NEWS/BLOG

In this issue of the SelfDefenseResource.com Newsletter:

1. Quick Tip: Use Any Object as a Weapon
2. Technique: Dismount Assailant with Legs
3. Virginia Tech Massacre
4. New Articles
5. Learn More: General Self-Defense

1. QUICK TIP: USE ANY OBJECT AS A WEAPON

Well, almost any everyday object can be used to protect yourself. Improvised weapons are everywhere around us.

When in Code Yellow, staying aware and scanning your environment for potential threats and escape routes, also identify anything that can be used as an improvised weapon.

It can be a stick, stone, or knife-like object that you can pick up and strike with. Shield-like objects to deflect a strike. Liquids and sprays to throw into a face. A structure that you can pull or push an assailant into.

For more details and examples, read Everyday Objects as Weapons.

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2. TECHNIQUE: DISMOUNT ASSAILANT WITH LEGS

Anytime you are pinned on the ground, you need to get the assailant off, FAST!

Use your available tools to dismount him. For this particular technique, imagine a situation where you are on your back, the assailant sitting on your chest and facing you, and your legs are free.

Lift your legs high, lifting your buttocks off the ground. Move your legs up and around him to catch him on his front shoulders with the back of your calves and heels. Quickly and forcefully push him down with your legs while simultaneously bringing your torso and head up as if doing a sit up.

The objective is to force him off and slap his back and head to the ground. Immediately follow-up with hits to the groin and kicks to his body and head.

3. VIRGINIA TECH MASSACRE

A brief mention of Monday’s tragedy of shooter Seung-Hui Cho’s killing of 32 students at Virginia Tech.

I wrote about how to Escape from School Shootings and Massacres before.

And how a Texas school district initially had a self-defense program for teachers and children against such situations, but then wimped out on the plan:

Should Kids Fight Back Against Classroom Intruders?

School District Wimps Out on Defense Plan

A couple lessons can be learned from these situations:

Parents have the ultimate responsibility of teaching their children proper values, judgment, and responsibility. Children’s self-esteem can be developed and strengthened when parents are involved in their lives. Children who are loved, cared, and listened to will not go on a violent rampage.

I’m not saying that Cho’s parents did not raise them properly. Rather, that in general we can reduce the anger and motivations of would-be shooters through responsible care taking of children.

Children also need to learn self-defense. Not only to survive a school shooting situation, but other situations such as date rape and unpredictable altercations that can happen anywhere. It will also instill in children more awareness of their environment and people, and confidence that can only bolster their self-esteem.

4. NEW ARTICLES

Two new articles added since the last newsletter.

Learn the fighting techniques taught to the U.S. Army. Download the Combatives Manual of the U.S. Army: FM 3-25.150.

Events are held annually to increase awareness of crime and prevention. Learn about these Crime Awareness Months, the sponsoring organizations, and how you can help.

5. LEARN MORE: WOMEN

Specific topics for women include training and classes geared toward women, date rape, sexual assault, and domestic violence.

To learn more about women’s self-defense, check out our articles and resources in the Women Self-Defense section.

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New articles added:

Combatives Manual of the U.S. Army: FM 3-25.150 - learn the fighting techniques taught to the U.S. Army. Download the official combatives field manual!

Crime Awareness Months - a list of events held annually to increase awareness of crime and prevention, with sponsoring organizations and how you can help.

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In this issue of the SelfDefenseResource.com Newsletter:

1. Quick Tip: 4 Letter Word - FEAR
2. Technique: Rotational Defense Against Frontal Choke
3. Blog: 10 Ways to Become a Victim of Crime and Violence
4. Site Update: New Features Coming
5. Learn More: General Self-Defense

1. QUICK TIP: 4 Letter Word - FEAR

FEAR can be looked at as an acronym for False Evidence (or Expectations) Appearing Real. What this means is that fear can be based on irrational or unfounded reasons or expectations.

Think of public speaking. It’s one of the top two fears people have. Yet what is the worst that can happen? No physical injury will result, only some mild discomfort.

What about being threatened or attacked? Oral threats are not the same as physical strikes. The assailant will use intimidation through yelling, cursing, and demonstrations of physical violence to gain compliance and control of their victims.

In oral threats, it’s the imagined pain and injury that may happen in the future if you don’t comply. But realize the pain and injury hasn’t happened yet.

In physical threats, the pain and injury are a reality. It will get worse the longer the attack takes.

Facing an oral or physical attack will be scary. The initial reaction is normal, as our primitive self-preservation instincts kick in. To win, you need to override the fear and deal with the reality, not the imagined.

Whether or not the assailant has already hurt you, you must focus on the main objective: survival.

To survive, you have to escape to safety, which may mean fighting back to give you the time and ability to flee.

Surprise is a great weapon because the criminal fully expects victims to comply. They want control. Once you start resisting, they start feeling fear themselves! They don’t want to be caught. They won’t know how to deal with a resisting victim, as that’s not in their paradigm. You are turning the tables on them.

Persistence and determination in self-defense is key. You cannot give up until you are in safety.

Don’t let FEAR control you. You have what it takes to control FEAR for your survival.

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2. TECHNIQUE: ROTATIONAL DEFENSE AGAINST FRONTAL CHOKE

Here’s another way to defend against an attacker who is choking you from the front. This is the rotational defense, and is more powerful than the plucking defense covered in a previous newsletter.

Sharply step back with one leg, rotating your body 90 degrees, and simultaneously raise and straighten your arm closest to the assailant, placing your bicep to your ear. Your feet should be shoulder length apart. This rotation breaks the assailant’s grip on your throat.

Then quickly drop the raised elbow with your body weight, slightly bending your legs. The upper arm/tricep strikes the attacker’s arms and hands to clear them from your neck. If possible, use your other hand to trap the assailants’ hands against your chest.

Immediately counterattack by using elbow strikes to the face and neck, and knee strikes to the groin and torso.

3. BLOG: 10 WAYS TO BECOME A VICTIM OF CRIME AND VIOLENCE

I thought I’d have a little fun and give a new perspective on the serious subject of self-defense. I wrote a sarcastic top ten list on how to become a victim. I hope this will strike a chord in how you think about your everyday safety.

Read the blog entry.

4. SITE UPDATE: NEW FEATURES COMING

I want to hear from you! The blog has a comments feature where I’ve received some interesting comments so far. It doesn’t matter if you agree or disagree with what I write. I like a healthy discussion.

Soon, you’ll be able to do the same on other articles on the site.

Additionally, I’ll be adding a forum for everyone to share knowledge and opinions and be part of a like-minded community.

Anything else you want to see? Let me know!

5. LEARN MORE: GENERAL SELF-DEFENSE

There are fundamental self-defense tips and techniques that everyone should know. Build your personal protection foundation and make self-defense second nature. Experienced practitioners can also gain value by reviewing and practicing the fundamentals.

To learn more about general self-defense, check out our articles and resources in the General.

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Need to inject a little excitement to your hum-drum life? Become a victim of crime! It’s easy to be a target of criminals and violent assailants. Just follow these 10 easy ways to get robbed, injured, maimed, and/or killed.

In no particular order:

1. Ignore Your Surroundings

Don’t pay attention to your environment. Solely focus on where you’re going, or get lost in your thoughts. Don’t look around you to see if there are any potential problems. Don’t worry about loiterers around your car. Talk on your mobile phone on your way to the car or walking on the street. Keep your head down.

2. Be a Soft Target

Act in a way that assailants will choose you over others. First, be oblivious to everything around you (see #1 above). Act meek and fearful. Look down and slouch. Don’t speak up or look at anyone.

3. Don’t Have a Plan

Be a spontaneous free spirit! You figure that if you’re ever in a confrontation, you’ll immediately react properly, without ever planning an escape or rehearsing an escape plan. Don’t quickly scan for exits wherever you are. At home, don’t develop an escape plan (which can also be use for escaping a fire) with your family.

4. Ignore Your Instincts

Instincts are for cavemen. We’re in the 21st century now and our brain knows better. Those funny feelings (intuition) that something isn’t right are illogical and not based on any fact. Ignore your feeling that those group of young thugs could be trouble, or that gut feeling that your date is being overfriendly. Without hard evidence, just go along and don’t worry about anything bad that might happen.

5. Always Comply with a Criminal

Believe the criminal when he says he won’t hurt you if you do whatever he asks. After all, criminals get to their esteemed positions by always telling the truth.

6. Give Up

Why bother resisting or finding ways to escape? After all, karma has brought you face-to-face in a confrontation, and there is nothing you can do to get out of it. Well, other than let the criminal do whatever he wants with you. If you do resist or try to escape, it’ll just make him more angry, and you don’t want that. Be a polite vicitm and the confrontation will soon pass.

7. Focus on Complex Techniques

You need several years of advanced martial arts training to be really effective in using techniques based on fine motor skills. Those simple moves using gross motor skills are for wussies and are just plain uncool. You want to show off your spinning jump back kicks to your assailant so he knows who he’s dealing with.

8. Focus on Not Getting Hurt

Getting hurt sucks. It’s not worth geting a scratch, bruise, broken bone, or cut if you try to escape. After all, you’d rather be found dead and intact than alive and injured. You’ll look better in a coffin that way.

9. Rely on a Lethal Weapon

Having a gun or knife will protect you in all situations - at work, home, or running errands. You’ll always have your gun or knife ready to use. Or they’ll warn you before they 21 feet from you. Since 21 feet is the distance it takes for someone to reach you before you can pull out a gun and fire 2 rounds. A criminal would be ashamed and dishonored if he didn’t give you fair warning before he attacked you.

10. Wait to Be Attacked Before Responding

Having mastered the rules of etiquette, you are exceedingly polite and considerate. So you don’t say or do anything until someone already attacks you. After all, you don’t want to be rude or embarrased by yelling “stay back,” “no,” or “I don’t want any trouble.” Your civility will protect you from bad things happening to you.

Conclusion

This article was meant to be a humorous and sarcastic view on the serious subject of self-defense. Learn the lessons contained herein. Effective self-defense is the opposite of what is outlined above. Be safe!

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In this issue of the SelfDefenseResource.com Newsletter:

1. Quick Tip: Role Play with Children
2. Technique: Side Kick When On the Ground
3. Blog: Date in Jail for Drugging Beer
4. Learn More: Jeet Kune Do

1. QUICK TIP: ROLE PLAY WITH CHILDREN

Make it easy and fun for your children to learn self-defense through role play. Self-defense role play with young children makes it appear as a game, and allows learning to be anchored in the body. It’s complementary to and a great supplement to the “What If” game.

Set up several common scenarios that a child may encounter. Ruses a stranger or potential abductor can use are: ask your child for help to find a lost pet, say they are a friend of the parents, and an authority figure such as a police officer or security guard. Or maybe the adult knocks on the front door to ask to use the phone for an emergency.

Act as if you are an perpetrator, and say the things that would get the child to comply. Usually the perpetrator is charming and friendly. Compliance could be the child helping the adult find the lost pet, or getting in the car of the parent’s “friend,” or opening the door.

Better yet, get a friend your child doesn’t know to be the perpetrator, with you out of sight but close by, watching and ready to intervene.

Based on the child’s responses, either praise him for the correct action, or discuss in a non-judgmental manner why a different approach could be better. Never blame or punish the child for the incorrect answer, as this is likely new to them. They don’t have the experience or judgment yet.

It’s important to not scare your child while role playing. You want to empower them through knowledge and confidence of what to do in certain situations. As you work with your child, they will develop the judgment and confidence to act correctly in your absence.

=============== SPONSOR ==========================

HIKUTA. The SCIENCE of Self Defense! Beyond “power punching,”speed hitting,” and “martial arts.” Moves are made with nearly the speed of thought. Pulled or light blows stagger, stun, and knockout. Full power moves (used only in extreme situations) cause massive damage. Developed by experts in the fields of body movement, psychology, and combat science. Quickly and easily mastered.

Click now => Hikuta

==================================================

2. TECHNIQUE: SIDE KICK WHEN ON THE GROUND

In a previous newsletter, I discussed how to kick while on the ground. That particular variation had you on your back, using it to form a stable base for the technique.

When in violent confrontation, you might find yourself on your side. It’s faster if you can deliver a kick in whatever position you’re in, rather than repositioning first before delivering the kick.

When on your side, establish a base with your bottom arm and leg. Brace the arm slightly above your head, to act as a stop or anchor from being pushed or hitting your head on the ground.

Kick with the leg that is on top. Recoil it by bending and bringing the knee toward you. Then kick out forcefully by extending the leg out toward the target. Flex the foot back and strike with your heel or arch. Imagine the force shooting out from your heel.

Repeat.

3. BLOG: DATE IN JAIL FOR DRUGGING BEER

The recent sentencing of a San Francisco man for drugging his date’s beer serves as a reminder to never leave your drink unattended. Date rape drugs can be added to the drink while you’re not looking.

For details, read the blog entry.

4. LEARN MORE: JEET KUNE DO

Jeet Kune Do was developed by the late Bruce Lee. He developed his own “style” of fighting that combined Wing Chun kung fu, Western boxing, and fencing. He continually sought out what was effective from a variety of systems and was not constrained by tradition or style.

To learn more about Jeet Kune Do, check out our articles and resources in the Jeet Kune Do section.

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On the front page of today’s San Francisco Chronicle is an article about how on a first date at Noe’s Bar in San Francisco, Joseph Szlamnik slipped a date rape drug in his date’s beer while she went to the restroom. The white powder was later identfied as zalepron, a prescription sleeping drug sold as Sonata.

An observant waitress and a bartender’s quick thinking averted a potential rape. Karri Cormican, the waitress, swapped out the drugged beer with another, on the guise that the beer was bad.

As the waitress talked to the woman, Tatiana K., outside the bar about what happened, Szlamnik dropped 2 pills into the new beer, which the bartender, Hannah Bridgeman-Oxley, saw, incredulously. The pills were later identified as alprazolam, commonly sold as Xanax, a central nervous system depressant prescribed to relieve anxiety.

Police took the 2 beers as evidence, and last week Szlamnik was sentenced to one year in prison.

The lesson here? Never leave your drink unattended. Date rape drugs are used to make victims unable to refuse sex, with no recollection of the sexual assault. The drugs are virtually undetectable and leave the body quickly. Read this article to learn more about date rape drugs, avoidance strategies, detecting whether you’ve been drugged and raped, and what to do if you think you’ve been a victim.

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