Self-defense is defined as:

1. Defense of oneself when physically attacked
2. The act of defending one's own person, property, or reputation.

Living in today's world requires the knowledge of protecting oneself.  It's a sad fact, and a very true one.  You never know when you may become a victim of violence, so being prepared is the only answer.  I'm not talking about walking around ready to fight all the time, just understanding what to do in case something happens to you. 

Here are some facts:

• 1 in 8 women will be violently attacked in their lifetime.
• 1 in 3 men will be involved in a violent situation in their lifetime.
• Everybody knows somebody who has been a victim of violence.
• etc, etc, etc.
• There are so many facts out there that the bottom line is, everyone should be prepared.

1. Because living in fear is no way to live.

2. Because relying on the “Good Guys” to protect you from the “Bad Guys” is a fundamentally flawed strategy.

3. Because being able to protect yourself is extremely important. 

4. Because violence happens. 1 out of 8 women and 1 out of 3 men will be assaulted in their lifetime. A violent crime occurs every 21 seconds, and every 15 seconds a woman is battered. In the time it takes to read this page, more women have been assaulted. Your chances of becoming a victim of crime or attack are greater than your chances of attaining the perfect physique.

5. Because even our best efforts at doing everything possible to avoid dangerous situations, we still may be confronted by a huge man with a gun or knife.

6. Because contrary to popular myth, you cannot learn self-defense from the movies.

7. Because you would be riddled with guilt if you passed on feelings of helplessness to your children. Anxiety is passed down, often unconsciously, and YOU are the medium! Fear makes us a magnet to predators; the more fear you/your children harbor, the more risk you/they become. When you empower yourself, you empower your kids.

8. Because learning to defend yourself just plain feels good.  

9. Because being defenseless is a lot scarier.

10. Because criminals and predators are a step ahead.

FACT: The first few seconds of an assault (or first sign of real danger) is your best time to act, to break away. The longer a person has control over you the more difficult it becomes to facilitate escape.

Reduce the element of surprise.  Eliminate "tunnel vision" and develop peripheral vision!  Soften your gaze and use your eyes like a sweeping wide angle lens.  This can help eliminate blind spots — common angles of attack.

NEVER allow a criminal to take you to another location (not even at gunpoint; not even from the street to the backside of a building).  Second locations are always far more dangerous! At a second more isolated location, criminals will have far more control over you.  Go ballistic but do not "go with!"

NEVER allow yourself to be tied up!  As soon as you see rope, duct tape or cord coming at you, it’s time to "go off!" Learning how could save your life!

Explosive, short range tools of "in fighting" and dirty tactics are more effective and likely to be called into play than high Karate kicks.

Commitment counts! When it comes to fighting back, "will" is as important as skill! Inner focus and resolve can enable you to blast through fear or panic.

Adrenaline is a wonder drug! It keeps pain away and can infuse you with supernatural powers. But if not managed or utilized efficiently, it can induce terror or panic.

Don’t be afraid to make a scene: Yell! Honk! Throw a rock though a window! Do everything you can to attract attention!

A moving target is harder to hit! If approached by a gunman and you can escape, RUN!  Distance is your best defense.

Tune IN as well as outward! Honoring gut feelings they are usually correct.

Survival is hard wired!

Being afraid does not mean being helpless!

1.  Emotional
   ·        You need to control this most of all.
   ·        Too emotional, you cannot continue.
   

2. Psychological
   ·        You need to understand this most of all.
   ·        Could you kill someone?  How will you really feel if you do?
   ·        How would you feel if you get hurt during a confrontation?
   ·        After effects, nightmares, etc
   

3. Physical
   ·        Have you ever hit someone?  You will get a response from them if you do.
   ·        Have you ever been hit really hard?

3 points you need to understand to make your training better.

1. Accept what is happening to you.  YOU DENY YOU DIE!  You need to get out of the “Oh my god” loop, because it can turn into the “Holy shit” loop.

2. Get challenged and train outside your comfort zone.  More realistic self-defense training.  You want to fail in class to better understand what to do on the street.

3. Don’t stop thinking.  Create scenarios that cause you to think.  “I’ve seen people stop in the middle of an attack in class and say “let’s try that again”, bad move, learn from that.

Primal – This is the flinch.  This may look like you are retreating into a fetal position, hands covering your head and your body is turning into a ball. 

Protective – This is somewhere between primal and tactical.  This may look like your hands are moving forward and your head/body is moving backwards.  You are dealing with the threat and keeping your head out of it. 

Tactical – This is using your martial arts to protect your self.  This may look like you are an animal.  You would be addressing the threat by moving forward and devastating your attacker.

I teach a variety of seminars on the subject of self defense, please go to my seminar page to learn more.

The videos below were taken at the 11/01/2003 Black Belt graduation ceremony, in Brighton, NY and Brighton High School.