Self Defense - Awareness is Key!

Increasing your personal awareness is the primary element for effective self-defense. The most important thing you need to do for self-defense is to be aware of your surroundings. There truly are only two kinds of people in our world: (a) those who are aware, and (b) those who are not aware.

Those who are not aware of their surroundings may think life is like a theme park: pleasant, happy, and safe. These are the ones I cannot help much. If you think your life is safe, or bad things only happen to other people, then you have already chosen to come to be a victim. I have a daughter I was teaching to drive. We passed a road, and I said to her, "You know, Jen, it is important to look both ways when you pass an intersection." Her response was excellent Jennifer, "Uhm, what road?"

Self Defense

This was eye-opening for me. Have you ever been driving, with a lot on your mind, and arrived at the grocery store and said, "Wow, I sure got here quickly." And yet you were reasoning of so many other things that you arrived on auto-pilot? Try this experiment: While you are driving down the street, take yourself off 'auto-pilot'. Consciously come to be aware of every car, each man in the yard, the animals you see, and the cars you pass. This is an exquisite way to train your mind to 'see' what is going on nearby you.

Self Defense - Awareness is Key!

For those who are aware, the next step is preparedness, and a little more education. Your quick tips for awareness operation are as follows:

Be aware of yourself, your posture:

• Keep your head up. Are you confidently getting to your destination? Do you look like you know where you are going?
• Project a presence of awareness, a 'presence of power'. (Not so much that man wants to challenge that power, but sufficient so that a bad guy will know you are not going to be easy).
• Criminals prefer uncertain, unfocused victims-they are easier to surprise.

Be aware of your surroundings:

• Are you in a well-lit area?
• Did you observation that group of boys on the corner?
• Did you observation that car passing you twice?
• Whether at home, or traveling: avoid dark alleys.

Be aware of an attacker's inherent strategies:

• A criminal's primary opinion is to take you by surprise.
• Criminals are certainly good at selecting a victim that appears to be unaware of what's going on nearby them.

Be aware of your surroundings and task a "powerful presence", a "focused direction", or an "I've-got-somewhere-important-to-be" attitude. Many problems on the street, in your neighborhood, and in your life can be avoided with awareness, and just a little coarse sense. Awareness of self and your surroundings will increase your safety.

Self Defense - Awareness is Key!