Self Defense – the Power of the Mind
Most normal people do not like violence. But with the manner in which crime has been increasing adopting a certain amount of self defense has become mandatory for almost everyone. Children, men, women and old people are all at a danger of being attacked for some reason on another. While most petty crimes are perpetrated due to a lust for money, there are other psychic attackers who will harm others for the thrill of it alone.
With such a situation in society, it becomes essential that each one of us be able to fight back. But then again, fighting back is not everyone’s cup of tea. Learning self defense techniques, martial arts or kickboxing is not something everyone can do (or likes to do).
If one looks at the manner in which attackers choose their victims, it becomes fairly clear that the attackers pick on those who are least expected to fight back. The surprising thing is that it has been empirically seen that the victims are not chosen based on gender or size or race but by the level of self confidence that they display in their body language.
Given this understanding, one can assume that by being confident and by being able to talk confidently attacks can be avoided. The first part of being confident to avoid attacks is to be able to display self confidence in the body language. The second part is to be able to speak to an advancing attacker and convince him that you are in a position to seriously harm the fellow if he tries any tactics.
Though there are specific physical body signs that communicate self confidence, self defense in the manner needs to be internalized. One may know the kind of gait that a self confident person has or the manner in which the arms should swing while walking, but adopting that completely in a natural manner needs more than just ‘knowing’.
Genuine self confidence that helps in self defense comes only from the belief that you are actually well prepared to handle an assault. But if you are not a fighter you will need the aid of certain self defense products so that you feel secure about the fact that you can actually defend yourself at the time of need.
Make sure that you evaluate various self defense products and choose the ones that you feel most comfortable using. You can take your pick from pepper sprays, stun guns, tasers or personal alarms. Do not make the mistake of assuming that you shall gain the self confidence only keeping these products with you. Irrespective of whether you intend to use them actively or not, you should ensure that you have learnt to use these products effectively. Learning various self defense techniques does not mean that you need to resort to them as soon as you feel the threat that someone is likely to attack – remember the tenets of karate state that force should be adopted only in case of extreme circumstances.
If you are one of those people who do not like to use force or attack other people, make sure that you warn the attackers beforehand (if the situation permits). Your tone and manner will automatically be convincing if you are stating the truth.
Use self defense techniques with caution
The topic of self defense is being talked about a lot these days. And there is no doubt about the reason why this is happening. With increasing crime levels, people are becoming aware of the fact that if they are confronted with an attacker, they need to know what to do.
While self defense products like pepper sprays, stun guns and tasers are extremely easy to use and convenient, you cannot carry them with you all the time. For example, if you are wearing an elegant gown and going for a party, there is a small chance that you would like to carry a pepper spray with you. Though pepper sprays and stun guns also come in small packages and can be disguised as lipsticks or key chains, they may not be your first choice in such situations.
It is obviously advisable to arm yourself with other knowledge and skills so that you can use other self defense tactics if need be. Undergoing some kind of self defense training is especially important for those who may have jobs or professions that put them at a higher risk of attack. Security guards, waitresses and bartenders need to be more careful while they are at work and while getting off work too.
With this knowledge in mind, there are various companies that have started marketing videos on self defense techniques. Some of these videos claim to tech martial arts and judo. On the other hand some of them claim to comprehensively train you in various self defense tactics that you can use when attacked.
Irrespective of how authentic these self defense videos may be, there is one thing that almost all fail to mention – the fact that active and concerted practice is required to master the art of self defense techniques. Learning self defense is not as easy as sitting on the couch and watching a self defense video once a day for five days at a stretch. For that matter, it is not even standing in front of the idiot box and practicing some moves once in a while.
If you really want to learn how to defend yourself in the time of need, you need to see the video’s, and involve a friend and practice the moves regularly till you become confident and adept. You could use kickboxing equipment to practice too.
Do not make the mistake of thinking that the story ends there. There is another aspect of self defense that is not very well known. Irrespective of how many times you may have practices your moves and self defense tactics, you may react in a completely different manner when you are actually confronted by a real assailant, kidnapper or rapist. Many people who consider themselves otherwise prepared for an attack freeze at the sight of someone with a knife.
One is not suggesting that you throw yourself in front of real attack situation for practice. However, thinking about the situation actively can help you prepare for it mentally. Think of what you would do when something like this happens, the moves you would make and the manner in which you will go about using your strengths. Learn about the weak spots that you can hit upon so that you can emerge victorious with the least effort required.
Following the above mentioned recommendations in conjunction with the self defense training videos can definitely help you in protecting yourself better.
Do joggers need self defense?
The level of awareness with regards to health issues is on the rise and there are numerous people who have now inculcated good healthy habits into their lifestyle. Jogging is one such activity that has been adopted by many. Generally joggers tend to go for a run early in the morning or in the evenings. Though it is said that joggers are at double the risk of getting mugged or facing an assault, those who chose early mornings are at a higher risk than all joggers put together too.
The reason for joggers being at a higher risk is fairly obvious. In most cases, people tend to run alone (with some music, perhaps). This is mainly because talking is not really permitted or possible when you are jogging or doing a cardiac workout. Due to the fact that joggers run alone in the wee hours of the morning, they tend to be prime victims of various kinds of attack.
Joggers also face the additional hazard of being the target of dogs, and even large cats and bears depending on the route that is taken for the exercise. If you like to wander off jogging into lonely areas by yourself to enjoy the scenery and the fresh air, be aware of the fact that there are increases chances of meeting with some kind of an assault incident.
Even though some joggers are aware of these increased risks associated with the activity, most do not explore personal self defense options. This is mainly because it is believed that the various self defense products that are sold in the market are not convenient for use while jogging because they are bulky and inconvenient to carry.
However, this belief or feeling is not entirely true. There are various self defense products that are lightweight and can be used specifically by joggers. There are small pepper sprays that can be clipped to the belt and other small ones that can even be concealed in the palm. Pepper sprays and stun guns can also be carried around the neck. These visible self defense products will not only help you in the time of need, they can even prevent a likely attack if the attacker notices that you have some protection since most perpetrators shy away from victims who are likely to put up any kind of resistance.
Other than carrying self defense products and learning how to use them effectively, jogger self defense can also include small measures like changing the jogging route every day. Ensure that there is no pattern in the variation also so that a keen observer lying in wait does not know the route that you are likely to take each day. Jogger self defense is also possible simply by being aware of the likely dangers and by ensuring that you do not wander off into various lonely areas. Even though running without any obstruction may seem a more pleasant thought than running on a track on which you are likely to bump into people, chose parks or tracks meant for jogging to avoid an attack.
The Dangers of Being a Real Estate Agent
Real estate agents are at a real risk of getting attacked. The surprising part is that not many real estate agents look at their jobs as being a dangerous one. They consider it part of their job to take new people to see various properties. Some renowned real estate companies even send off their star agents on client entertainment dinners so that they can close a large sale for some real estate homes.
It is a fact that the real estate search for an individual takes him to various homes and these real estate homes need to be shown by real estate agents. The nature of the real estate agent job is such that these personnel make more than 70% of the monthly income through commissions on the sales made.
It is not doubt therefore that real estate agents continue to ignore the dangers associated with their jobs and continue what is expected.
Specifically speaking, the real estate industry poses a fair amount of challenge for the agent. Not only do the agents interact and meet complete strangers as potential clients but they also need to take them to visit homes for evaluation and consideration. In most case these trips are made to empty homes that have been put up for sale. There have been a fair number of incidents where real estate agents have been mugged with purses and jewelry stolen in the last few years. Some real estate salespeople have also lost their lives due to injuries incurred during such attacks.
There are a fair number of precautions that real estate agents can take to ensure self protection. While the realtors association is trying to create an awareness of the potential dangers and how they can be avoided, any amount of efforts put behind the cause are required.
Some of the precautions that you, as a real estate agent, can take are:
- Demand that your client meets you at the office before you step out for the actual visit. This gives you a chance to size up the client in some way. You should not be fooled by ‘first looks’ alone and continue being alert. This is mainly because unless you are a trained professional who has learnt to identify potential attackers, there is no way in which you can judge on appearances alone. However, a first meeting can give you certain vibes that you should register as cues.
- While at the office, make sure that you note the license number and any other detail that you can, with regards to the identity of the potential client.
- Taking your own vehicle to the real estate site and ensuring that the client follows is a good idea. This is essential because weapons can be hidden in the ‘so-called’ potential clients’ vehicle. Also with a vehicle there are far higher chances of making a dash for it in case of an incident.
- If possible, get a buddy along with you for visits to real estate homes. Two people are better than one when it comes to managing an attack.
- At the venue, real estate agents should try and keep the client moving in front of them while moving around the house. This allows you to keep an eye on the stranger.
- Real estate companies can play an extremely significant role by ensuring that they do not use glamorous shots of real estate women agents. Such ads are obviously likely to attract fake clients who may be looking for more than just a view of the real estate house on sale.
- Arrange a code word or an alert that you can send back to headquarters and your family in case you perceive a real and strong attack.
- Women real estate agents should consciously avoid wearing expensive jewelry to work.
- Last but not the least, carry some self defense products like the pepper spray or the stun gun so that you can defend yourself temporarily if and when attacked. Self defense products help you in feeling safe and comfortable as you go about your work. You can rest assured that once you have your own easy-to-use self defense products you shall be able to use them effectively in case the need arises.
Security Guard Personnel
It might be surprising to know that the number of security personnel in the country is far higher than the number of police professionals. However, if you think about this fact for a while, it seems almost obvious that this should be the case. With increasing levels of crime and the fact that crime seems to be all pervasive, there is only a higher need to have security guards who can deter crime (sometimes by merely being present). The demand for security guards is on the rise since there are security guard jobs in various places. Today one finds security personnel at retail outlets, schools, offices, universities, banks, large events and even apartments.
Sometimes, a security job can seem to be boring and tiresome since the focus is on prevention. It is not like solving a crime or uncovering a mystery. However, it is important for all to understand that it is the presence, awareness, alertness and quick decision making capabilities of several security guards that have averted many major attacks or crimes. These unfortunately do not seem to get the kind of media attention and recognition that crimes that have been successful do!
The role of a security guard is actually extremely important because a security guard comes into action even before a crime is actually perpetrated. Basically a security guard is expected to observe keenly, identify, preempt, deter and report crime of any nature. With higher demand there are various security guard training companies that prepare candidates for a security guard job. These companies train candidates on aspects like identifying dubious characters, preempting signs that imply a possible larceny or theft, good judgment, delaying tactics and protocol and legal issues associated with a security guard job.
A key part of security guard training is in the area of self defense. The reason why self defense is so important for a security guard is because of the fact that most security guards do not carry guns. And the job requires a fair amount of caution since the security guard has a high probability of being confronted by an aggressor. And to cater to these needs, there are various self defense products that are available specifically for security guards so that they can carry out their duties with self confidence and efficiency.
Some of the self defense products that are used extensively these days are pepper sprays, tasers and extendable batons. These products can help security personnel to carry out their duties effectively.
How much Protection is Enough?
With increasing crime it has become mandatory for everyone to be aware of the dangers that lurk in corners and sometimes stare you in the face on the streets. It has become essential that each one of us ensure some kind of self defense.
There are various kinds of initiatives that you can take to ensure self protection. Among them are various self defense programs, fitness classes, martial arts and self defense products. Among the products, there are various options that start from pepper sprays to stun guns, tasers, pen knives and more. The question however is how many of these various self defense programs or products should one adopt. How much is practical and what defines the level of obsession and paranoia?
Actually there are no set definitions of how much self defense is practical and how much is more than required. This is mainly because of the fact that the self protection requirement of different people varies based on certain factors. Those who work late hours or need to travel to lonely and dangerous areas need to be more trained in self defense techniques than others. Professionals like security guards and personal guards who face criminals or defiant individuals as part of their profession also need more self defense. Even those who need to meet strangers on a regular basis should be extra careful and ensure that they have thought about self defense so that they are not caught unawares.
Such individuals should, at the least, purchase some self defense products and understand how they are used so that they can confidently face any situation that arises. In fact, such people should take the trouble of thinking about the various dangers that can possibly arise and prepare mentally and physically for the same.
This is not to state that people who have a nine-to-five job do not need any self defense. The crime scene today does not allow anyone to stay relaxed and indifferent to the topic of self defense. While some professionals may be at a higher risk of being attacked or victimized, each one of us is at a certain risk of being mugged or picked upon. Pick pockets, bag snatchers and rapists are at large in the city. Individual self protection is essential for all.
It is also a fact that with increasing competition and pressures, everyone cannot afford to take the time for customized professional self defense training. Most people require simple products that can allow a temporary win that allows a quick escape. Pepper sprays, stun guns and tasers are some easy to use products that can be bought and learned extremely easy. One does not need to go through an extensive self defense training program to learn how to use these simple products that are actually designed for the general public.
Therefore, the idea in an attack situation is to incapacitate the aggressor for a limited period of time so that you can make a run for it. These products are meant for exactly such incidents and therefore are most practical. It is also wise to buy products that are disguised as regular items like pens, beepers, lipsticks and the like so that you can use them without warning the assailant.
Avoid Being Picked Upon – Understand the Reasons and Take Corrective Action
There are some people who seem to need self defense more than others. This is not because they are of a certain gender, age, race or size. Some people tend to always get picked upon by bullies, drunken men and panhandlers. These people sometimes fail to understand why these assaults, lewd comments and undesired advances are made towards them alone.
There are various theories about why certain individuals are picked more often than others. Some claim that those who have been bullied in the past tend to get attracted to attackers sub consciously and get victimized. Some researches have tried to find out the manner in which convicts or perpetrators chose their victims. And surprisingly, there does not seem be an obvious answer to the question – how are victims chosen?
Based on what is understood so far, victims are not chosen based on their gender, size, race or age. The choice of a victim happens subconsciously and is based on factors like the gait, stride, speed of walking, the posture and movement of the eyes.
Since it is obvious that the reasons for being picked up more often are not evident easily, almost everyone needs to be aware of the various risks that exist so that specific self defense initiatives can be taken.
Most self defense programs purport that self confidence can help divert a likely or potential attack. However, what is important to note here is that self confidence is not something that can be faked. The elements of self confidence include various aspects like the manner in which you walk, the speed at which you walk, the steadiness of your gaze, the purposefulness of your direction, the tightness with which you hold your bag and many such subtle signals that the body sends out.
It is impossible to feign confidence when you do not have it. And therefore it is necessary to actually develop that self confidence. You don’t want to be looking the attacker in the eye and making it extremely obvious that you are an easy prey.
Real confidence comes from knowing that you can face up to a situation in case you have to. While keeping yourself healthy and fit so that you can handle an assault when you have to is advisable, not everyone can build muscles to strike back.
For those who want to be prepared for any situation, learning self defense techniques is the best option. Self defense techniques may comprise of various martial arts and kickboxing. But the quickest manner in which you can stop being a victim is to empower yourself with some self defense products that can reassure you can take care of your self defense.
There are various products in the market like the pepper sprays, stun gun and personal alarms that can be kept handy. These products are crafted for regular people who need a certain amount of aid with self defense so that they can defend themselves and not get victimized. While these products are powerful enough to stop an attacker in his place for more time than you need to make a run for it, they are not lethal enough to kill. A pepper sprays will seriously harm the victim but is unlikely to kill the assailant. Similarly, the high voltage stun gun will shock the attacker and incapacitate him for a few minutes but again is unlikely to finish him off for good.
After you have chosen the right products for yourself, make sure that you invest in a small booklet to understand how you can effectively use the gadget.
Knowing that these products are safe to use (for you and not the attacker) and that you have them as your helpers in the time of need, you can rest assured that when a situation does arise, you will be able to tackle it. In fact, the very fact that you have a personal alarm attached to your belt is likely to keep attackers at bay. When you know that you can seriously injure an attacker even though you are not a karate specialist, your self confidence and manner changes naturally.
Gearing up to protect yourself – Take the onus of your personal protection on yourself
With increasing crime, pick pockets, car hijacking, kidnapping and the like, it is no surprise that many people are today actively thinking about self defense and opting to engage in some kind of self protection. It is necessary to first think through the kind of self defense mechanisms that you may want to adopt in the situation of an attack. Thinking in advance about such unpleasant but likely events is necessary because pre-planning can actually help you avoid an attack.
Let’s see what you can do to ensure that you are prepared to tackle an assault situation.
- Learn to identify likely or potential attackers – There are different kinds of people that can actually attack you. An attack could be sexual in nature or an attack could be perpetrated due to theft or car jacking. Most assailants, unless extremely professional and trained, are likely to be shifty eyed. They are never likely to look you in the eye. Therefore making eye contact is actually one of the most effective self defense mechanisms that you can adopt, provided that you can carry it off confidently.
- Protect your property – Your personal belongings are your responsibility and part of self protection. Make sure that you carry your purse with you and do not leave it unattended at any time. Men should ensure that they do not keep all their valuables and important documents or credit cards and license in a wallet in the back pocket. Ensuring that you have a good camera surveillance system at your house is another aspect of protecting yourself. Make sure that your car has an alarm system so that car stealing does not become easy. Lock all the doors of the car before leaving. Also make sure that windows are rolled up.
- Review, evaluate and buy self defense products – It is necessary that you review the various self defense products that are available in the market and chose the one that you are comfortable with. Just buying self defense products like a pepper spray, personal alarm or a stun gun may not ensure that you will be able to use it at the right time. Make sure that you read a detailed book on the specific self defense product that you may have bought and tried it.
- Assess yourself objectively – Make sure that you evaluate yourself objectively and understand what you and your body allow. Trying to lash out at three 6 feet tall bullies when you yourself have no muscle at all may not be the best of things to do.
- Enroll in some self defense classes – Not only does enrolling in such a class enable you to protect yourself, it can also teach you a sport if you chose karate or judo. Used positively, this skill can increase confidence and personality too.
- Learn to talk your way through – In most cases petty crime perpetrators are people who do not have self confidence. Such people buckle under pressure since they themselves do not have an idea about what they want. Understanding their psychology can help you in getting out of a situation without hurting anyone.
- Disguise your self defense items – If you choose to use a regular pepper sprays, it is likely that your attempts will be thwarted unless you disguise them. Using a disguised product is far easier since it can take the attacker by surprise.
- Keep them handy – Make sure that self defense products like pepper spray and stun guns that you purchase are always handy. A good option is the pepper spray keychain or the lipstick pepper spray. If your key chain or personal alarm is lying at the bottom of the purse, it is unlikely that you will be able to take it out in time.
More than half the battle is won if you have done your ground work and thought through likely situations that may arise. Keeping relevant size self defense products on your body, in the car, in the house and otherwise so that you can use one when the need arises.
TBO-TECH is a company dedicated to help you defend yourself in the time of need. The quality and range of self defense products that the company offers is unparalleled. TBO-TECH undertakes a large amount of research to understand your self protection needs and offers products that are practical and effective to use. Other than a wide range of pepper sprays, stun guns and batons, the company also provides martial arts weapons, home and personal alarms, hidden safes, spy gear and fun sporting products like slingshots and blowguns. For more information on how you can use these self defense items for your personal protection and safety log on to TBO-TECH and you will never have to feel insecure again.
Choosing the right self defense product
There are various self defense products in the market today. From the popular pepper sprays and stun guns to the relatively recent tasers, there is a market for each one of these. There are different people who tend to chose different products based on their perceived need, personality and convenience. The fact that each person should choose a self defense product based on specific personal protection needs is a fallacy.
The main reason for that is that attackers do not attack based on your expectations. In case of a real incident, your self defense products can come to nothing if you have not thought about how you want to use them. Moreover, each product is best suited to different situations.
A stun gun is fairly redundant if there is more than one attacker. It is also not the most useful of self defense products when the attacker is not close. In such situations a pepper spray is more effective. With a swing of the arm, you can spray the OC and save yourself from a number of attackers in one go.
The stun gun, on the other hand, is an extremely effective item when it comes to a clandestine kind of an attack. If someone comes up close and tries to muffle you or is trying to run away with your bag, a stun gun is probably the most effective self defense product.
Tasers, remove the disadvantage that stun guns have in the context of distance. A tasers is a weapon that fires wires to deliver a temporarily paralyze the attacker with an electric shock. It can be used multiple times too. The higher the voltage of the taser, the more incapacitating the affect! Today there are products in the market that combine the effects of a stun gun and a pepper spray.
Personal alarms are also considered to be personal protection items. This is because they can be used at times when you are unable to fight back on your own. Personal alarms are most apt for children and disabled people. Attached to the keychain or the side of a wheel chair, these personal alarms can be used to alert other people who can be called for help.
There are other self defense products like folding knives, pen knives, butterfly knives and more than can be more harmful and can injure the attackers. These however need a fair amount of force to injure seriously. If the force that you apply while striking is not adequate, you may end up only scraping some skin, making matters worse for yourself.
Other self defense products like throwing stars and throwing spikes can also be used. These again need some amount of target practice before you can rely on them at the time of need.
For those who want to ensure the safety of their children when they are with a nanny or a stranger, a surveillance camera works well.
Needless to say, there is a certain amount of premeditation that is required to be prepared in the event of a mishap. Make sure that you use these self defense products judiciously and carefully. Using the disguised versions on these products (lipstick pepper spray, pepper pager) is advisable.
TBO-TECH is a company dedicated to help you defend yourself in the time of need. The quality and range of self defense products that the company offers is unparalleled. TBO-TECH undertakes a large amount of research to understand your self protection needs and offers products that are practical and effective to use. Other than a wide range of pepper sprays, stun guns and batons, the company also provides martial arts weapons, home and personal alarms, hidden safes, spy gear and fun sporting products like slingshots and blowguns. For more information on how you can use these self defense items for your personal protection and safety log on to TBO-TECH and you will never have to feel insecure again.
