Preparation is the KEY to your self-defense

What do you do if you live near a zip code that is known for its violence, while reading in the local newspapers reports of rapes or muggings, and sirens that blare in the night? Fortunately, you may live on the fringes of “Gotham” city and never experience an attack in your own neighborhood; but those hooded men, muggers and violent rapists do not require your consent to enter your prosperous and peaceful street and when an incident occurs, unfortunately the law can do very little to help. There are no longer any police on the beat, and the police are slow to react to your call, by which time it may be too late; another article in the papers, but this time it’s your neighborhood, your exact zip code, and a picture of you and your family on the front page.

It is very likely that you will become a target of violence in the future. City and urban statistics overwhelmingly back this up; The question is, has it reached your neighborhood yet, and the next reported victim will be you walking down that peaceful road tonight. Visitors to the wild side look for an opportunity and a possible victim. It is worth noting that the victims they choose are not young, beautiful, sexy or famous people: their main strategy is surprise. They would look for a young or old person fumbling for keys, engrossed in her iPhone while walking down the street, or a single mother living alone in a deserted part of town. Everyone is a potential victim.

Self defense is not just about waiting for it to happen, and if it does, being prepared to defend yourself and possibly your home. Would that couple of afternoons you spent at the gym and those DVDs you bought be enough? Have you taken precautions on how to make your home and family safe?

“The prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the fool blindly advances and suffers the consequences.” Proverbs 22:3

So just as it’s wise to wear your seat belt while driving, it makes sense to know how best to respond to a potential violent incident in your neighborhood. If you are away from home frequently, it would be wise to take some precautions to protect your house and home. Some of the precautions you could take – are –

If you plan to go abroad for a reasonable period, contact the community police officer at the nearest police station and ask if they can visit your home and make recommendations on safety and security.

If you have a young family and often go in and out of the house, get a dog. A dog is your best deterrent or alarm against anyone trying to enter your home. And you should also engage the dog in a family protection training program.

Never let anyone freely enter your home. If there is an emergency outside, tell them you will call Emergency Services.

For your physical self-defense Preparation –

We know that Self-Defense does not exist for all situations, because there are too many different forms and levels of violence. So, to avoid and survive the unexpected, to get away from a potential problem, to turn around a possible looming threat, or to get away from that person you just met; all of this is driven by your instinct, that inner voice that says. “Hey, this doesn’t feel right” or “That person is getting too close to me.” Evasion and awareness based on your instinct is your most valuable strategy to avoid being hurt or killed.

So if you are suddenly confronted by an attacker and your only means of survival is a physical response to their attack, at some point you failed. Remember, your first self-defense principle is avoidance and awareness: you are now in a fight. to save your skin because you may have unknowingly walked on their “turf”, their “patch”, Which is something you might have been able to avoid. Effective self-defense begins and ends with your mindset, your thoughts, your conscience, and your instinct, which at this point says. “Stop!” “This place doesn’t feel right, whoops, and that angry hooded guy approaching is definitely not right.”

“Part of the happiness of life consists not in fighting battles, but in avoiding them. A masterly retreat is itself a victory.”

Norman Vincent Peale