Best Self Defense...At A Glance?

I've said previously that the best self defense can just be awareness.  Last night a local man noticed his motion light snapped on.  He glanced out to see someone burglarizing his garage.  He chased him down and held the man for police.  Whether chasing him down was a good idea is debatable...but installing motion lights around your house is cheap, easy insurance.  Then...if they come on don't be too lazy to glance out and check.. Sure, 9 times out of ten, it's the local cat, but you may just catch a thief!

The Best Self Defense Is Not Going To Bad Places Where Bad People Do Bad Things

Awareness and avoidance is the best self defense period.  I just heard on the news this morning about 2 shootings in the wee hours of the morning Saturday and Sunday night.  1 of them in downtown Portland, gang related.  A recent high school graduate with his whole life ahead of him...dead and 1 other wounded.  The second shooting was just a few minutes down the road from me in Forest Grove, OR (30 miles from PDX).  Fortunately, no one was hurt...but 2 shots were fired in to a crowd of 30 in a parking lot outside a bar.  

Want to protect yourself?  Easy, don't be in an urban downtown area after midnight, don't be in a bar parking lot with lots of other people...hoping to see a "fight."

Keep Track Of Your Best Self Defense Training In A Log Book

I have been taking advantage of logging my training for years now. In addition to being able to document all your training, writing down your best self defense methods leads to better retention.  Here's a video from the Personal Defense Network that illustrates this.

http://www.5min.com/Video/The-Benefits-of-a-Personal-Defense-Training-Log-Book-433172233

Can Doing Nothing Be The Best Self Defense?

Perhaps, but probably not.  FBI statistics have shown that victims who resist are less likely to be injured than those who comply. The best self defense, according to statistics, is to resist with a firearm. 

I heard a news story this morning that drove this point home.  A man was stabbed with a steak knife and robbed.  There was no logical reason for the criminal to escalate to felony assault or possible murder charges for a wallet.

Unless you have a degree in criminal psychology (even if you do) don't try to get inside a criminal's head and predict their actions ( or expect them to be logical).  Comply if you think that will be the end of it, but always be prepared to resist at the first sign the criminal is going to hurt you.  Stay safe.

Awareness of surroundings when dining out

via AudioBoo

The Pen Is Mightier...Than The Best Self Defense Weapon?

Don't overlook the value of improvised self defense weapons especially something like a pen.  I have a purpose made machined aluminum pen that had a pointed end and a blunt impact end.  It would be highly effective in targeting just about anything, but especially eyes, throat, groin.  These cost about $80-to over $100 retail...luckily, I won mine at a shooting school last month!  It has been my flying companion on a couple trips since.

You don't need an expensive pen though, just a sturdy one that fills your hand and can stand up to some abuse.  A Sharpie will work.  Cold Steel makes a "Sharkie" pen that is cheap.  You can look for metal "drug rep" pens on ebay.  These are large, sturdy pens made by pharmaceutical companies for advertising...it may have a herpes medication written on it...but they work!

If you have to use it to protect yourself, just grip it tightly in your fist and target whatever vulnerable anatomy is available.  A sturdy pen will help you fracture ribs...a standard pen is best targeted at soft parts or it will break (expect it to break after a strike or 2 anyway).