’t want to have learned one of the martial arts styles that is geared more towards sport. Find something that has the word “combative” in it, and you’re on the right path.

Am I saying that learning martial arts moves can save you from date rape? Well of course some sort of self defense training gives you a good start at protecting yourself. But date rape isn’t always about force. Most of the time, date rape is more about persuasion. Once you are sure of yourself and know that you cannot and will not be persuaded; then all you need to learn is the language in which to convey that to a man.

Not all men are bad; and not all will try to persuade a woman they meet at a bar or party to have sex with them. Some, however, will do just that. It is important that a woman not be afraid to hurt a guy’s feelings; and that she not be afraid to say “NO” very clearly. This is why I say learn some martial arts moves; it gives you confidence in yourself and takes away that fear of speaking up. The truth is, all it will likely take is you saying no for the situation to be done with. But out of fear, many women cannot find the word.

Not saying no clearly can get you into a lot of trouble. When dealing with someone trying to persuade you; the stance you take must be confident and forward. You must use eye contact and say the word “NO”; this is very important. Any other language is too ambiguous for the amorous male; and a lack of eye contact equals weakness.

In summary, date rape is real; but you can prepare yourself (or your friend or daughter) for the world of dating by understanding the simple rules to follow. Keep general personal safety in mind at all times, even when on a date. And then learn how to say no should you need to. These small things can go a long way in keeping you safe.

Practice Makes Perfect For Self Defense

Posted on May 21, 2010 by SDD Team

Learning martial arts is a popular trend for those who want to protect themselves while also increasing their fitness levels for overall health. But if they ever intend on relying on these martial arts techniques to protect themselves as with anything else practice makes perfect. Ask any professional athlete and much of the training they do is specific for their sport. Developing the muscles and the skills to make sure each punch, hold, kick and other techniques work perfectly will ensure that they will be performed right should they ever be needed.

To make martial arts training more efficient they must be practiced. While the punches and kicks can be practiced on heavy bags and other equipment the holds and throws really need to be practiced on a human being. For this reason everyone learning martial arts for self defense should have a partner or group to work with to help each other practice their techniques.

This does not mean that classes have to be attended because with a self defense DVD and a group of friends everyone can learn these skills while helping each other be safer while they are out. Getting together once or twice a week to practice techniques and work together on these skills will help make everyone perform them perfectly.

Practice, practice, practice will make these techniques almost automatic so that should the ever be required the body will respond almost without thought. The moves and reactions will be ingrained so that should an attacker jump them they will react accordingly and ward off the attacker without hesitation. Hesitation allows the attacker to get the upper hand and this is an advantage that should never be given up by anyone in any situation.

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