2008 June | Lethal Street Self Defense

Self Defense - Is Self Defense All About Martial Arts Or is There More to Defending Yourself?

Self Defense Street Fight No Responses »

Jun 262008

Pete Kauffer asked:

When discussing or thinking about self defense there is a tendency to equate it to either a legal definition, in a court of law justifying the use of force or homicide, or as personal protection, the act of defending yourself, your property or someone close to you. Most times the conversation turns to the use of a weapon or a style of a martial art. But are you really prepared, even if you have studied martial arts, for a real life situation where you need to protect yourself.

Self defense is more than learning a martial art or carrying a defensive device (firearm, mace, pepper spray, stun gun, etc.). The most important factor in defending yourself is being prepared to the best of your ability. Common sense plays a key role as well. Avoiding situations where you could be endangered, knowing your physical limitations and keeping yourself in shape are just a few key points.

We have all heard the stories of robberies at the ATM machine, purse snatchings either from an unattended purse or a loosely held purse, car jackings, etc. Clearly, each of these situations can be avoided rather easily with a dose of common sense and being prepared. Don’t use an ATM machine when there is no one else around or at night, use a purse with a strap diagonally across your body and held under your arm, and keep the doors locked and the windows up in your car while traveling. Especially in city traffic or stop and go traffic.

However, if you find yourself in an unavoidable situation, remaining calm, breathing shallowly or screaming “fire” (more people will respond to the word “fire” than the word “help”) may help you avoid a self defense scenario or to get away from possible danger. Martial arts training is very useful to many people. Not only is it a way to protect yourself but it is an excellent way to get or stay in shape, to learn discipline and to know what your limitations and capabilities are.

Start now, to learn ways you can protect yourself and your property. Have an awareness of where you are and who and what is around you. Create an emergency plan for your residence and place of work in case of an emergency or natural disaster. The more you prepare the better off you will be if the need arises.

Kravmagathailand.com‘>Krav Maga Israeli Masters Seminar DVD

Self Defense Strategy For Women in Three Easy Steps

Self Defense Street Fight No Responses »

Jun 192008

Jack Krohn asked:

When it comes to women’s self defense, I have always preached a well-rounded approach in developing self defense strategy. Knowing how to use some basic self-defense techniques, as well as learning how to use and carrying different self defense products should be a foundation for a good self defense program.

Unfortunately, women are targets 9/10 times when it comes to assaults. They are victims in domestic violence cases to street assaults, from ***** to home invasions nine times more often than men. So it is especially important for women to develop a self defense strategy. Here are some good building blocks for that strategy in three easy steps.

1.Learn self-defense techniques. This is the foundation for any good self defense strategy. Everything from basic self-defense techniques to more advanced courses can be learned in the comfort of your own home by world-class instructors on a wide variety of self defense training DVDs. There is even a course taught by Delta Force and Navy Seal personnel. Not only is this a great way to learn some practical tools for your self defense, but it is also a great way to bond as a family and teach your kids the same techniques.

2.Self Defense Products. Learning how to use and carrying self-defense items like pepper sprays, stun guns and tasers are the next logical step in your self defense strategy. I always advise women especially to carry a stun gun and a pepper spray. Learn how to use them and practice how to use them. That way when the time comes you will have a reflexive action. Those few seconds, could save your life.

3.Practice. If you don’t practice and become proficient in your self defense techniques and using your self defense weapons you will lose the edge you need to reflexively react in a threatening situation.

If you think crime can only happen to the other guy you are wrong. The “other guy” is thinking the same thing and to him you are that “other guy”. There is a reason why they call it self defense.

Kravmagathailand.com‘>Krav Maga Israeli Masters Seminar DVD

Self Defense and Your Vehicle - Maintaining the Exterior of Your Vehicle For Self Defense

Self Defense Street Fight No Responses »

Jun 142008

Pete Kauffer asked:

Maintaining the exterior of your vehicle is a first step in self defense if you do any amount of traveling. Breakdowns occur, but less frequently with a well maintained vehicle. You do not need to be a qualified mechanic or spend a lot of money to keep a well maintained vehicle. Many issues can be avoided by just doing a visual inspection of your vehicle. You really need a dependable vehicle, especially if you travel at night or in less than desirable areas.

When approaching your vehicle check for flat or low tires, a broken or cracked window or windshield, tagging or keying, or anything that may have been done intentionally. If there is any evidence your vehicle has been tampered with, make sure there is no one around or in the vehicle. If you suspect the perpetrators to still be in the area, do not get in the vehicle. Instead, walk away from the vehicle, preferably to a populated area and call the police.

As we have all seen traveling the streets and highways of the country, trash of all types litter the lanes and gutters. Wind blowing these items can many times cause something to blow under the vehicle and become stuck in any number of areas. Depending on what it is, something stuck under the vehicle could cause a fire, wrap around brakes or wheels, wrap around the drive shaft, break off fluid lines, etc. If you see anything under the vehicle during your visual inspection, try to remove it. If you cannot remove it yourself, take it to a service station or quick lube and ask them to remove it.

Check all lights occasionally. Turn on headlights and tail lights, get out of the vehicle, and make sure they are working properly. Make sure the blinkers and flashers work as well. Do not forget to check the middle brake light on the rear of the vehicle. Brake lights can be tested by backing up to a wall, applying the brakes and looking in the mirrors to be sure the lights glow brighter. The same technique can be used to check the back up lights.

Check under the hood from time to time. Even though you change your oil every 3 months or 3000 miles there are still a few things to inspect on your own. Again, has something blown up from the road and wrapped around any part of the engine or radiator. Visually inspect the battery cables. If there is a build up of greenish or whitish “fuzz” clean them, or have them cleaned. Many times this “fuzz” is an indication of a leaking battery or a faulty charging system and could cause the battery to “die”. Check for old looking or cracking belts and hoses. If anything looks out of the ordinary fix it or have it fixed before you end up with a broken down vehicle.

Just a few minutes a day or week doing a quick inspection of your vehicle could save you the frustration of not having the vehicle. Having someone else pick you up and take you to work or on errands is just not feasible for most people. And the added expense of having your car repaired for something simple to do yourself is also something most people want to avoid. Taking the time to inspect the outside of your vehicle can potentially avoid putting yourself in a self defense situation and can be very easy.

self defense

Deadliest Style of Martial Art

Krav Maga No Responses »

Jun 052008

Ryan Wolfenbarger asked:

Here’s a different way of looking at the whole what is the deadliest style of martial art debate.

Who cares!?

Seriously. I don’t buy into the whole debate and here’s why.

If you did a poll of thousands of martial artists you might get a list like this

Brazilian Jiu-jutsu and ground fighting

Krav Maga and reality based self defense systems

Boxing, Muay Thai and cage fighting

Ninjutsu, Kung Fu, Aikido and other Eastern based martial arts

Modern Hybrid Fighting Styles blending multiple arts

Traditional arts like Karate and Tae Kwon Do

In fact you can find forum posts all over the net from people asking “What is the deadliest style of martial art?” Or “What is the best style when learning how to street fight?” Then a bunch of forum users respond with the “best martial art” which is usually some form of cage fighting or combat sport.

There are some great martial arts in this list. Many masters of these arts can demolish an attacker without thinking.

Ask yourself though, is it your art or you as the martial artist that makes up your fighting ability.

I would say it’s you and not your fighting style. About every martial art out there has turned out some deadly fighters.

Of course let’s be real here. This is only partially true because there are some fruity martial arts out there as well. There are also some fruity martial artists out there that can help you to get stomped in a street fight. With the Internet it seems like the number of these guys has tripled each year.

There’s a huge trap in the martial arts that some will fail to avoid. Putting too much faith in your style or technique and not enough in yourself as a fighter.

So how do we sort through the BS when selecting a martial art? Here are some things to focus on that have less to do with your art and more to do with your ability.

Attributes Training- This is completely separate from your martial art style and technique. This will include things like speed, agility, toughness, flexibility, endurance, reflexes etc. No matter what martial art you study all of these need to be improved. You can either improve them individually or train an art that improves them naturally. For example boxing and cage fighting might help you to develop toughness and speed while an art like Wing Chun or Aikido can improve your sensitivity and flow. Select a martial art that develops some of these attributes along with technique.

Common Sense- Find a balance between open mindedness and common sense. Use your best judgment. If your instructor is telling you to do some ridiculous fancy technique that seems impossible to pull off in a fight, there is a good chance your instincts are right. You might want to find a new school or martial art.

Here is the best advice I can give you about selecting a martial art. Decide before hand how much time you are willing to train in the art. One year? Five? Ten? Then make your decision based on that. Some arts take forever to be able to use. While some of these arts can be very effective, not everyone has three hours a day to devote to training.

Then you have the simple fighting styles out there that can get you combat ready in a hurry. While no art can make you indestructible in a month, some styles are better for making a fighter quickly.

Make sure that if you are only spending a little time each day that you choose a simple, functional system that doesn’t take ten years to use.

krav maga