Stay Safe!



SELF-PROTECTION TECHNIQUES


by
Mark S. Camp

Police Officer

Black Belt Martial Arts Instructor

Published by Mark Camp & Associates, Inc.


CONTENTS

Is self-defense really necessary?

What is self-defense?

Rules, facts, and states of awareness

Justifying the use of force

Should you fight or be passive?

The Fight-Flight response

Ways to reduce risk

Weapons for self-protection

Creating a Safe Room in your home

Conclusion


© 1997, 1998, 1999 by Mark Camp & Associates, Inc.

Disclaimers

No self-defense technique or self-protection plan can guarantee complete immunity from becoming a victim of violent crime. The reader of this material is responsible for his or her own actions. The author is simply passing on information regarding methods and techniques for self-defense. It is up to the reader to use the information presented herein responsibly and to be familiar with the federal, state, and local laws governing the protection of life and property as well as the use of force. This text should be used as a
guide to stimulate thinking, further investigation, and encourage study in the area of self-defense. It is not the ultimate source of material on the subject.

The author shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly, by the information contained herein. Although the author is a police officer, this book is not endorsed in any way by any law enforcement agency.

Is self-defense Really Necessary?

“Prey behavior induces Predator activity.” - Tony Blauer, Blauer Tactical Systems
You don't bother other people. You're kind to others. You're very trusting of others.
You read and hear in the news about bad things happening to people but it never really sinks in that bad things could happen to you. Your neighborhood looks safe. After all, many nice, professional types live there. Maybe you have the attitude that self-defense training is for those men who never really grew up and still want to “play Army” in some militia group while they wait for the end of the world or the establishment of the New World Order.

The plain, honest truth is that you have a very good chance of becoming a victim of crime.
Juvenile crime is increasing at an alarming rate. Gang membership is increasing, not only among the poor sections of our society, but in middle class and upper class areas all over the country. Drug usage continues to escalate and so do the rate of burglaries.

Many more people are purchasing alarm systems for their automobiles. Guess what?
Since the criminals know that more cars have security systems, they have decided that it is much easier to steal a car right from under the driver instead of trying to steal a parked car. Ever hear the term “carjacking”?

I recently paid a visit back to my hometown. When I grew up there, we read about fights every once in a while. The big thing to do in high school was to see if you could buy a six-pack of beer on a Friday night and go drinking. The first article I read in the hometown newspaper on my recent visit dealt with four youths that had been arrested for violating the town's new anti-gang laws. The second night another article appeared pertaining to more violations of the anti-gang law. This is in a sleepy midwestern town of about 30,000 people.

Are you divorced? In a study conducted in 1986 in Philadelphia and Chicago, researchers found that almost 1/4 of the women killed by their male partners were separated or divorced from the men who killed them (Casanave and Zahn, 1986). Women face the greatest chance of being murdered when trying to end a marriage or leave an abusive relationship.

A 1993 study by Brandeis University showed that women who do not defend themselves by fighting back are more likely to be raped or harmed than those who fought back.

The need and ability to protect and defend oneself has become a necessity of life. Like it or not, your chances are much better today of becoming a victim of crime than they were 20 or 30 years ago. When I was a boy I used to hitchhike all the time to get to town. I would be crazy to do that today.

Let's take a moment and look at some recent crime statistics:

Studies show that 73% of all U.S. women over the age of 12 will be victimized at some point in their lives - a third of them will be violently raped, robbed, or assaulted. Canadian statistics from a 1991 study show that 27% of Canadian women can expect to be sexually assaulted (Metro Action Committee on Public Violence Against Women and Children,
1991). The statistics on sexual assault continue to increase every year.

According to the FBI's annual publication, Crime in the United States, released on November 19, 1995, reported statistics for 1994 showed that:

? 716 violent crimes occurred for every 100,000 inhabitants
? Firearms were used in 31% of the violent crimes? Aggravated assaults

accounted for 60% of violent crimes
? Robberies accounted for 33% of violent crimes
? The value of stolen property in connection with property crimes was $15.1

billion
? Offenses involving offenders under the age of 18 were involved in 14% of
violent crimes
? There were 23,305 reported murders
? 47% of murder victims were acquainted in some way with their assailant
? 102,096 forcible rapes were reported
? 619,000 robberies were reported and 55% of them occurred on streets or
highways
? 1,119,950 aggravated assaults were reported and 32% of them were

committed with blunt objects or dangerous weapons and 24% were

committed with firearms
? 2,700,000 burglaries were reported with 2 out of every 3 being residential
burglaries
? 1,500,000 vehicle thefts were reported or 1 theft for every 130 registered
vehicles

Not defending yourself can lead to several psychological side effects. It is a terrible feeling to have been attacked or assaulted while doing nothing to protect yourself. You may not always be able to keep yourself from being a victim of a crime, but at least by fighting back in self-defense you can know that you at least tried to stop the attacker and were not easy prey for some maniac.

There is definitely a need for you to develop a self-protection program! You buy insurance on your home, automobiles, and your life. You hope you never have to use it.
But, if need be, the protection is there. Hopefully, you will never have to defend yourself.
But, should the need arise, be prepared. Invest in “life extension insurance” as Tony Blauer calls it (Blauer Tactical Systems).

What is Self-defense?

First, let's talk about what self-defense is not. Most people think of self-defense in this manner: A bad guy comes after me with a weapon and by using a few martial arts techniques I can fight him off and get away. If he really gets nasty I'll spray him in the face with my pepper spray.

Self-defense is not simply carrying a can of pepper spray to ward off an attacker. Self-defense is not the process of spending thousands of dollars on training in the martial arts and spending years in training to become a black belt. Nor is self-defense being able to scream loudly when grabbed by an attacker or to set off a portable security alarm when an attack occurs.

Self-defense is a state of mind and a state of living. Self-defense is a lifestyle that centers on self-protection and self-preservation in the midst of adverse circumstances. This lifestyle is shown by the way you talk, dress, and carry yourself.
Someone has said that self-defense is really a study in options: whether to reduce risks, talk, run, or fight (Tips from the Nashville Police Department on their Internet web page). A self-defense mindset says, “I know I cannot eliminate crime and violence, but I do know that I can take steps and put measures in place to reduce the risks of becoming a victim.”

Self-defense does not mean living your life in fear or being paranoid. Self-defense means living in a state of awareness of your surroundings so that when something adverse happens or is about to happen you can take measures, which are appropriate to counter the event. Living in this state of awareness means that you have several options available to you at any given moment. These options may include, but are not limited to, a knowledge of possible escape routes, the use of security systems, the use of a variety of non-lethal or lethal weapons, and a knowledge of takedown moves and pain compliance holds. Living your self-protection plan includes things like knowing the location of the fire exits at the hotel where you are staying. It includes carrying an emergency first aid kit in your vehicle.

Self-defense or SELF-PROTECTION is the study of OPTIONS.

Rules, Facts, and States of Awareness?

As you develop your self-defense lifestyle, you need to keep in mind some basic rules, be familiar with the various states or stages of awareness, and understand some simple facts.
However, before we go further, let me say a few words regarding violence and justifiable force.

I do not advocate violence, nor do I advocate ferocious, to the death fighting as the immediate means of settling a confrontation. You are only justified in using an equal amount of force to defend yourself against attack. For example, someone spits in your face and calls your mother a whore. This does not give you lawful justification to pull out a gun and shoot the person. In fact, it really doesn't give you much reason to do anything other than try to ignore the person or walk away. The fact that someone pushes you does
not necessarily mean that you are justified in using lethal (deadly) force to counter the attack. In other words, you must have several available options when it comes to a lifestyle of self-defense. The options must be appropriate for a variety of situations.

In law enforcement, we cannot use deadly force until we have determined three things:
Ability, Opportunity, and Jeopardy. In other words, I have to ask myself these questions:

1. Does the attacker have the ability right here and now to harm me?
2. Does the attacker have a real opportunity to harm me?
3. Am I in jeopardy of receiving serious bodily harm or death right now?

In many instances, the issue of Preclusion must also be addressed. Preclusion means - Have I exhausted all other possible means available to me to handle this situation?

A person with a loaded gun, standing 15 feet from me certainly has the ability to hurt me.
The opportunity is certainly present, and if he shoots me, I would be the recipient of serious bodily harm or death. However, if I, as a six foot tall, 250 pound male, am confronted by a 17 year old female weighing 90 pounds with no visible weapons, and the only threat is her screaming “I'm gonna kill you, you f---ing pig!”, then the situation becomes different.

Granted, this becomes a very subjective area, that is, of trying to figure out when to use lethal force or when to fight ferociously. I cannot tell you each and every situation where such force is appropriate. Whatever course of action you decide to take, you need to be able to defend that action to the police and to the courts. But not only that, you will have to live (or die) with the decision you make.

Ferocious fighting and the use of deadly force may be necessary at some point. You will see what I mean when we talk about the states of awareness and your established safety zone. But, you are not fighting for your life each and every time something bad happens to you. If you can avoid the fight, do so. If you can run away, do so. If you can disable your attacker by spraying him with pepper spray as opposed to shooting him with a handgun, do so. Always use the least amount of force necessary to stop or evade the attack.

We will discuss the use of force in more detail later.

The RULES are as follows:

Rule #1: THERE ARE NO RULES WHEN YOUR LIFE IS AT STAKE.

That's right. In self-defense situations where your health and welfare or the health and welfare of your loved ones is at stake, there are no rules! There are, as I stated above, laws regarding how much force can be used to counter an attack. For example, if someone calls you a yellow-bellied, no-good, low life coward, you aren't justified in breaking their arm and gouging out their eyes. If you weigh 250 pounds and are a lean, mean, six feet tall, you just can't beat up the little old lady who carelessly backed into your front fender. (By the way, one element of the self-defense lifestyle is becoming familiar
with the federal, state, and local laws regarding self-defense.) On the other hand, when your life or the lives of your loved ones are at stake there is no such thing as a fair fight.
There is no such thing as the gentlemen's way to fight. When the attacker has his knife pulled you don't wait for him to stab you before you decide to retaliate. In fact, the decision should have been made before he pulled the knife!

When someone is attacking you and your health and welfare is at stake, you do whatever it takes to get away, stop the attack, and/or disable the attacker. If that means kicking, biting, scraping the face with your fingernails, grabbing the groin and pulling as hard as you can, crushing the windpipe, breaking the kneecap, or snapping an elbow, you do it.
You do what it takes to preserve your life and health as well as the life and health of your loved ones. And, you do not stop until the attack is over. Be a savage. Do not hold back. Don't say to yourself, “Well, I'll just slap him and hopefully that will stop the attack.” Instead, tell yourself, “I will do whatever it takes to disable this attacker and save my life and I'll worry about sorting it all out after the attack is over and I am safe.”

My personal motto regarding situations in which my life is at stake is, “It is better to be judged by twelve than to be carried by six.” When it comes down to my personal health and welfare, and the health and welfare of those I love, and, death or grave injury is imminent, I would rather take my chances with a jury of my peers than be carried out of the funeral home by six pallbearers. I do not ask you to adopt this motto as your own, but I think it gives you the gist of what I am saying.

Your ultimate goal is not to kill the attacker, although that may happen. Your ultimate goal is not to hurt the attacker, although that may happen. Your ultimate goal can be summed up in one word: SURVIVAL!



RULE #2: DEAL WITH THREATENING SITUATIONS IMMEDIATELY.

Given all the factors involved, you have a better chance of surviving an attack of some type if you deal with the threat immediately. For example: You are a female, driving by yourself at night, in a bad part of town. (We won't go into why you were there in the first place. You may have had good reason to be there. You may not have.) Your doors aren't locked and you roll up to a stoplight. While you are waiting, a man jumps into the back seat of your car, grabs you by the hair, puts a knife to your throat and tells you to drive off to some secluded spot or someplace that you have never even heard of. He may
even try to win your trust by saying something like, “Just do what I say and I won't hurt you.” Yeah, right. You are now faced with an immediate decision - to drive off and comply with his wishes or immediately deal with the threat.

Remember this: The longer you stay with your attacker, the more chance you have of being hurt or killed. The further you get away from familiar territory, the more chance you have of being hurt or killed. The closer you get to an isolated area, the more chance you have of being hurt or killed. Yes, you may well get hurt or killed if you decide to deal with the threat immediately. That is a real possibility. However, your chances of losing your life or suffering serious physical and mental harm are much less if you deal with the
situation right now and not later. Something else to remember: Unless the attacker has killed you, you still have options.

On a related note - NEVER GET INTO A VEHICLE AND DRIVE AWAY WITH YOUR ATTACKER! If you are walking to your car, for example, and someone approaches you and orders you to drive them away, you should throw your keys as far away as possible and then kick, bite, tear, scream, or whatever it takes to try and get away. But DO NOT get in the car. If you get in that car you have exponentially increased the likelihood that you are not coming back. You have signed your own death certificate.


RULE #3: ONCE YOU COMMIT TO ACTION, DO NOT STOP UNTIL THE ATTACK IS OVER OR UNTIL YOU CAN GET AWAY.

There will come a point in every threat at which you must make the final decision to act or not act. For some people, the decision to act is made when the threatening person steps within arm's distance. For some people, the “safety zone” is an area five feet from the body. However, if the attacker is 25 feet away and pulls a knife, a decision to act needs to be made immediately since the attacker can close the distance of 25 feet in less than two seconds. For others, the decision is made when they are physically touched by someone else. However, once you make the decision to commit to action, DO NOT STOP UNTIL THE ATTACK IS OVER OR UNTIL YOU GET AWAY. If you decide to lash out at the attacker and kick him in the shin in hopes of disabling him by breaking his leg don't just kick once and give up. Kick until the leg is broken and the attacker is disabled or until the attacker runs away or until you can get away.

You must make the decision to act quickly. A delay of even a few hundredths of a second can make the difference between life and death, escape or injury. As soon as the realization hits you that you are about to be attacked, mugged, injured or raped, you must act and deal with the situation.

Keep in mind that in most instances your attacker does not expect you to take quick, decisive action. He assumes that you will submit. By suddenly making the decision to react and then doing so violently, you have the elements of shock and surprise in your favor.

A half-hearted defense will get you killed more easily than a full-blown, no holds barred defense.

States of Awareness

Let's talk for a moment about States of Awareness. When you have adopted the self-defense lifestyle, you will find that you are always in one of five possible states of awareness. The particular state of awareness you are in determines what level of self-defense you are prepared to use at that particular time. Some people only teach four states of awareness but I have adopted a five-stage model. I believe the five-stage model is better suited for the law-abiding citizen who is not a member of the military or law enforcement establishment.

These states of awareness are:

Condition WHITE
Condition YELLOW
Condition ORANGE
Condition RED
Condition BLACK

Condition WHITE: This is the lowest stage or state of awareness or readiness. At this level you are basically relaxed and comfortable in your surroundings. Your guard is down. For the moment there is no trouble imminent and you really aren't prepared to deal with trouble should it arise. You have not forgotten about self-protection, but there is nothing at the moment that leads you to believe you need to be in a heightened self-
defense mode. An example of this may be that you are in your home on a Sunday afternoon watching a sporting event or movie on television. You are in your home, it's a nice, sunny day outside, you've just had lunch, and you have kicked back to relax in your easy chair.

Condition YELLOW: At this level you are not necessarily expecting trouble but you are in a state of “relaxed awareness.” Your senses are on the alert. Your guard is up just in case something was to happen. An example would be a situation in which you are in a new town on business. You are not familiar with the area around the hotel and so your awareness level is heightened so that you are not surprised by anything. You've checked the floor you are on for the exits and other possible escape routes. When the elevator door opens you do not immediately jump in, rather you give a quick scan for anything or anyone that looks unusual or out of place.

Here is an important note regarding Condition YELLOW: Whenever you are armed with a defensive weapon, particularly a firearm, you must, at a minimum, be in Condition YELLOW. You don't want your weapon taken from you by surprise, nor do you want to incur an accidental discharge (or negligent discharge) because you were negligent in handling the weapon.

Condition ORANGE: At this level, something has happened that has given you cause for alarm and your senses are keenly aware of your surroundings - not only the environment, but the people as well. You are ready to proceed with protective action should the condition worsen. An example of this would be a situation in which you are walking from your office to your car in the parking garage. It is late at night and the garage is fairly empty. As you come out of the office building and into the parking garage, you notice three youths standing about halfway down the garage, just past the elevator.
They are dressed in leather jackets or NFL warm-up jackets and has red bandannas tied around their arms. They have not made any move towards you so there is no attack in progress. However, you are now calling your self-protection tactics to mind. You are running over your alternatives in your mind and accessing the situation.

Do you go back into the building and ask a security guard to walk you to your car? Do you reach into your purse and get your pepper spray ready? Do you reach your hand under your sport coat, flip open the retaining strap on your gun holster and place your hand on your .38 Special revolver for which you have a concealed carry permit? In other words, you are not relaxed, you realize that something is out of place, and you do not just walk blindly to the elevator. These fellows could just be hanging out in the garage and maybe won't do anything to you at all. However, you are assuming the worst and are planning accordingly. You maintain eye contact with the subjects.

Condition RED: At this stage, the attack is in the process of starting or has already started. You have encountered someone whom you believe has the ability and opportunity to harm or kill you. It is time to pull out the stops and get into high gear with whatever means is at your disposal. Using the example above, for whatever reason you decided to go towards the elevator and get to your car. After all, you are late for that dinner date. As you reach the elevator, one of the youths comes over and starts to raise his hands toward you. He has entered your safety zone. He starts to grab your left arm.
Now is the time to go into action to take those measures, which will stop the attack and/or repel the attacker. Your goal here is to stop the attack and get away.

Note: The moment you noticed the individual coming towards you, you should have started your defense. When possible, always take the advantage by taking the offense, not the defense. You should have shouted for him to stop, warned him to stay away, or immediately turned and ran back towards the building. The old saying, “He who hesitates loses,” is very true.

Condition BLACK: The main difference between RED and BLACK is that at the level of Condition BLACK, your very life is at stake. Unless you take decisive action, you will be killed. You have perceived that death is imminent. Condition BLACK always exists, in my opinion, when multiple assailants confront you. (It can obviously exist with only one assailant, it just exists quicker when there are multiple assailants. In many jurisdictions you also have more justification for using lethal force when there are multiple assailants.)

To continue the example from Condition RED, another one of the two remaining youths has pulled a gun and is coming towards you. You now have not just one assailant, you have two and the third may not be far behind. At this point you decide that it is either them or you. You reach under your coat with your free hand, draw the .38 and fire twice - once at the fellow coming towards you with the gun and once at the fellow grabbing you. The fellow who grabbed you falls to the pavement as he is shot. You missed the
approaching attacker, but as he sees his companion in crime fall to the ground dead he decides to run. The third youth also runs. The attack has ended and you are left alive. You cannot, by the way, and by law, run after the other attackers and shoot them.

These then, are the five states of awareness. You will always be in one of these five stages. It is possible for them to take place in very rapid succession. Hopefully, you will never find yourself in a RED or BLACK condition. However, if you do, remember the
rules.


Facts

When you adopt the self-protection lifestyle, there are certain facts that you must come to grips with. We have touched upon a couple of these facts but we need to explain them in detail.

Fact #1: You can be a victim of crime.

We have already stated that your chances are very good of becoming a victim of crime. Each day you live increases your chances of being a criminal's target. We are not always talking about violent crime. You may be the victim of a purse-snatcher, a burglar, a hit and run driver, a terrorist, a rapist, and even a victim of a con man. So, be prepared.
Remember - have a variety of options for a variety of situations.


Fact #2: You cannot eliminate crime but you can reduce your risks.

Until the world comes to an end there will be criminals. You can't wish them away. You can't shut your eyes and pretend that they don't exist. However, you have the ability to reduce the risk of becoming a crime victim. Obviously, there is nothing that can guarantee you that you will never be a victim or that you will never be hurt by a criminal.
But, there are definite steps that you can take and procedures that you can implement to reduce risk.


Fact #3: When exercising self-defense, accept the fact that you may get hurt.

Which would you prefer? To have your throat slashed and bleed to death, or, receive a big gash in your arm but live? To be raped and catch the AIDS virus, or, suffer a broken arm but live? People who fight get injured. If you have an attacker who has a knife, unless you have superior knife defense skills, you can expect to get cut.

You might think that if you don't resist you won't get hurt. Granted, sometimes the best option is to offer no resistance. However, statistics show that 55% of people who offer no resistance get injured anyway! Accept the fact that you can be hurt and probably will be hurt to some degree. And, if you are going to be hurt, it may as well be while you are fighting for your life rather than while you are doing nothing.

As a police officer, I have been hurt several times. None have been critical injuries. As a simple example, my thumbs are weak. Inevitably, every time I have to restrain and control someone with any degree of soft hand controls, one of my thumbs gets jammed or sprained. I know it before it ever happens. But, I cannot let that keep me from doing what I have to do. I will worry about the injury after all is said and done.


Fact #4: There are times when no resistance is acceptable.

When training children in Martial Arts, we teach them the principle of ARF - Avoid, Run, and Fight. In other words, avoid trouble in the first place. Make every effort to stay out of troubled situations. However, if you find yourself in a bad situation, and you can get away from it, do so. Run, walk, crawl, or whatever to get away and stay away. There is no dishonor in walking away from a fight or running away as fast as you can. There is nothing wrong with using what we call in law enforcement “verbal judo” to talk your way out of a situation.

Don't let your ego get in the way of living. A thief comes up to you and wants your money. You've got $40 in your wallet. Is your life worth losing over $40? Credit cards can be canceled and replaced. You can get another Drivers License. You can always take more pictures of your wife and children. You can't get another life. However, if worse comes to worse, be prepared and willing to fight.


Fact #5: Do not assume that others will come to your aid in time of need.

Most people don't want to get involved, especially when there is a crime in progress. This is one reason why defense mechanisms such as screaming, blowing a whistle, or setting off one of those carry-along alarms don't work very well. Not many people will respond to them. The police usually show up after the incident is over or at least well after it is started. It's up to you to protect yourself and the only person you can count on to help you is you.


Fact #6: The outcome of any attack is usually decided within 7-10 seconds of the start of the attack.

Given this statistical fact, your methods of self-defense must be quick and decisive. Let's say you have decided that carrying a police whistle is one of the methods you will employ in self-defense. The whistle is in your pocket or purse. Maybe it is on your key ring but you aren't walking with your keys in your hand. Blowing a whistle can take up to 15-20 seconds depending on how quickly you can access the whistle and whether or not you can
actually blow it. By the time you blow the whistle, your attacker is on top of you, has ripped the whistle from your hands, knocked you to the pavement, and kicked the living daylights out of you. Your self-defense responses must be quick and decisive.

Keep in mind that a quick and decisive reaction may be to run and get the heck out of where you are. That is certainly a viable option to staying and fighting. In fact, if you can be successful at it, running away is a much better alternative to staying and fighting it out. If you choose to run, do it immediately without hesitation.


Justifying the use of Force?

The justification as to the use of force will vary from state to state. It is imperative that you become familiar with the laws in your state regarding the use of force. However, for the purposes of the discussion here, I will refer to the laws of the State of Georgia. The 1996 edition of the Georgia Criminal and Traffic Law Manual, section 16-3-21 (a),
page 84 states:
A person is justified in threatening or using force against another when and
to the extent that he reasonably believes that such threat or force is
necessary to defend himself or a third person against such other's imminent
use of unlawful force; however, a person is justified in using force which is
intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm only if he reasonably
believes that such force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily injury
to himself or a third person or to prevent the commission of a forcible
felony. In other words, you must have sufficient reason to believe that someone is about to use force against you or a third person in order to use force against him or her. You can only use “deadly force” when you have reason to believe that “deadly force” is going to be used against you or a third person. The fact that someone looks like a “hood” or troublemaker does not give you sufficient cause to start shooting or take the offensive to attack. The
other person(s) must be doing something or acting in some way that gives you reasons to believe that you are in trouble.

This same section of the Code also gives situations when a person is NOT justified in using force. These are basically summarized as follows:

1. You cannot justify the use force if you provoked the other individual to use force against you.

2. You cannot justify the use of force if you are attempting to commit, are committing, or are running away after the commission of a felony.

3. You cannot justify the use of force if you were the aggressor or were engaged in “combat by agreement” unless you withdrawal from the encounter and clearly communicate to the other person(s) that you are withdrawing.

The use of force is a gray area in many instances. Juries must often make decisions on the philosophy of what a “reasonable and prudent” person would have done in a given situation. You will need to carefully assess each situation you encounter as to whether or not the use of force is justified.

Should You Fight or be Passive? ?


The issue of being passive in an attack or trying to fight off the attacker has always been debated in self-defense circles. This question is usually debated when the subject of rape arises. Should a woman try to fight her attacker, or should she passively give in and hope to survive the nightmarish ordeal?

If you are a woman and find yourself in this situation, you will have to make your own choice as to what to do. However, given the fact that 55% of victims who offer no resistance end up getting injured anyway, and given that deadly sexual diseases are so easily transmitted today, my opinion would be to fight. Your life is at stake.

Let's talk for a minute about the difference between fighting and resisting. While there are similarities, there are definite differences. When someone resists, they usually do so by trying to twist away, pull away, or scream for help. When people try to resist they are usually on the defensive and are already in the grips of the attacker. Chances are, by the time you try to resist, it is too late. For example, if someone has a knife at your throat and
you try to resist by screaming for help, what do you think the attacker will do? He is not going to just drop his hands and run away. He is going to slash your throat in an effort to shut you up.

However, the victim who fights is different. The fighter takes the offensive and most likely will not wait until the attacker has a hold on them. The minute an assailant breaks the “safe zone” the fighter takes the initiative and realizes that Condition RED (and possibly Condition BLACK) has just been entered. The fighter kicks, bites, scratches, gouges, jabs, pokes, and does anything else possible with the intention of disabling the attacker and ending the attack.

In 1995, Mareva Brown, a staff writer for The Sacramento Bee, wrote an article about whether or not a woman should fight back against a potential rapist. The point of her article is to answer “question women have been wanting to know for decades: Are women who fight raped less frequently than women who remain passive are?” Brown concludes, “The answer is yes.”

Citing a study of Sacramento area rapes done by the Bee, Brown says that “only 29 percent of women assaulted during The Bee's study period resisted their attackers, either by punching and kicking, by fleeing or by screaming loudly for a sustained period of time.
Of those women, 63 percent got away without being raped. Of the 71 percent of women who didn't fight, only 8 percent escaped without being raped.” However, the debate continues to rage over this issue. Brown goes further in her article to show that the experts simply do not agree:

Without being able to tell the kind of rapist she's facing, a victim cannot
assess her odds, according to Rob Freeman-Longo, co-director of The
Safer Society, a national research, advocacy and referral center on the
prevention and treatment of sexual abuse. Equally important, he said, a
woman needs to be able to honestly assess her ability to put up a serious
fight.

“In many cases (fighting) may work,” he said. “But it's Russian roulette.
And in one case you may fight back only to find yourself injured or Dead.When you're dealing with a stranger, you have no sense of this person's ability.”

California's top Department of Justice criminal profiler, Mike Prodan, has
studied thousands of rapes in hopes of helping local law enforcement
agencies crack tough serial cases. He is frequently asked whether he thinks
women should fight. His answer is deliberately evasive. “A victim is going
to get hurt, whether she resists or not — unless she gets away,” he said.

For years, Prodan and rape experts have dodged the question, not wanting
to advocate fighting only to have a victim who fights back end up dead or
seriously injured. But, as Brown writes, fighting is not always possible and, indeed, the woman who is prepared to fight may suddenly find herself frozen with fear and unable to remember any
training. She says:

... even the best-prepared victim may not respond as she expects. [Take]
the example of six policewomen who ... were attacked in different
circumstances by strangers in their homes. In every case, the women said
they forgot their training and relied solely on instinct to help them survive.
None of them fought their attackers.

“It's a biological reaction to fear: We fight, flight or freeze,” said Sharon
Kennedy, a sexual assault counselor at Sacramento's WEAVE (Women
Escaping a Violent Environment). “How do we know we don't
automatically choose the perfect one anyway? When we decide ahead of
time how we're going to react, we don't know the situation.”

So, should you fight or be passive? Only you can make the decision. This dilemma faces not only women, it is very real for men as well. If you decide to be a fighter, prepare yourself, and when Condition RED begins, convert your fear into anger.

The Fight-Flight Response?

The natural reaction to a threat situation is to fight, run away, or freeze due to fear. This reaction has been called many things over the years but the popular term now is the “Fight-Flight Response.” When confronted by a threat, bodily changes take place, which are designed to help you survive the attack or threat.

We won't go into all the scientific discussions regarding how these bodily reactions take place. Some of the reactions that occur are:

Heart rate soars
Blood pressure rises
Breathing becomes rapid
Large blood vessels in the muscles dilate supplying blood rich in oxygen
Sugar is released into the blood in large quantity providing extra fuel Large

muscles begin to twitch, particularly in the neck and shoulder areas

Goose bumps appear on the skin which makes hair stand up
Eyesight and hearing improve dramatically (* but see note later)
Thinking and reasoning diminish because blood flow to the brain is

reduced
There is a decreased sensitivity to pain
Palms become sweaty and the skin may become clammy
Time distorts - it seems to either speed up or go into slow motion
Perception of things distorts as well
Adrenaline surges

What is happening is that your body is preparing itself to survive and is sending more power or energy to those areas of the body needed for fight or flight and less energy to the more passive areas such as the brain. Thus, when in a survival situation, you tend to operate based upon reflex and reaction as opposed to carefully thought out plans.

In other words, if you have trained yourself over and over to react a certain way, your “muscle memory” will take over in the survival situation and cause you to merely react without thinking. You know something is happening, but you may not be able to figure out why. Thus, continual repetition in training is a key to surviving a threat. Experts tell us that it takes about 5,000-10,000 repetitions of a task or movement before it becomes automatic. In the martial arts we call this “mind - no mind.”

All of this explains the phenomena that we have all heard about such as where the 70 year-old grandmother lifts up a car to get the tire off a toddler. Or the soldier in combat who runs through a hail of gunfire retrieving one wounded buddy after another and then can't recall what happened after the incident is over. It also explains why the two foot harmless garter snake in your garden ends up being a six foot timber rattler when you later
remember being scared by it.

Many people say they cannot recall seeing or hearing anything or anyone in the midst of a survival situation. Yet, we know for a fact that eyesight and hearing improve drastically.
The reason for the apparent contradiction is explained by one word - focus. In the threat situation, your body becomes so focused on the threat that the mind does not register other things that go on around you. While the eyesight is better, it is also a tunnel vision because the eyes have focused so heavily on the threat. It is because of this focus that you must train yourself to scan for multiple threats or multiple escape routes. You must train yourself to be cognizant of not just what is in front of you, but also of what is behind and beside you.

There is not a lot that you can do to control these various reactions that take place at the moment of a survival threat. However, there is one important element that you can control - breathing. That's right, breathing. In the martial arts we constantly stress breath control. Controlling your breathing enables you to bring some of this power surge under control and enables you to slow down a bit so that you can think more clearly.

Learning to control your breathing takes practice. It must be done over and over and over. The process goes like this:

Sit in a comfortable position in a quiet place
Place the palms or your hands on your thighs
Close your eyes
Breathe in through your nose for a slow count of four
Hold your breath for a count of two
Exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of four
Hold for a count of two
Repeat the process

Try to start out by doing this for two-three minutes and gradually work yourself up to ten, fifteen, or even twenty minutes. Make sure you focus on your breathing while doing the exercises. Listen to yourself count in your mind - one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand, four one thousand, etc.

Then, when you are faced with a threat situation or sense the possibility for one to occur, simply start the controlled breathing process. And, when the situation is over, go through a session of controlled breathing so that you have time to let the adrenaline rush subside.

I was recently involved in having to arrest a subject who decided to violently resist arrest. My partner had initially confronted the subject at the top of stairway as he approached her with an aluminum baseball bat clenched in both hands. My partner got the bat away from the subject but had only been able to toss it a few feet away. As I approached the top of the stairs, the perpetrator had my partner pinned against the wall. My partner had been
able to get one handcuff on the perp's left wrist, but, the he had broken free and was now swinging his left arm with a handcuff flailing around. I wear glasses so I wasn't too fond of seeing a handcuff swinging near my face. My hands were trying to control his right arm as well as apply some pressure point tactics to get him to comply. The only way for me to go was down because I was standing on the very top step.

As we struggled with the subject, I could feel the adrenaline rush. My stomach twisted up in knots as the thought of falling backwards became very real when the subject shoved me once with his right arm and shoulder almost sending me down the stairs backwards. I was considering my options very quickly at this point. I could spray him with pepper gas, but that would contaminate not only the perp but my partner and me as well because of the
close proximity. In addition, the perp's two children were at the bottom of the stairs and they would feel the effects of the gas as well.

I finally took some decisive action to get the subject to comply and was finally able to get him cuffed, down the stairs, and out to the patrol car. However, in the midst of all this, I had managed to tell my dispatcher that a fight was in progress. Later, the dispatcher asked me why I gave her the information so calmly over the radio. I asked what she meant and she said that I had said very calmly and quietly, “Signal 29, Radio.” She said
she could not understand why I was not excited.

As I looked back, I realized that at the moment I began considering my options, I had also started controlling my breathing. Even though my stomach was in knots, sweat was pouring down my face and into my eyes, and my forearms felt like they would fall off any second, I had managed to control my breathing so that I could think clearly and assess my options, as well as give clear information to my dispatcher. As I looked back, I realized that in just a few short seconds, I had mentally went through my list of options and legal
consequences, and was able to make a wise decision to end the situation.


Ways to Reduce Risk ?

There are many things you can do to reduce the possibility of your becoming a victim of crime. Actually, you may have already been doing many of these things and may have unknowingly thwarted attempts to make you a victim. Without re-inventing the wheel, I have taken these tips from a pamphlet entitled Refuse to be a Victim, published by the National Rifle Association, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030.

This is by no means an inducement to get you to join the NRA, nor is it a ploy to get you to buy a gun. These are very good, common sense tips on reducing your risks. Should you desire further information on Refuse to be a Victim seminars, you may call 1-800-861-1166.


Ways to Reduce Risk

Consider installing a home security system. A home alarm can be an effective deterrent to criminal intruders. A variety of systems are available, ranging from inexpensive, battery-operated door models to monitored, motion detecting systems costing several thousand dollars.

Never open your door to a stranger. Criminals can get a good look at you and your home by posing as a door-to-door salesperson, a neighbor who has lost a pet, or a floral deliverer at the wrong address.

Install a wide-angle door viewer. These are inexpensive aids for identifying people at your doorstep. If children are allowed to open the door under certain circumstances, install a second viewer at your child's height. Never tell stranger that you are home alone. If they ask for your husband or the man of the house, tell them he is taking a nap and cannot be disturbed.

Do not broadcast your plans in public where others can overhear. Burglars can use this information to determine whether your home might be an easy target in your absence.

Keep your house or apartment well lit. Use exterior sensory night-lights and interior lights plugged into timers to create the illusion of an occupied home at all times.

Do not leave windows open or uncovered. Prevent casual observers from looking directly into your home. During the day, draw drapes or position blinds to allow only enough light for plants. At night, cover your windows completely.


Keep trees and shrubbery around your home well trimmed. Overgrown bushes and trees often provide excellent hiding places for criminals.

Plant "defensive" shrubbery around your home, especially beneath windows. Bushes that feature thorns or stiff, spiky leaves are not good hiding places for criminals.

When moving into a house or apartment, always change or re-key the locks or have the tumblers reset. Otherwise, the previous resident -- and anyone they supplied keys to - has unrestricted access to your home.

Never hide an extra key under a mat, in a flowerpot, or in any other easily accessible place. Criminals know all the hiding places.

Lock your doors when working in your yard, attic, laundry room or any place away from your home's entry areas. While you are busy elsewhere, burglars could easily enter your home unnoticed.

Do not give information to strangers on the telephone. Thieves often target homes using information obtained from "telephone surveys."

If you use an answering machine, do not announce your name and number as part of the message. Avoid giving criminals any information about you. A common mistake is revealing your exact whereabouts in a message.

Consider keeping a separate line or cellular phone as a security device. Taking one phone off the hook renders other units on that line inoperable. Using a separate line or cellular phone in your bedroom is a good precaution.

Never give important information like travel plans or credit card numbers using a cellular phone. For fewer than one hundred dollars, anyone can buy scanning equipment and listen in on your cellular phone conversations.

Always have your keys out and ready before leaving a building to approach your car.
Fumbling through your purse for keys after you've reached your car provides criminals an excellent opportunity to sneak up on you.

Look around and in your car before entering. If you are concerned for any reason, simply walk past your car instead of getting into it.

Use a two-piece key ring with your car keys separate from your other important keys.
Give parking valets or mechanics your car keys only. Supplying your entire set of keys
creates an opportunity for duplicates to be made.


If your car has tinted windows, use the reflection to scan the area to either side and behind you. By being alert to your surroundings you could avoid a potentially dangerous situation.

Lock your car door immediately after entering the vehicle. Make this your first action - even before putting the key into the ignition.

Check you surroundings before getting out of your car. If something or someone strikes you as out of place or threatening, drive away.

If you are involved in an accident, stay in your car until police arrive. In minor accidents where the other driver suggests you exchange insurance information, simply hold up your driver license and consider acquiring a cellular phone. Using a cellular phone is an effective means of
keeping help close at hand during accidents, breakdowns, or other roadside
emergencies.

If you are accosted in a parking lot, away from your own vehicle, consider rolling underneath a nearby auto. It is difficult to force anyone out from under a car.

Make a practice of filling up your vehicle when your gas tank is about half empty.
Never let it get so low that you are forced to stop for fuel, particularly at night in an area with which you are unfamiliar.

Lock your car and take your keys when you get out to pump gas. Leaving the door
unlocked and the keys in the ignition invites a carjacking.

Never pick up hitchhikers. It is never safe to have a stranger in your car.

Maintain your personal space. Stay alert! If a person moves inside your comfort zone, move away. If that person persists, run.

Be alert when leaving stores or shopping malls. This is a time when criminals know you are carrying cash, checkbooks, credit cards, or valuable merchandise.

Don't use ATMs at night, or in unfamiliar or unsafe surroundings. This is another time when criminals know you are carrying cash.

Avoid filling your arms with packages. You might have to make more trips, but keep one arm and hand free whenever possible.

Avoid stairwells in parking garages. Try walking down the auto ramp instead. As long as you watch for cars, the ramp is much safer.

When on the street, walk facing oncoming traffic. A person walking with traffic can be followed, forced into a car, and abducted more easily than a person walking against
traffic.

If asked for directions by a driver, stay far enough away from the car that you can turn and run easily. An alternative is to simply state, "I don't know" and keep walking.

When friends drop you off at home or work, ask them to wait until you are safely inside before leaving. Extend this courtesy to your own friends when driving them to a destination. If you are on an elevator and someone threatening gets on, quickly step off the elevator. Otherwise, press several buttons for upcoming floors and get off at your first opportunity. (Do not press the STOP button.)

Approach with extreme caution any entryway where normal lighting is not
functioning. Removing, unscrewing, or breaking bulbs in such places is a common tactic of criminals.

Carry several one-dollar bills folded inside a ten-dollar bill. If accosted in a robbery, you can throw the "chump change" several feet away and the robber may scramble after it, Consider taking a self-defense course. A wide variety of courses are offered for self-defense and each should be considered carefully for relevance to your own personal situation.

Choose a personal protection device best suited to your situation. Personal protection devices range from sophisticated alarms for your home and car to defensive sprays and key chains you can carry in your purse.

Make an informed choice about firearm ownership. Firearm ownership is a deeply personal and profound decision.

Personal safety is not always convenient. You must consciously integrate the options you choose into everyday life until good habits are formed.

In addition to the tips given above, there are also some additional things you can do to reduce your risk:

1. Beware of people selling door-to-door in your neighborhood. The days of door-to-door sales are over. Except in rare instances, it really isn't done anymore, particularly in urban and suburban areas. These vendors often case out your home while trying to sell you excess fruit they got a bargain on or super stereo speakers that are being closed out or gold club memberships. While giving you the pitch at your front door, they may be taking
a quick look around to see if you have a security system, an easy front door to jimmy open, looking to see if you have a dog, etc. Tell them you are not interested and shut the door. You are under no obligation to listen to their pitch or to be nice to them.

2. Criminals prefer easy targets. The more difficult a target you present, the less likely you are to become a victim. If you look like an easy target, you probably are an easy target. Carry yourself with confidence. Keep your head up and shoulders back.
Remember the quote by Tony Blauer, “Prey behavior induces predator activity.”

3. Don't look at the pavement when you walk. Make eye contact with strangers on the street. I recall reading somewhere that only two types of people make eye contact on the street - crazy people or police. Criminals don't really want to mess with either.

4. If you do things that make you stand out in a crowd you are a likely target. Remember to maintain a low profile, particularly target. Carry yourself with confidence. Keep your head up and shoulders back.
Remember the quote by Tony Blauer, “Prey behavior induces predator activity.”

3. Don't look at the pavement when you walk. Make eye contact with strangers on the street. I recall reading somewhere that only two types of people make eye contact on the street - crazy people or police. Criminals don't really want to mess with either.

4. If you do things that make you stand out in a crowd you are a likely target. Remember to maintain a low profile, particularly in unfamiliar areas.

5. Don't wear jewelry or clothing that screams “Steal me!”. You want to blend in with the crowd and not draw attention to yourself. With the same thought in mind, watch what kind of clothes you wear in areas where gangs may hang out. Walking through a neighborhood in an NFL warm-up jacket could get you shot if that is not the jacket or colors of the gang that “owns the turf.” It's better to be alive than cool. It's better to be safe than trendy.

6. Finally, PLAN in advance. Make sure you have enough cash on hand for your trip. Make sure you have good batteries in your flashlight. Have a map of the area you are driving in so that you can find your way without having to ask someone for directions.
Get gas during daylight hours. Plan, plan, plan.

Weapons for Self-protection?


The purpose of this booklet is not to convince you one way or the other about firearm ownership. You do not necessarily have to own a firearm in order to have self-defense weapons available to you. We are going to mention several possible weapons. However, people always want to know whether or not I believe in gun ownership.

Personally, I used to believe that gun ownership by law-abiding citizens was unnecessary. I bought into the arguments of the gun control groups who advocated doing away with high capacity magazines, automatic weapons, handguns, etc. However, the more I thought through the issue, several key items came to mind that has since changed my opinion.

First, the police (of which I am one) usually arrive after a crime is committed, not before or during the commission of a crime. Even if you have a top of the line home security system for example, the thief is already in your house before the police are notified.
Depending on where you live and who has jurisdiction for patrolling your area, it could take several minutes for a police officer to arrive on the scene. Let me give you a real life example of this.

A woman called a city police department to report that she heard someone downstairs in her home. After all, she lived in the city limits (or so she thought) so she should call the city police, right? She was in the second floor bedroom. When the dispatcher looked at the address of the house, he realized that this house was in county jurisdiction, not municipal jurisdiction. All of the other houses on the street were in the city but this woman happened to be in the county. The dispatcher immediately notified the county police dispatcher but went ahead and sent a city officer anyway. The city officer arrived on the scene in less than a minute and a half caught the burglar and a violent crime was avoided. Eight minutes later a county officer showed up. What if the city officer had not been there? The burglar could have done a lot of harm in the time it took for the county officer to show up. I am not faulting the county officer by the way. The county territory is much larger and takes longer to get from point A to point B.

Personally, I think that while the woman did the right thing by calling police and staying in the bedroom on the phone with the dispatcher, in addition, she could have increased her safety had she also had a 12-gauge shotgun in her hands while she was on the phone.

Second, firearms are being used in more crimes by more criminals and especially by younger criminals than ever before. Gun control keeps guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens, not out of the hands of criminals. If a criminal wants a gun, he can easily obtain one regardless of the law.

Third, people will shoot you for no good reason. We've all heard of shootings such as the one by teenage boys who shot the victim because they wanted his gym shoes! Not long ago I read an article, in which a police officer was relating facts about a murder that took place one Christmas Eve. One family member shot another as a result of an argument as to which ornament went on top of the Christmas tree- the angel or the star! For many
people in our society life has no value. Fourth, and finally, the Constitution of the United States by virtue of the Second Amendment gives me the right to keep and bear arms. I have come to believe that an armed society is a polite society.

But, the coin has two sides. I do not think convicted felons or people with a history of mental instability should be able to own guns. I do believe that law abiding citizens who value life should be able to own and carry firearms, including handguns, and should be able to carry them concealed, anytime and any place. However, law-abiding citizens, in my opinion, should be responsible about gun ownership. This means taking a gun safety course and becoming intimately familiar with the weapon(s) of choice. It means practicing at the range on a regular (weekly, minimum monthly) basis so that one becomes proficient with the gun. It means keeping guns out of the reach of children. It means teaching gun safety to children. It means not mixing alcohol, drugs, and guns. And, it means that if you can't control yourself, you certainly can't control a gun.

As was said earlier, the issue of owning a firearm is a personal one. I respect your right to choose either way. Now, having said all of that, let's talk about other weapons that you can use to protect yourself. We'll talk first about a very basic self-defense strategy as it pertains to where and how to attack your assailant. Then, we'll discuss various items, including your body, that can be used as weapons.


Where to attack your assailant

Some time ago, I took a very short class with a martial arts instructor who cut right to the chase in self-defense. In fact, the class lasted about 45 minutes and was really an impromptu demonstration of self-defense at a social gathering in our subdivision. What the instructor taught was very brief, easy to remember, and it worked. This is not the only way, it is an OPTION for your “toolbox.”

Do you remember the movie character, E.T.? Well, think of your attack techniques as E.T. Grows Skin. Look at it like this:

E. Eyes
T. Throat
G. Groin
S. Skin or Shins

ETGS represents four vital areas of your assailant's body upon which you defense attacks should be focused.

Eyes and areas around the eyes

Let's start with the eyes. The eyes are very, very sensitive. When something gets into your eye what is the first thing you automatically do? You put a finger or two to your eye and rub. You want to get the irritant out of the eye. If you can get something into your assailant's eyes, you may buy yourself enough time to get loose and get away. At the very least, if his or her hands are raised to the eyes, it opens up other vulnerable spots like the throat, groin and shin areas.

Some people suggest using you index and middle fingers to form a “V” and then jab them into the opponent's eyes. Forget it! It is too hard to aim the two fingers into the eyes.
Instead, use all of your fingers. Spread all of your fingers out like a fan and thrust them into the eye area of your opponent. Sure, you could hit the forehead and jam a finger, but so what? If you can get your attacker to break his hold so that you can get away, you've accomplished your goal.

If you are holding an object like a pen, pencil, keys, kubotan key chain, etc., use it to jab the eyes. Get animalistic about this. Thrust and gouge, thrust and gouge. It is very hard for your assailant to do anything to you if he or she can't see you.

Another area close to the eyes is of course the nose. It has been said for years that if you can hit your opponent at the base of the nose just above the upper lip, you can drive bone cartilage up into the brain and kill him. Wrong! You are not going to drive cartilage into the brain. However, the nose is very sensitive, particularly when hit with an upward thrust of the palm into the tip of the nose. It can be very painful and can definitely bring tears to
the eyes.

How about the ears?

If your attacker has you in a bear hug such that you are facing him
and you have your arms and hands free, you have a great weapon at your disposal. Cup your hands slightly, and as hard as you possibly can, slap your hands over the ears of your opponent. Not only does the sound distract, but the cupping of the hands creates a suction that is powerful enough to rupture the eardrums. This is extremely painful. If you can manage to bite the ears, do that as well. Do whatever you can to inflict pain and induce shock in your victim.


Throat area

If you can crush your assailant's thyroid cartilage or trachea you can disable him pretty well. Form a “V” using the area of your hand between thumb and index finger. Then, ram the “V” of your hand as hard as you can into the throat area that we call the Adam's apple. If you can, grab the Adam's apple and squeeze it as hard as you possibly can. Grasp it so that you can pull on it with all of your might as though you were ripping the throat out. I know this sounds gross and sick. But, it's your life on the line. Convert your fear into anger.

You can also damage the two carotid nerve centers with this technique and can cause unconsciousness rather quickly. If you can't make the “V”, use the edge of your hand along the little finger and execute a swift, hard, knife-hand strike to the throat.


Groin area

Notice that we have jumped right from the throat to the groin area. The chest area is very hard to injure using just your hands unless you are an expert at pressure point fighting or have some other weapon at your disposal. Forget the chest and forget trying to punch your attacker in the stomach. Go for the groin. The groin area is very sensitive, especially on men. All you have to do is walk up to any man and just act like you are going to strike his groin and immediately he cowers down and drops his hands to cover the “family
jewels.”

You always hear about kicking or hitting someone in the groin. While this may work, it is very hard to accomplish, particularly in the fast pace of a Condition RED street encounter.
Besides, most attackers aren't going to stand with their feet far enough apart so that you can kick or punch to the groin. However, there are certain ways to accomplish the same effect.

You can make your hand like a spear. Straighten the fingers and place them and the thumb together. Then, drop to one knee if you are tall, or bend slightly if you are shorter than your opponent. Now, jab the hand in between the legs and bring it up as hard as you can into the groin. This will be enough to hurt but once you have your hand there why take it away? Why not grab the testicles and squeeze as hard as you can while pulling as hard as you can either down or towards you? Picture yourself ripping them right off! Be vicious. Become a wild animal. Your life depends on it.

If the attacker bends over to grab his groin in pain, you can then execute some strikes to the nose and eye area. REMEMBER, you can't just use one technique and then stand back and wait to see if it affects your opponent. Use combinations of techniques. You'll know you've done enough when you see the attacker fall over or run away. Once you commit, go full force all the way.

Also, if you do want to use your knee, don't necessarily try to hit the groin directly.
Kneeing someone on the inside or outside of the thigh is just as effective. Ever have someone “frog” you on the outer thigh? There is a nerve that runs down the leg and if you hit it hard the attacker's leg will buckle. Even a fist to this area will cause pain and will distract your attacker so that you can use other techniques.


Skin or Shins

I'll let you take your pick here as to which one you want to adopt, skin or shins. If you choose skin, you obviously want to do things to your opponents skin that will harm or distract him/her. Pinch, scrape, cut, claw, whatever. Just do it. The shins are another sensitive area vulnerable to attack. If someone is standing next to you, or if they are running at you, a good, hard kick to the shins hurts! I have been the recipient on numerous occasions of a severe kick or punch to the shin. Believe me, it hurts like heck. In fact, a couple of times my leg went numb and I dropped to the floor immediately. In one instance, it took about 5 minutes before I could even get up and walk again because I had no feeling below the knee. That's plenty of time for you to run away from an attacker and either get away or regroup for the next attack by collecting other weapons (if for example, you are locked inside a house or apartment and your escape routes are blocked).

While we are talking about the shins, consider the instep of the foot. A good, hard stomp on the instep hurts. If someone is standing beside you holding you, stomp on the instep of their foot as hard as you can and as they release their hold momentarily, execute a backfist to the nose or thrust a handful of fingers into the attacker's eyes. Jab something sharp into the ear canal.


It's not complicated
I hope you have noticed that these self-defense techniques are not complicated, nor do they take years to master. You learn and focus on a few select techniques, practice them over and over, and put them into action when the time comes. You don't have to be a black belt in Karate, Taekwondo, or Aikido, in order to defend yourself. You simply have to think, think fast, be vicious, and continue your engagement once you commit.


Your body as a weapon

There are many, many points on your body that can be used as a weapon with which to hurt your opponent. The major points include the head, teeth, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, knuckles, fingers, fingernails, hips, knees, toes, heels and balls of the feet. You also need to use your mind and voice as weapons. A loud yell as you execute a strike of some sort, not only helps to scare or distract your opponent, it also allows you to release more energy when you deliver the blow. Remember that if you can reach your opponent with any part of your body, you can potentially hurt him or her.

Regarding striking someone, remember this: use the heel portion of the palm of your hand as the striking tool. If you try to make a fist and punch someone you will most likely damage your fingers, maybe even break them. You will generate a more effective strike if you hit with the heel of your palm.


Pepper Sprays

Personal defense sprays such as those containing ingredients made from Cayenne peppers are great defense weapons if you used properly and if they are of the right strength. Many police departments rate these weapons just below hard hands (fists) when it comes to force level. These sprays are not deadly and do not produce lasting side effects, yet are extremely effective under most circumstances. There are however, some very important
points to consider should you choose to carry a spray.

1. Check to see if it is legal in your state to carry O.C. (Oleoresin Capsicum - commonly known as pepper spray). Also, check to see if your local or state laws require you to provide some type of first aid to a victim. I know this seems ridiculous but it may be true in your area. At the very least, if I were to spray someone (not as a police officer but as a private citizen), I would call EMS or 911 as soon as possible and tell them that someone needs medical attention after being sprayed with O.C. Tell them where the victim was last
located. This is a “CYA” (Cover Your A%$) move.

2. Take a class on how to use the spray. It will not do you any good if you can't use it correctly. I would also suggest that you take a class in which you get sprayed with O.C. so that you can know the effects and how to decontaminate yourself. After all, what happens if someone grabs your spray and sprays you or if you happen to point it incorrectly and spray yourself? You need to know. I can tell you from experience that getting sprayed will not be pleasant and it will be an experience you won't wish to repeat.
It will be extremely painful and uncomfortable. But, at least you will know what to expect. I always thought that being sprayed would burn, sting, hurt, make my eyes water, etc. But in reality, it is beyond your worst nightmare when it comes to feeling the effects.

3. Sprays work on both humans and animals. Get the spray into the eyes, nose and mouth. Spraying someone in the stomach area won't do a thing.

4. Do not be so concerned about the percentage of pepper in the spray. Most are either 5% or 10% solutions. Your main concern needs to be how hot the OC is or in technical terms, what is the Scoville Heat Units rating of the spray. A spray with only 5% ingredients but with a heat rating of 2,000,000 units will be more effective than a 10% spray rated at 500,000 units. Also, a 5% rating will take half the time to decontaminate as a 10% spray. Just FYI, a green bell pepper is rated at 1-heat units while a jalapeno pepper is rated at about 500 heat units. Ever eaten a jalapeno pepper? Imagine something 4,000 times hotter being slammed into your eyes, nose, and mouth.

5. Do not keep a can of spray in your car and do not keep the can exposed to direct sunlight or temperatures over 120 degrees. The inside of your car gets very hot in the summer and if one of those cans leak or explode, you are in for a nasty ride.

6. If you use your can of spray, get a new can the first chance you get. Sprays are rated for so many bursts per can. However, why take the chance of not having a full can (what if you face multiple assailants). Also, the cans lose pressure after each burst, so why not always have the maximum available to you.

7. Fire bursts of 1-3 seconds. UNLOAD THE ENTIRE CAN! Why just use one or two quick sprays? Douse the person with the spray. You can always buy a new can later.

8. The effective range of most sprays is from 6-10 feet. Don't spray at less than 2 feet unless you are willing to get the effects of the spray yourself. Once you spray someone, back up! Get yourself away so that you are not contaminated.

9. While sprays are almost always instantaneously effective (within 2-3 seconds), on some people high on drugs or alcohol, it can take up to a minute or slightly longer to take effect. So, whenever you spray, always move back or to the side and attempt to get away. There are a few people who are not affected by OC spray.

10. If the wind is blowing at you, you are probably going to get a blast of the spray so try to move so that you are spraying with the wind and not against it. If this is a concern for you, you may want to consider getting pepperfoam instead of pepperspray. The foam is almost as effective, is better for use in enclosed areas, and is not as easily affected by the wind direction.

11. Some people recommend carrying a small can on your key chain. What happens if you have your keys in the ignition of your car when attacked. Chances are you won't get them out in time to activate the spray. Carrying one on your key chain is fine, particularly if you have you keys when jogging, walking to the store, etc. However, I recommend you keep a 3-4 ounce can available as your main source.
    
    12. Should you use a spray (fogger) or a foam? If the only place you would use the O.C. would be inside, foam would be fine since it allows you to be very specific where you spray it. However, since you will most likely be attacked outside either in an open space or in your car, I would choose the fogger type. You point it in the general direction and spray. However, if you want to keep a can in your home, I would recommend the foam since it is very directional and won't fog the entire house and furniture when you use it.
    
    13. If you are going to carry spray, I would recommend that you keep a decontaminate with you as well. These are usually in the form of a spray bottle or moist towelette. This way, if you happen to get some on you you can decrease the effects by using the decontaminate.
    
    14. What if you get sprayed? If you get a full blast, you won't be able to do much because you won't be able to see. However, remain calm and breathe slowly. Don't rub your eyes or skin. Force yourself to keep your hands away from your face. If someone comes to your aid, have him or her get you to water. Flush with lots of cold water for about 20-30 minutes. Try to force your eyes open as you flush water in them. Stay in the fresh air and face the wind so that the wind helps cool your face or affected area. If possible, sit
    in front of a fan or air conditioner. It will take about 3 hours for the full effects of the burning sensation to wear off. If the decontaminate spray or wipe is available, try to get the ingredients into your eyes as soon as possible in order to help get the eyes open more quickly.
    
    As with all methods of defense, sprays are not 100% effective. Just as you can carry a gun but miss your target when you shoot, sprays have their shortcomings as well. Be aware of them.
    
    Various Weapons
    
    virtually anything can be used as a weapon if thought is given as to how to use the item as a weapon. Stop right now, looks around you, and sees what things are available to you, as a weapon should you need one. I'll give you a few weapons from my surroundings as examples:
    
    coffee mug - nice and heavy to throw at someone or smash across their face - pens and pencils - great stabbing weapons (remember Eyes, Throat ...) telephone - the handset makes a good club keys - car keys make great weapons when flailed about or carried between the fingers - stapler - a good item to jab or club with computer mouse - to hold in my hand to give my fist some support as I strike the assailant with my fist - desk clock - can swing it around by the power cord comb - use the teeth to claw or rake down assailant's face or poke into the eyes - fingernail file - a great instrument for stabbing into the eyes and throat or for raking down the side of your opponents face or jabbing into a hand to break a hold - coffee maker - has hot coffee in it right now which can be thrown into an attacker's face - screwdriver - an excellent stabbing and jabbing instrument - eyeglass case - the hard kind which I can hold in my fist for support and can also smash the corner into the attacker's temple or eye - thumb tacks - great items for attacking the eyes and skin areas - tape dispenser - mine is a heavy desktop kind which could easily give an attacker a nice skull fracture or could easily knock out some teeth
    
    Obviously, some items are better than others. However, the idea is to be familiar with what is at your immediate disposal, and have some idea of what you can do with the items at hand should you be attacked. Remember that we are studying options.
    
    The list of possible weapons is endless. Even a plastic drinking straw can be used to stab someone in the eye. Keep in mind that many of your available weapons won't do as much damage as you yourself do if you become vicious in your defense. For example, I can't ever recall reading an obituary in which the person died as a result of being hit with an
    eyeglass case. In reality, the hard case becomes an item that creates a psychological advantage for you. Here's why.
    
    If someone attacks you and you decide to hit them with your fist, you may be reluctant to hit as hard as you can because you are afraid of breaking your hand. However, if something is in your hand providing support (such as the eyeglass case or even a roll of quarters), you are more likely to hit harder because you aren't as afraid of hurting your
    hand as you might otherwise be. Remember, when possible, use the heel of the palm of your hand as the striking area.
    
    You probably aren't going to kill someone with thumbtacks. However, by jabbing one into your attacker's forehead or eye and causing a very brief moment of pain and distraction, you may give yourself the needed second to break the attacker's hold on you and get away.
    
    As you go around your home or office, look at the possible weapons available to you and call to mind how you might be able to use each one. Then, at various times throughout your day, think of possible scenarios and act out in your mind or for real, how you would defend yourself. Let's go through one right now.
    
    Scenario:
    
    You are at home and have been cleaning your kitchen. You have some hot coffee brewing and are sitting at the kitchen table drinking a cup while you relax for a minute and take a break from the housework. The doorbell rings. When you answer the door a young man pushes the door open and barges into your house. He tries to grab you but you manage to
    make it back into the kitchen. What do you do now?
    
    1. Grab the can of oven cleaner still sitting on the counter and spray it into his face. (Oven cleaner is very caustic).
    2. Throw the hot coffee on the attacker then smash him in the face with the pot.
    3. As he covers his eyes you kick him as hard as you can in the shins or knee.
    4. If it is close by, you grab the coffee cup and smash it into the attacker's head.
    5. If possible, you now run as fast as you can to the front door which was left open and get out of the house. You continue to run until you can create distance between you and the attacker or until you can find someone who can call the police.
    
    There are many possible solutions and “should haves” to the above scenario. But, you have to be prepared and thinking about them. For example, when the bell rang, you should have immediately gone from Condition WHITE to Condition YELLOW. You should have taken a quick inventory of your possible weapons. Then, instead of opening your door to a stranger, you should have looked through the peephole that you had installed in the door. If you have a fancy security system in your home which has a remote panic button that can be carried about your neck, you should have pressed it as you were running back to the kitchen now in a Condition RED or BLACK.
    
    Creating a Safe Room in Your Home ?
    
    (Author's note: The material in this section was provided by and is used with the permission of SSG Rey F. Arbolay, U.S. Army, Advanced Concepts, Test and Experimentation Command, Ft Hood, TX)
    
    Every home should have a safe room as an integral part of your home security plan. This room will serve as the last line of defense against an intruder in your home. Before you start getting images of camouflaged walls, and barbed wire barriers, realize that this room is a part of your daily life. It could be a bedroom, or a bathroom. The only difference is
    that you have slightly modified the room to serve as a stronghold to delay intruders until you get help. Although a safe room will not keep your home from being broken into, it will provide an extra measure of protection until the police arrive.
    
    Safe room selection. The first step is to do a survey of your home. Before you spend any money hardening your home, you should run some rehearsals of a break in. As you talk through the rehearsal
    with your family ask yourself, “Where would I be, or where would I go if my house is broken into?” Although most break-ins occur in the hours of darkness, usually after you have gone to bed, your situation may be unique. If you have children, consider, “Would I run into their room, or would I expect them to run into mine?”
    
    Moving from your most likely location is the worst thing you can do. It forces you to venture out into a possibly hostile area, and gives the intruder the advantage. But sometimes you cannot help it. Some homes have a “mother-in-law” floor plan, where the children's bedrooms are on the other side of the house from the master bedroom
    
    Is there a room at the end of a hallway?
    
    This type of room provides the best location for a safe room. It forces the intruder into a natural “choke point” (the hallway). It also limits the amount of interior wall exposed to the intruder. Interior walls are typically nothing more than a bit of Sheetrock and wood.
    An interior wall has very little bullet stopping power. You can remedy that problem (more on that later) but it is always easier to prevent it.
    
    Where are the most likely entry points into my home?
    
    The front door may seem obvious, but sometimes thieves use the garage or back doors to enter your home. Those points of entry provide a burglar with a usually covert way to enter your home. Although it helps, it is not critical that you can see those entry points from your safe room. What must be considered is whether or not you have to move past
    those entry points from your bedroom to your safe room. Is there a covered and concealed route to the safe room? Remember that concealment hides you, cover protects you from direct fire.
    
    If I am forced to open fire from my safe room, what are my fields of fire?
    
    The use of a firearm is a very personal decision. You must carefully consider all the implications of owning and planing to use a firearm to protect the life of your loved ones. You need to decide now - “Could I take another person's life in order to protect my life and/or the lives of my loved ones?” If you choose to use a firearm, what are your fields of fire? Fields of fire are those areas of your home, outside of the safe room that you can safely fire into without hitting members of your own family. The narrower the field of fire, as in a hallway or stairwell, the easier it will be to hit your target.
    
    If I miss my shot or if it passes through the assailant, where is the projectile(s) going?
    
    What is past your target is extremely important. Look at your field of fire and think of where the bullet will stop if you where to fire. What kind of backstop there is, and what furniture is located in the bullet path. If there is a wall as your backstop, you have to assume that the bullet will penetrate the wall. Go behind the wall and see what your bullets will hit. Also, ask yourself if you are willing to damage any furniture along the
    bullet path. It sounds callous, but after the trauma of a break in, you do not want to have to also replace a $2000 dollar large screen TV or pick up the pieces of an irreplaceable heirloom.
    
    
    Safe Room Construction
    
    Okay. You have done your rehearsals, gone through the checklist and selected the best possible solution to your situation. Now is time to start building.
    
    The Door
    
    The best place to start constructing your safe room is the door. The door will be the biggest initial expense, but is the most critical element. Remember that you are trying to keep the bad guys from attacking your family. Don't be cheap. The following instructions assume that you have some basic knowledge of the standard procedures used in installing
    a door. I will not try to teach you how to install a door, or basic carpentry. If you are unfamiliar with the procedures, there are dozens of books on the subject. If you are still dubious about your ability to install a door, show these pages to a handyman or contractor.
    
    Check the door on your safe room and determine if it is a hollow core or a solid door. A hollow core interior door, typically used in bedrooms and closets, will sound hollow when taped with your knuckles. This type of door is useless. I can easily put a fist through this door, reach in and unlock the door, and come right in after you. If you have this type of
    door, it must be replaced with a solid core door. Measure your current door and take the measurements to your lumberyard. Ask for an exterior solid core door in the size that need. Do not waste your money on a steel exterior door. These doors are made of a foam-insulating core sandwiched between two thin sheets of steel. They are expensive and
    do not offer any more protection than a solid core door.
    
    The Hinges
    Hang the door with three of the heaviest door hinges you can buy. Install the hinges with 3” long screws both to the door and to the doorjamb. Never use the ½” screws that come with the hinges, they are useless. You will have to pre-drill pilot holes, or you will never get the screws in. The Locks
    You will need a door knob and two dead bolt locks. The dead bolt locks should be the type that requires a key from the outside but can be opened with a knob from the inside.
    Never install dead bolts that require a key from both sides. You do not want to fumble in the dark looking for the keys to lock your door.
    
    Install the doorknob as usual. Install the one dead bolt lock halfway between the doorknob and the top of the door and install the other dead bolt lock halfway between the doorknob and the bottom of the door. If you can afford the extra money, install two more dead bolts on the hinge side directly opposite to the first two. 4 dead bolts and one doorknob
    should cost you less than $75 dollars. Even less if you reuse your old doorknob. The idea here is to make the entrance into your safe room virtually impenetrable by means other than some type of explosion.
    
    Keep in mind that your assailant may try to shoot through the door. Once you have the door shut and locked, do not stand directly behind it.
    
    The Strike Plates
    Your dead bolts will be useless if they are installed directly into your wooden casing using the thin strike plate that comes with the locks. Buy high security dead bolt wells. These are heavy steel straps, about 5” long, with a built in well for the dead bolt. They are attached with 3” screws to the casing, and 2” screws to the studs inside of the wall.
    
    The Peep Hole
    Install a wide angle peep hole so that it is at eye level while you are kneeling on your side of the door, about four inches from the knob edge. You want to be able to kneel beside the door and look out. You present a smaller target by kneeling. By placing the peephole to one side, you should be able to hide behind the wall and look out the peep hole. Also, a peephole at this level will be ideal for use by children.
    
    
    Equipment to have in your sage room
    In addition to making a secure safe room, you must consider what equipment or supplies you should keep in it. The following list is a basic list. Add to it as you see fit.
    
    Cellular Phone or a separate phone line - A cellular phone is best in case the intruder has cut your regular phone lines.
    
    Flashlight and spare batteries - Consider buying the rechargeable flashlights that
    you leave plugged into an electrical socket when not in use. Get the kind that come on automatically when the power goes off.
    
    Fire arms and extra ammunition - My personal choice for a safe room would be a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun using 00 Buckshot. You are more likely to hit the intruder.
    This is a personal call for you. Use whatever you can reliably hit with.
    
    First aid kit Fire extinguisher
    
    Sign for window - so that emergency personnel know which room you are in by looking from the outside.
    
    Collapsible ladder - If your safe room is on the second or third level, you may need a way to exit through the window.
    
    
    In addition, since your safe room is, by definition, the safest room in the house, you should store your valuables and important papers in this room. Remember, if the bad guys choose not to enter your safe room, they still have the rest of the house to rob.
    
    Reinforcing the walls
    
    If you have no other choice but to use a room with a sheet rock wall exposed to the bad guys you can armor this wall two ways: Easier: Cut a 2” hole bellow the light switch besides your door jamb. Pour pea gravel or sand, with a funnel until you reach the hole level. Patch the hole with wall patch then sand and paint.
    
    Harder: Cut the same 2” hole. Insert a large garbage bag through the hole. Pour concrete with a funnel into the bag. The bag will expand with the weight of the wet concrete and fill the space between the studs. Patch the hole as above.
    
    
    
    Conclusion ?
    
    
    The purpose of this booklet is not to be the definitive work on self-defense and risk reduction. It has been designed to stimulate your thinking regarding the development of a workable, personal, self-protection plan.
    
    It is quite possible to become paranoid in your thinking. This book is designed not to make your paranoid, but simply to get you to change your way of thinking and living.
    
    Take the time to perform an assessment of your current situation. Look at your home, work, travel, and leisure situations. Implement some or all of the methods for risk reduction outlined in this booklet.
    
    Decide whether or not you need to take some instruction in self-defense, the use of pepper sprays, etc. Should you attend a rape prevention seminar? Should you take a firearm training course? Should you investigate your local and state laws regarding the carrying of a concealed weapon.
    
    I hope you never find yourself in a situation where you need to physically confront someone else. But if you do, you don't have to be a willing victim and at the very least you don't have to be easy prey for criminals. You must tell yourself that you are fighting an animal, for that's exactly what your attacker is.
    
    Stay Safe!

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