A Night at the Improv

Posted on November 8, 2011 by SDD Team

Sally was leaving work after a particularly long and draining day. As she made her way to her car, her hand was feverishly searching her purse for her car key. Halfway down the block, a strange feeling enveloped her, causing her to quicken her step and look around. The sight of an empty street made her laugh to herself. A grown, professional woman who has been trained in martial arts doesn’t just get the “eeby-geebies”!

As Sally finally approaches her vehicle, her hand magically lands on her car keys. She breathes a sigh of relief at not having to empty her purse on the hood of her black Lexus…again. She glances into the backseat, as is her habit. All that is visible is the martial arts DVD that she bought to practice with at home. She makes a mental note that the tool would do her much better in the house than in her backseat.

Sticking her keys into the door, Sally hears footsteps rapidly approaching. The hair on the back of her neck stands up and she quickly turns toward the sound, ready to explode in a cloud of martial arts moves by instinct. However, her attacker meets her swiftly and knocks her down to the ground. Her hope is that all he wants is her car or her purse. Perhaps he will grab her keys and take off, leaving her safely on the street.

No such luck. Seeing this damsel in distress causes the bad guy to feel indestructible. He turns to make his way to Sally….What should she do? What would you do?

This type of a scene plays out in less than thirty seconds. That is not much time. Sally (or you..or your wife or daughter) needs to be able to think quickly. The truth of the matter is that even with martial arts training and practice with a martial arts DVD, you need more in order to handle a situation like this. You need applicable training and tools. Tools, in this case, means weapons.

Weapons training used to be a large part of any martial arts training. However, today we have quickie schools geared for sport or self defense. Many of these schools teach ample hand techniques. While this is great, and I myself teach plenty of hand to hand combat techniques; you can’t underestimate the power of weapons. I’ve talked about this before, but I want to expand on it by offering up a short list of potential weapons.

Because Sally is at her vehicle when her attack occurs, she could use the following as a weapon:

•   Car Keys – Thrust or rake at soft tissue targets or pressure points. Soft tissue will be more effective because you don’t have to think about where the pressure points are.
•   CD Case – Can be used for sharp edges to scratch the face or soft tissue
•   Flashlight – Every vehicle should contain a flashlight. The more accessible, the better. That means right next to your seat or in your door panel. A flashlight (especially a long handled one) makes a great stick with which you can inflict some blunt force on your attacker.

Now here’s the thing…I’m all for weapons in self defense. The more you can improvise, the better. Watch some news stories and see how many times you hear that a bad guy has the weapon. How many times do you hear of an attack or robbery thwarted by hand techniques?

The question of weapons is how well can you use what is available to you? The question is not whether or not you should; but how quickly you can identify a weapon and use it. A street fight or attack is nothing like what you get into in martial arts class. While you need to learn moves to get free, you also need to address the options of weapons and learn how to use as many as possible.

The Criminal and the Lion

Posted on November 8, 2011 by SDD Team

Sierra Vista Herald, March 14, 2010

“At 3:12 p.m. Friday, police got a report of shots fired in the area behind Walmart, 657 N. Highway 90 Bypass. Officers were in the area and able to respond in about a minute, said Tracy Grady, Sierra Vista police public information officer.

During the incident, police said, Prickett struck the victim, 82-year-old Mary Doutt, in the head with her own cane several times as he attempted to rob her.

Doutt took a handgun from her purse and attempted to shoot Prickett, police said. He wrestled with her for the gun, police said. At one point during the struggle, Prickett pointed the gun at Doutt, Grady said. No one was shot during the incident.”

Luckily for Ms. Doutt, our 82-year old heroine, she recovered from her minor injuries and is happy and healthy today. Luckily for her, she lives in a state where she is granted the freedom of carrying her firearm. She used what she knew she could. Had she also watched some self defense videos, she may have been even more effective at fighting off her attacker. But the truth is that a self defense video doesn’t teach you about the way a criminal will target; or who they will target.

This is not about my opinion on the right to carry a concealed weapon; it is more about the mindset of the criminal. For the average (sane) person, the consideration for the elderly or the disabled is far different than that of a criminal. While we look at those with disabilities as our equals or those who could possibly use our help at times; a criminal will look upon these people as prey.

It’s as simple as instinct. In the jungle, the lion doesn’t pick out the strongest, healthiest of the pack to pounce on. No, he (or she) knows that they will conserve their energy by focusing their efforts on the older, sicker of the bunch. This is an easy target; an easy meal ticket.

Criminals are just like the lion in the jungle. They do have a target. They take their time to find the one that is weak; the one that is distracted; the one who won’t be able to fight them off.

Learn from Ms. Doutt and do what you can to learn to defend yourself. Buy a self defense video. Practice with different self defense videos. Practice with a partner. Practice in different locations, such as your dark bedroom or the stairwell in your house, or your garage. You don’t necessarily have to pack heat. Your weapon could be your own cane; it could be pepper spray; it could even be your hands.

Vacation is the Prime Time for Crime

Posted on November 7, 2011 by SDD Team

With summer getting into swing, families are heading off to visit Grandma and Grandpa, to see Mickey Mouse, or to dip their toes in the lapping waves of the ocean. These are the joys of summer and should be times that you and your family remember for years to come.

But if it is during your relaxing vacation that your favorite expensive camera gets stolen - or worse, your wallet and personal documents – then the memories you have will clearly not be good ones. Some people who have experienced violence or theft while on vacation create a new habit of foregoing vacations from that point on. This is no way to spend your life. With self defense training (sometimes misspelled self defence training), you can set yourself up with the proper tools to maintain safety no matter where you are.

It has been proven that popular tourist areas have a high instance of crime. Why is that? It’s pretty simple, really. When people are on vacation, they tend to loosen up. They are ready to unwind and therefore they may even forget about practicing the avoidance techniques they have learned in their self defense training. So first, you need to get self defense training; then you need to remember all the ways to avoid crime when you go on vacation. Here are some tips to help you stay focused as you roam amusement parks or street of a new city.

•   Always park your vehicle in an area with pedestrian traffic. If you park your car in a remote area, you leave it vulnerable to theft. This doesn’t mean that YOU have to maintain visibility of the vehicle; but the more people who pass by, the less chance your valuables could be taken.
•   Whenever possible, leave all valuables in your hotel. This isn’t an option if you are on a road trip; in which case you can lock valuables in the trunk. Do not do this when you reach your day trip destination, where people can see all your junk. Lock in valuables before you leave for the day so there is no temptation for onlookers.
•   While you may need small amounts of cash for certain items, it’s best to carry as little cash as possible. This means take $20 or $40 in cash in your secured pockets; not your entire vacation fund. When you are paying for items, do not pull all of your money out to count it. Be discreet; people will watch cash register transactions and choose their best target.
•   Maintain possession of your self defense weapon. When on vacation, it is just as important to practice all you have learned in self defense training. This means you watch for danger and avoid certain areas. You keep your personal items close and maintain a self defense posture. You also ALWAYS carry a self defense weapon. On vacation, this could be a small canister of pepper spray. This can be easily carried in a pocket and used for effective stopping power.
•   If you are travelling with children, make a plan in case someone gets lost. Always teach kids to find a person of authority if they get separated from you. This is a plan that needs to be made with every location you visit; since every location has its own circumstances.

You have every right to thoroughly enjoy your summer vacation. This is the time for you and your family to bond and create amazing memories. To ensure everyone’s safety, remember to keep your self defense training fresh in your mind.

Teaching Kids to be Safe with Money

Posted on November 6, 2011 by SDD Team

No, I’m not about to dole out financial advice. But I have a story to tell. The other day I was at Starbucks. This is my favorite Starbucks; but on Sunday it was particularly busy. In front of me were 5 kids, when I say kids, I don’t mean teenagers. The oldest MAY have been 13 and the youngest probably around 8 years old. This is an important thing for me to state, because these kids were alone – sans parents.

Now everyone has their own opinions about whether or not kids should be out and about one their own. The general consensus seems to be that if they are in a group; they are safe. Safer maybe; but I wouldn’t say safe (only self defense training can bring that). Maybe their parents were waiting out in the car; but the corner where this Starbucks is located has no parking out front…or on the side of the store. The community is very very busy and the nearest parking is in the underground lot or around the corner (where there are typically no available spots). Why do I go to this extent to describe the scene? Because the point here is that there was no adult within safe distance to keep an eye out for these kids.

Ok, enough said on that point. It is my opinion that kids this age should be within reach of a responsible adult; but that’s just my opinion. I actually struck up some nice conversation with a few of them; and hopefully taught them a lesson before I left the store.

See, due to my self defense training (sometimes misspelled self defence training); I am always living the self defense lifestyle. I never enter a coffee shop, restaurant or store (not even my favorite Starbucks) without taking in everything that is going on around me. On this day, there were about 20 people jammed into the small storefront. Right outside the door was a transient man listening to his iPod, relaxing on the bright red Adirondack chairs provided to customers. He was not a customer, but this is a regular occurrence here and everyone just accepts it.

So..back to the kids. I’m standing in the middle of the store after finally ordering my drink. Because the place is so busy, we are all standing pretty close together. I hear one of the kids say to another “Hey, I owe you some money.” Now, if you’ve been in Starbucks, you know the place runs at a low roar most of the time. But I heard it. If I heard it, other people heard it. So I look over and the kid pulls a stack of twenties out of his pocket!

Do you see the problem here? A – NEVER pull cash out of your pocket in a public place! B – This kid is a KID; and not a big kid. Pretty much any one of us standing around there could have followed him outside and had his money before he knew what hit him.

I walked over to where the two boys stood, leaned in and pointed out all the people standing around. I then pointed out all the people outside. Not to judge; but the neighborhood where this coffee shop is located does attract some questionable individuals. I told the boys that it is always best to keep your cash hidden from anyone around you unless you want to hand it over.

They looked at me as if to question whether or not I was politely robbing them. I was not; I explained that I teach self defense training and assured them they need to put their money away and bid them a good day as I picked up my drink.

But I keep thinking about them since our encounter; and I certainly hope they were indeed a little scared. Better that they be scared by someone who truly meant no harm than by someone who did.

If you ever let your kids out of your sight – which you will undoubtedly do as they grow into teenagers – teach them how to handle their money in public places. Be sure to look into self defense training for them as well as yourself. Develop an adherence to the self defense lifestyle and stay safe.

Can Self Defense Training Help Kids Too?

Posted on October 30, 2011 by SDD Team

When most adults think of those who need self defense most often it is women who come to mind. But women are not the only ones who are vulnerable against attack from strangers while away from the home. Our kids are becoming more and more victims to crimes against them committed by both adults as well as other kids. For this reason parents should consider self defense training for their kids from tweens to teens to give them the confidence and skills they need to take care of themselves should a dangerous situation arise while they are alone.

While karate classes are helpful and fun for kids the skills they offer are not always transferable to real life situations. But with self defense videos parents can learn real world techniques alongside their child to help all of the members be safe. While it is unlikely for a kid to take on an adult in hand to hand combat and win the skills available to them in these videos will help them in confrontations with their peers. Knowing these skills and with their new found confidence, kids can be better prepared for any situation that comes up to handle it in a safe way.

As parents we tend to think that we will always be around to protect our children but the reality is we cannot be with them at all times. With an increase in bullying from other children as well as increased risk of child predators it is a better move to teach them how to protect themselves instead of thinking we will always be around. Self defense videos are worth the cost alone for the self confidence they bring not only to the kids but to adults who use them as well. Plus it is a fun way for parents and kids to spend time together living a healthy lifestyle.

Self Defense Does Not Have To Be Pretty

Posted on October 29, 2011 by SDD Team

When many women take their first self defense class many are surprised with just how little like karate these techniques are. Many just assume they will learn kicks, punches, and other moves that are similar to the martial arts they see on television. But like it or not some of the best self defense techniques for women are not pretty moves that look good on the big screen. Also the classic kick him where it counts is also not the first technique taught since like it or not most attackers are prepared for this particular move.

When attacked women are quickly taught to not be afraid of the natural weapons they have built in when they receive self defense training. From teeth to nails digging in and biting is an excellent way to defend yourself and gain back a little of the edge that the perpetrator may have in the encounter. This will not only get the attacker on the defense himself but will also give forensic evidence which can be used by police to take this creep off the street before he can attack anyone else.

Women are also taught the weak spots on the body in which to go for on their attacker in order to cause them harm. Eyes can be poked, ears pulled off, noses broke, as well as other tender spots that are easily hurt by someone who is ready to take their life into their own hands to defend at all costs. With tough elbows, knees and even their own head women can not only fight off their attacker but hurt them so they will pay for their efforts.

While self defence training may sound similar to the martial arts the two are actually quite different and women need to ensure they are learning techniques that will save their lives. Martial arts may be effective for fighting but they are not always effective for using as self defense.

Turn The Tide With Military Self Defense Techniques

Posted on October 29, 2011 by SDD Team

While martial arts are an amazing way to stay in shape and learn some cool looking fighting techniques many times these tactics are not very effective in urban situations. But for real self defense that works those who want to know they can handle any situation do as the military do and train as the Special Forces do.

Military self defense has been around for hundreds of years but it was not until the creation of the modern day Special Forces that the hand to hand combat skills became what it is today. Many of these soldiers turn to teaching civilians these techniques once they return home in order to share these techniques with others who want to learn to take care of themselves and their families.

Self defense training is proven to not only increase fitness levels but will also add to confidence and improve alertness in anyone who studies these techniques. Those who know how to handle an attacker in any situation can fight them off even in tight spaces and without having a weapon to thwart the attack. This style of fighting unlike martial arts utilizes points on the body to subdue anyone even when the size difference seems impossible to overcome. This is important for women who spend a considerable amount of time in areas where they feel uncomfortable. Or those who just want to not be just another victim of crime making it so they can take care of themselves.

Military self defense is something that can be learned from classes or even with a DVD in the home. These techniques are proven to work and are far more effective in urban situations than traditional modern arts which puts more effort into kicking and punching instead of submission of the attacker.

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.

The Little Engine that Could

Posted on June 30, 2010 by SDD Team

The other day, I talked about a newsletter I had come across, where the author urged people to find their reason to engage in training. Now, it is my personal opinion that the mere threat of danger walking right up to you is reason enough to engage in some great combat self defense. However, I must force myself to understand the fact that not everyone is like me. AND..not everyone else has been the victim of a violent crime the way my wife and I were. That being said, I use my own experience as the platform from which I launch my efforts to get everyone into some hand to hand combat training or martial arts training of a combative nature.

There is something to be said for training in general though. While training is great exercise and a great way to stay in shape mentally as well, the fact of the matter is that there is comes a point in time when the participant just might get a little bored. Hand to hand combat training may be a little different than your run of the mill martial arts studio stuff. But that doesn’t mean that you will learn a new and amazing move every time you enter the combat self defense training area. Even with this type of training, there is repetition involved. And when you are dealing with practicing the same techniques over and over again, it is easy to see boredom set in.

Some studios try to combat this boredom by quickly moving their students through the ranks. We live in a fast-food world, where we have become accustomed to everything we want being served up on a microwave ready platter. Well, your personal safety is worth more than that, folks. Training, be it martial arts or hand to hand combat training, does not fall into place overnight. If you were to watch some of the Gracie clan show their Jui-Jitsu moves, you would be totally impressed. You would want to be able to fight like they do. What you may not want to do is put in the hours and hours of intense training they have put into a single move!

Way back when, Bruce Lee said “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once; but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

What does that mean to you? Does it give you a different perspective on your training? I hope so. Look, I have trained in combat self defense, as well as several forms of martial arts. For me, I was on a mission to find the ultimate fighting technique. The fact of the matter is that any type of training you undertake is going to require persistence. The hardest part of your training, as you get better, is going to be sticking with the basics and mastering each move.

In order to combat the boredom that comes with ongoing training, you need to set up an image in your mind of what you desire as the outcome of your training. Do you want to be a badass who can handle anything that comes your way? Then picture in your mind what that will look like and how it will feel when you reach that point. This way, you can remind yourself when the going gets tough. When your engine starts to stall and you think you have nothing left to learn, think again. Be the little engine that could and keep on chugging through your training!

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Posted on June 30, 2010 by SDD Team

You know the song…you know you do! It’s impossible not to. Respect is something that anyone in the martial arts is highly aware of. In fact, it is the first principle of the martial arts. This also extends into combat self defense courses as well as hand to hand combat training. The point is, when you are training with a cooperative partner, you want your “fights” to be civilized.

Without respect, hand to hand combat training would get pretty ugly. This type of combat self defense has been touted as being brutal to begin with; so can you just imagine if such training were performed under circumstances where the participants did not have a high degree of respect for one another? I shiver to think of it!

My purpose for bringing up the issue of respect is twofold. First, when you are training you need to learn respect. A traditional martial arts training studio will instill this in you – I hope. This cannot be said of all studios, sadly; but most should follow the main principle of teaching students to respect their art and respect one another. Even if you train in martial arts, and I train in combat self defense and hand to hand combat training (which I do); I will show respect for your art because it’s the right thing to do. Sometimes you do it just because it’s the right thing to do.

What you need to remember – always – is that respect is given to those who earn it. In martial arts training, hand to hand combat training, whatever training one engages in; there is an unspoken camaraderie amongst practitioners. Those who understand the principle of respect will find value in any art. Really, in my mind, there is no room for bashing one style of training over another. What works for one may not work for another. If you are learning how to adequately protect yourself, then you are on the right track. So, instead of bashing one style and telling you that you need to change your mind and study my way, I will accept the many forms of training that one can engage in and understand their personal reasons for doing so.

On to the second point. On the street, in a fight or attack of any sort, respect sort of goes out the window. Here’s the thing; anyone who wants to engage you in a fight is showing a great lack of respect – for themselves, you, and everyone in the general area. So when it comes right down to it and you are forced to defend yourself, you certainly don’t waste time bowing to your opponent in a show of respect. You let all of those principles go to the wayside and you focus on eliminating your threat quickly and effectively.

This does not mean that you trash talk and instigate a fight. No, self defense, even combat self defense, will teach you to do your best to diffuse a situation before you have to fight. However, this is not always possible. When it becomes necessary for you to end a situation; end it. Period.

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