How To Protect Yourself and Loved Ones

The U.S. Department of Justice crime data show personal crimes -- which include sexual assault and rape, robbery, and simple and aggravated assault are at their lowest levels in 10 years. The data also shows property crimes, which include theft, burglary, and auto theft have stabilized after years of decline. Unfortunately this data cannot be relied upon as it has been shown that many crimes go unreported. The victims are many times illegal aliens or people with outstanding arrest warrants themselves. In addition, crime fighting has become a political game where the winners are the ones with the lowest amount of reported crime in their district. The assumption is that policing efforts are effective, and promotions and raises await those moving up to the top of the ladder.

So this is no time to be complacent about your personal safety. Criminals like to prey on people who are off-guard, according to crime and self-defense experts. Criminals seek out people who are not paying attention to their activities and surroundings. They use the element of surprise to shock and startle their victims.

Victims From All Walks of Life

"Criminals don't want to get caught," says Tony Farrenkopf, PhD, a clinical and forensic psychologist in private practice in Portland. "They ask themselves, 'Does this person look attackable? Does this person look vulnerable? Can I get away with something here?'" Personally I believe the criminal simply sizes the situation up and says to themselves "Here's an easy score."

In the U.S., criminals committed 24 million crimes in 2009. For every 1,000 people age 12 and older, there occurred:

• 1 rape or sexual assault
• 2 assaults with injury
• 2 robberies

Regardless of the "so called" improved crime rate, crime affects everyone in all types of neighborhoods, economic levels and racial lines, says Larry Jordan, author of The Dirty Dozen: 12 Nasty Fighting Techniques for Any Self-Defense Situation. He is a former member of the U.S. Army Rangers and Special Forces and is a master-level instructor in several forms of martial arts.

Be In Charge of Your Safety

"It is a reality," Jordan says. "People are being assaulted and victimized, or are target victims each and every day."

To avoid becoming a victim, you need to be in charge of your own safety. There are no guarantees, but being aware of your surroundings can help lower the chances of becoming a victim. Pay attention, act like you know what you're doing, where you are and that you're ready if trouble pops up.

There's a saying in the world of martial arts "That the best form of self-defense is staying away from a situation where you have to defend yourself."

Here's some expert advice on how to avoid dangerous situations and how to defend yourself once you're in them. If you follow and practice the following ways of thinking and acting, there is a good chance that you will not become a victim, but an active defender of your life and property.

Constant Security

Preventing crime from happening requires an active mind and body. It means paying attention to your instincts, to the people around you, and your surroundings. It means constantly training your mind and body to act defensively. It is more than just a few martial arts moves. It is a way of life.

"Security has to be a habit," says Jordan. Don't allow yourself to be apathetic when it pertains to your security. It is difficult to overcome that pattern when you find yourself in threatening circumstances."

To illustrate his point, Jordan points to home security alarms that people do not turn on. The hardware does nothing to deter burglars if it is not used.

We have an internal alarm, also. It's suppose to tell you that you're going into a bad situation. Still, people ignore it because they have a false sense of security or believe that crime won't happen to them.

5 Danger Avoiding Tactics

Keep your personal alarm armed with the following suggestions:

  1. Trust your instincts. Our senses give us clues that there is something threatening. Also, most people have a sixth sense about things. You know the feeling when something doesn't seem right.

  2. Check out your surroundings. Regardless of how safe you think a neighborhood or area is, it's not smart to leave the front door unlocked, a cell phone or valuables in the car, your purse on top of the desk at work, or to flaunt expensive jewelry or other items. These actions are a large temptation and easy opportunity for criminals. Be smart and don't walk through dark alleys, parks, or parking lots. Bad things happen to good people and in "safe" areas all the time. Attackers loiter around places where there is an opportunity to catch people off guard. Again, they don't want to get caught and they know the quickest get-away route.

  3. Pay attention to the people around you. Size them up and don't worry about being politically correct. Better safe than sorry as the old saying goes. We can often sense peoples' intentions by their body language and the way they look at you. Pay attention to warning signs even when you are with people you think you know and trust. In 2008, the Justice Department statistics show seven in 10 rape or sexual assault victims said the attacker was an ex-boyfriend, a relative, a close friend, or a casual acquaintance.

Those questionable looks from people you know can escalate to touching or inappropriate language. If your uncomfortable with the situation tell someone about what is going on. It needs to be someone who can help you.

  4. Be and act confident and in control. Keep your head up, walk with purposeful steps and act like your ready to take on the world. Attackers look for meek, mild, weak, unfocused, and distracted victims. Criminals want easy pickings. They're want someone they can take by surprise and will likely not resist. Give yourself an assertive manner. When walking down the street don't look at the ground with your head bent down, instead make brief eye contact with people who look at you. This says to the potential offender that you are in charge and aware that they are there, and you know what they look like.

  5. You know that alcohol and drugs can cloud judgment. These substances dull your senses and slow down your reactions. These substances can lower some people's inhibitions and make them more aggressive or belligerent than they would be normally. Bars and pubs may present some danger, especially if they are crowded. On occasion, mutual drinking can increase chances of rape or sexual assault.

How to Defend Yourself

Crime prevention steps can help reduce chances of an attack, however there are no guarantees of complete safety. Therefore, it is a smart idea to have several plans to defend yourself, your family and property.

Imagine an attack situation and what you would do. Are you willing to give up your wallet or purse, and if you are, it is a good idea to make a photocopy of your Id's, driver's license and credit cards. Be sure to keep them in a safe place? What will you do if you aren't willing to give up your property? What are you going to do to keep them?"

Your plans will depend upon your age, gender, and physical fitness. You should have no problem about escaping as your primary plan.

Fight or Flight?

A person's natural reaction to danger is either fight or flight. It's your decision which will provide the least risk and be most successful. However, the better part of valor is retreat, if possible. Run, Run Now!

If flight is not an option, then tough and fast resistance is left to you, particularly in instances of potential rape or sexual assault. With people you know, be clear when you say "No" to sex, and to avoid inappropriate flirting or mixed messages. Physically resisting with everything you have and then escaping is the best option. Don't be afraid to bite an ear, nose, hand or finger. Kick them in sensitive areas like below the belt, in the head or face. Remember the attacker was going to rape and/or kill you. There are NO Rules in survival tactics.

Submission is never an option. Surveys and evidence show the difference between attackers who have completed rape and those who have attempted, it is the victims' reaction to the situation. In the actual completed rape cases, the victims generally froze and submitted to the attacker. And, just the opposite in the attempted rape cases, the victim fought back, and escaped.

Escape or Fight Back Tips

How to Escape, Fight, and Survive:

  1. Always have an escape plan regardless of where you are or wherever you are going. Learn the layout of the place, look for exits and visualize your escape route. This is not being paranoid, it's being prepared. People that have survived disasters said it had a lot to do with having a plan in case something happened. When you are home, know where your breaker/fuse box is, and knowing your way in the dark gives you a distinct advantage over intruders. If you're in a strange town, find out what areas are off-limits, where freeway ramps are located. Knowing the layout of the building will give you an idea where to go to escape.

  2. Keep yourself in relatively good shape. How can you rely on yourself if you're not physically fit? Keep in mind, you don't have to win the fight against an attacker. You just need to be able to survive it. People who fight back may have a greater chance of injury, but they have better chances of survival. Most attackers won't persist for very long as it increases the chance of them being seen and caught. You might get a black eye or a broken arm, however, the black eye and the broken arm are going to heal far quicker than the trauma of being raped.

  3. React immediately to danger. Response time is critical. Since the offender is counting on a surprise ambush to carry out his crime, you need to use the same element of surprise to escape or counterattack. This can be running toward lights and people, or screaming and making noise with whatever you have to get other people's attention. Instead of yelling "Help", scream "Fire" repeatedly. People may not want to get involved if they hear help, but darn near everybody wants to see a fire.

  4. If you're grabbed by the wrist try to position your hand so that you can pull it away in the area where the attacker's hand will open up. If immediate escape is not possible, a quick and efficient self-defense is key. Try and keep your wits about you and don't flail about. Instead strike at vital targets of the body where the most pain and damage can be inflicted. This will be more effective in disabling the offender and allowing you to get away. Vital targets include the top center of the skull, eyes, temples, ears, windpipe, knees, insteps, base of skull, groin, and spine.

  5. Carry some personal protection devices like pepper spray, mace and stun guns. The more you disable an attacker the more time you'll have to escape.

Self-defense DVD's are available from us that will teach you some surprisingly effective technics to disable attackers.