Your best self defense may be simply a locked car door!

The best self defense technique pales in comparison to simple avoidance.  Yesterday, a woman was sexually assaulted and robbed when a man jumped into her car as she was driving in a fairly nice shopping area.  He assaulted her, made her go to an ATM and draw money, then had her take him to the nearby mass transit station where he made his getaway at taxpayer expense.  

This could have been avoided by simply keeping the doors locked and windows up as soon as she got in her car until she got out.  This is a basic thing we learn in Executive Protection training...you are your own bodyguard, so do it for yourself!

Best Self Defense Tip Of The Day

Your best self defense with a gun option is to "shoot to stop" the threat, not try to shoot them in the leg to just wound them.  There was a story yesterday of a local man who shot an intruder in the leg because he didn't want to "kill him."  Luckily, it worked out this time.  The problem is the leg is a very small target and may not stop the aggression.  If you miss, or they don't stop, you may not get another shot.  Do what police and military are trained to do: aim for "center mass" (the center of the largest part of their body showing, usually the torso) and shoot until they stop being a threat.  Read the full story here: http://www.kgw.com/news/local/homeownershootsintruder-104321603.html

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).

The Importance of Lowering the Center of Gravity in a Fight

via 5min.com

Great video on why a lowered CG (center of gravity) is important. One thing not mentioned: once you get down to your fighting level, don't stand back up until it is over. Don't lower, strike (or shoot), then straighten your knees and move, then lower again. Your head shouldn't be bobbing up and down. It is inefficient and will hinder your balance.

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How Realistic Is Your Self Defense Training?

Two videos:  warning-one is footage of a prison shanking (pay attention to the one at :26), the other, a martial arts "self defense" technique against a knife...from a very well respected "knife fighting" martial art  When compared directly with footage of real world violence...how does this self defense technique stack up (an open-ended question, it's your life, you be the judge)?   Bottom line: the best self defense moves are ones that use gross motor skill movements, body weight (not muscle strength) to injure vulnerable areas of the body and are simple to do under (enormous) stress.  You need to ensure that the litmus test for a self defense technique must always be real-world violence, what is actually happening on the street.  Not contrived situations in the sterile environment of a studio.

When It Comes To Self Defense...It Doesn't Matter What The Criminal Wants!

I heard an news report on the radio this am about a local home invasion.  The reporter stated: "A man broke into her home and pointed a gun at her.  He took her into the office and she was able to escape and get to a neighbors house for help.  It is unclear what he wanted"

A big mistake people make is trying to get in the head of a criminal.  Face it, unless you go around pointing guns in people's faces, robbing, injuring others...you really have no basis to know what they are thinking!  It doesn't matter, the best self defense is to either escape (like she did) or, if unable or it is impracticable to escape (like if your kids were still in the house) you need to injure the criminal until they aren't a threat.  Don't wait for them to pull the trigger.  Don't try to figure out "why" or appease them (not saying not to give up your wallet if demanded...just don't be surprised if they aren't satisfied).  

When you feel in danger, get out of there, or get busy wrecking them until you are safe, let the DA and jury try to figure out why.

When It Comes To Self Defense...It Doesn't Matter What The Criminal Wants!

I heard an news report on the radio this am about a local home invasion.  The reporter stated: "A man broke into her home and pointed a gun at her.  He took her into the office and she was able to escape and get to a neighbors house for help.  It is unclear what he wanted"

A big mistake people make is trying to get in the head of a criminal.  Face it, unless you go around pointing guns in people's faces, robbing, injuring others...you really have no basis to know what they are thinking!  It doesn't matter, the best self defense is to either escape (like she did) or, if unable or it is impracticable to escape (like if your kids were still in the house) you need to injure the criminal until they aren't a threat.  Don't wait for them to pull the trigger.  Don't try to figure out "why" or appease them (not saying not to give up your wallet if demanded...just don't be surprised if they aren't satisfied).  

When you feel in danger, get out of there, or get busy wrecking them until you are safe, let the DA and jury try to figure out why.

Results of good targeting...

This video is a great example of what striking a precise weak anatomical target can do.  If you really pay attention, you'll notice he doesn't strike that hard, doesn't use his body weight at all...but his targeting is perfect!  The target btw is the lateral side of the neck, just to either side of the Adam's apple where the jugular vein and vagus nerve are located.  Striking here causes a person to faint.  The best self defense is achieved by causing real injuries so your attacker cannot function as evidenced here. For extra credit, see if you can spot the second injury...