Most areas of the United States have surely had their blessings over the last decade, as the area many of us call home, has seen a drop in overall crime.
The problem is that this news sometimes relaxes our awareness and leaves us more prone to actual crime we thought we were safe from.
As a self-defense instructor, I’ve realized that a wide range of citizens use a wide range of measures to combat this apathy.
They range from using simple safety tips to educating the whole family on self-defense.
I teach my clients that there are two main types of self-defense training. One proactive and the other reactive.
Proactive ranges from home alarm systems to taking precautions when out and about for a night on the town.
Reactive are more specific techniques to deal with threatening and violent altercations.
Although proactive measures are easy to do, they seldom eliminate the one to four minutes an assailant would have to commit the crime.
For example, a home alarm may still allow a criminal to assault one or more family members before help arrives.
That is why learning reactive skills, such as how to personally protect yourself and/or your family, is such a necessity.
Educating yourself on what to do in a real life attack or threatening situation may seem like it is proactive, but it is actually reactive, because using these skills would happen after the fact.
The best strategy is to use both measures, proactive and reactive, to create a safer environment for yourself and family.
For the adult or head of the household, here are three proactive and three reactive measures which can be implemented fairly quickly in most peoples’ lives.
Proactive Measures
Create the habit of being aware. Criminals love stalking those who are in their own little world. Therefore, start to look around more, as you go through your day.
Your goal is not to become paranoid, but to start realizing the safety details and opportunities in your average day.
This would include walking with a purpose and never looking like you are lost.
Keep your head up and look at people as you pass them. Criminals like (and need) to get into your personal space in order to assault you, so if you take that away from them, you fail their “likely target test”.
Don’t get tied up while talking on your cell phone or take short cuts through rarely traveled alleyways or office staircases.
Many of these points may seem like common sense; however, we easily get caught up in our own agenda and ignore the obvious.
Invest in alarms. Car alarms and home alarms are a good layer to have for added protection.
Do you know that most car alarms have panic buttons you can use if you feel someone is following you?
Have you tried yours out? Most car alarms also activate the locks after you get in or start up your car, which is a great habit to automatically have done for you.
Home alarms are a good investment as well, especially if you can add motion lights.
Travel smart. I train several executives who travel multiple times throughout the week, even those who travel out of the country for business into “higher risk” areas of the world.
Therefore, whether you are the frequent business traveler or family planner taking all four kids on a cruise, you must plan.
First, travel light. The less you have, the easier it is to travel from point A to point B, and it gives you less to keep an eye on.
Next, note your emergency contacts, exits when in new environments and routes to your points of interests. This is just another level of “being aware” as noted earlier.
Lastly, attempt not to be the lone traveler. Although it is not always feasible, traveling with a business or family companion when in a new location makes you a harder target.
If you do have to travel alone, making a temporary contact with hotel staff or conference acquaintance is a smart move.
Reactive Measures
Build an arsenal of “close quarter” tools. One false belief of self-defense is that it is complex, time consuming, and difficult for most people to learn.
It is just the opposite if you know what to train on. I teach people ages 4 to 74.
Effective self-defense is simple, quick to learn, and easy for almost anyone. It all comes down to what and how you learn.
Remember, you’re not training to be a “competition cage fighter” or a professional martial arts master.
Your goal is to learn three to six quick moves that attack any assailant’s weak spots.
This includes attacking the eyes, the throat and the groin, and also using effective elbow strikes.
Learn why pepper is the spice of life. Pepper spray is an effective and practical “self-defense tool” across the board.
Here is the problem: Even if people do buy it, they rarely (if ever) train with it.
In addition to this fact, many men think that pepper spray is more of a “female” self-defense tool.
Try telling that to the 6’4″ State Police Officer who carries it everyday.
The point is that it will give you an edge in a dangerous situation.
Another obstacle is that solely buying pepper spray at the local drug store does nothing, except give you a false sense of security.
Finding the best sprayer for you, learning how to use it, and then training with it is the only way to go.
Get in shape. Being aware, fighting back, screaming for help, running, escaping, etc., all takes energy.
You can’t write off the mental and emotional benefits of working out.
Physically working out makes you stronger emotionally, which is priceless in a real life altercation.
By no means are these six tips an end all be all to self-defense and personal protection. However, they get you moving the right direction.
As a wise soul once said, “Failing to plan, is planning to fail”, and in this case, they might have said that people are failing to protect themselves, hence planning to get assaulted.
Using these quick and easy points to educate yourself and family is a great start.
Once again, the goal is to create layers of protection. This mindset of defense is many times the best offense.
