Combat Self Defense

Self Defense Training – Effective Ways of Reducing the Risk

2010-12-05T08:57:00.000-08:00

The National Crime Prevention Council shares some of the most effective ways how you could stay safe. These are also used in basic self defense training before learning the fundamentals of fighting or even martial arts. It may be trivial but sometimes simple things count a whole lot.

Reduce the risks of putting yourself in danger through simple self defense such as understanding your surroundings. It would definitely help you if you could walk or hang around areas which are well lit, well traveled and open. This would definitely reduce your chances of being attacked or harassed in any ways.

Simplest Tips on Self Defense Training

2010-12-05T08:55:00.000-08:00

There are different tips and methods used for self defense training. Some of the most advanced are teaching you how to do and perfect your martial arts skills. However, there are also simple ways you could use to defend and protect yourself. Staying calm and not losing your temper is definitely one of those techniques.

Self defense is also possible through managing your anger in an effective fashion. Keeping your calm, negotiating or just walking away could be a surefire way of protecting yourself. You could definitely defend yourself and your loved ones through not losing your temper and avoid using your weapons and fist.

Self Defense and Teens

2010-12-04T08:54:00.000-08:00

Most teens are bullied and harassed by others of their age and this may often be neglected or considered something not worth minding. Wrong! Studies show that bullied teens usually result to very low self esteem, depression and in the recent news, suicide. Do you know that you could teach your teens and kids self defense that could protect them?

Self defense video could teach them how to defend themselves through avoiding escalating the problem. When you are being harassed and your attackers are becoming physical but there is no one around, you could pretend to agree with the taunts or bullies. Your focus is to get out of that tight spot and when calmly walking away is the solution, do it!

Avoid Escalating Bad Situations through Self Defense Videos

2010-12-04T08:53:00.000-08:00

So how do you avoid escalating possible bad situations and turning the tides when you feel that you don’t stand a chance? Fortunately there are self defense videos which you could use as guide and basis in learning the art of de-escalating the situation. This skill is commonly known amongst negotiators and self-defense experts.

For instance, if you are being robbed, the best way of de-escalating the situation is to give your money and not running away or fighting back. This is one of the self defense tactics which is using your wits in protecting yourself especially if you are already cornered.

Self Defense Video – Know how to Trust your Judgment

2010-12-03T08:49:00.000-08:00

There are lots choices of self defense video which are all about protecting yourself from the bad guys through learning karate kicks and the basics of jabbing and the likes. Nevertheless, you could also find remarkable sources which say you must trust your judgment and instincts to survive.

For instance, if you feel that a shifty-looking guy is up to no good when you opened the elevator door, never get on or off unless there are other people around. Your body and mind would immediately alert you for safety and this is something you must never ignore. As you can see, self defense training is also using your head and not everything about combative skills.

Self Defense videos include Martial Arts DVD

2010-11-03T14:47:00.000-07:00

Martial arts dvd-Being exposed to a violent situation can leave a scar on the mind that can last a lifetime. At some point, something has to be done, in order to restore confidence to even go out alone again. A martial arts dvd can aid with this, as it can teach the basics of how to protect one’s self in the event of another disturbing situation. There are many self defense videos available, so it is important to choose one that actually offers the necessary skills when they are needed. It will pay off by keeping you safe in dangerous times.

Martial Arts DVD makes Sense

2010-11-03T14:01:00.000-07:00

Martial arts dvd-Protection can come in many forms, but a martial arts dvd may be a good choice when it comes to learning basic moves. Classroom lessons can be expensive, time consuming and ceremonial in what is being taught. A martial arts dvd can eliminate all of these issues and teach an individual what they need to know. A self defense video can supply the techniques necessary to survive an attack, but it is up to the individual to maintain the discipline to keep the skills fresh in the mind. This will ensure readiness when the time comes to use them.

Martial Arts DVD for Self Defense

2010-11-03T11:02:00.000-07:00

Martial arts dvd-The goal of learning and style of self defense training is to be prepared in when put in a position when safety is compromised. A martial arts dvd may be a good solution for several reasons: Privacy, learn at your own pace, learn only what you need to know and practice when you have the time. Simple tactics work better during panicked situations, as the mind will tend to lose complex moves. Focus on basic self defense training techniques, as they will prove to be more useful for you and your family in the end. Your life may depend on it.

Self Defense tactics and Martial Arts

2010-11-03T00:30:00.000-07:00

Self defense tactics-Traditional forms of martial arts training can be used as self defense tactics, just as many military techniques can too. Unfortunately, many of the styles of martial arts that were developed centuries ago have been altered and may be more of a form of exercise rather than used for self defense tactics. Being put into a situation that jeopardizes safety can be difficult, as much of the self defence training such as a form of martial arts, may be lost in the fear from the assailant. Most individuals can benefit from self defence training as long as they are prepared for the moment of assault.

Self Defense Training can save your Life

2010-11-02T18:25:00.000-07:00

Self defense training-It is a priority to acquire skills that will prepare you for any type of situation. Self defense training can cover a lot of areas, but the most important aspect is mindset. Feeling like a victim will only lead to negative results, so it is imperative that the attacker realizes the confidence you exude immediately. Interestingly enough, these components can be learned in the privacy of your own space, without the expense and hassle of joining a class and in your spare time from a self defense DVD. Obtain positive results in an otherwise desperate situation.

Self Defense Tactics

2010-09-19T18:43:00.003-07:00

The Top Seven Self Defense Tactics For People Who Are Sick and Tired of Being Victims

A self defense tactic is not to be confused with a technique or a style. In the words of General George Patton, "Use steamroller strategy -- that is to say, make up your mind on the course and direction of action, and stick to it. But in tactics, do not steamroller. Attack weakness. Hold them by the nose and kick them in the pants."

Self defense strategy should be single-minded: get away at all costs. That is the course and direction of your action, and it should be your single overwhelming goal whenever you are attacked. But in tactics -- when deciding moment-to-moment what actions will accomplish that goal most effectively -- you must frequently take steps that don't intuitively seem to further your strategic goal. That's what Patton meant when he said "in tactics, do not steamroller." You can't just mindlessly run and keep running no matter what your attacker does to you. That's steamroller tactics, and it's failure.

Instead, you have to attack weakness. If they're slow and unarmed, you can run. If they're fast and unarmed, but you have a weapon, use it! If you've taken the time to learn martial arts or military self defense -- and your opponent looks unskilled -- take a stand, incapacitate him, and then run knowing that he can't follow. In fact, you can make a simple checklist of self defense tactics to exploit that don't rely on a particular style or technique, but can be used by anyone.

1) RUN! Run fast, run straight, and try to outpace them. If you can, you've succeeded.
2) KEEP RUNNING! Run through crowds, around corners, anything to put a visual barrier between you and them. If you can move in a way they can't anticipate, you've succeeded.
3) HIDE! Even if they do anticipate your choice of avenues, you can still put yourself in a place they can't easily find you. If they give up and go home, you've succeeded.
4) SURPRISE! If they're about to find you, don't let them -- get the drop on them instead. Grab whatever you can find to use as a weapon, and attack like a banshee, screaming your anger and putting the 'fight' part of 'fight or flight' to good use. If you can break down their morale and scare them off, you've succeeded.
5) INJURE! If they don't run, then use whatever you've got on hand, and injure them as severely as you can in the shortest amount of time. This is the part where having taken the opportunity to learn martial arts earlier would be most helpful, but even if you haven't, just remember the shortlist of most vulnerable places on the body: eyes, throat, solar plexus, testicles, knees, fingers, and feet, in that order. Attack whichever you can reach as powerfully as you can, as fast as you can. If you can convince them that you're not worth pursuing, you've succeeded.
6) INJURE MORE! If they keep coming even after you've broken a finger or clawed an eye to bleeding, you have to double down, because by now, they're going to kill you if you fail. At this point, don't even think about anything except drawing as much blood -- literally -- as possible. Rip off their ears, find a sharp whatever and stab whatever body part you can reach, just be as bloodthirsty and vicious as you can. Before, you were trying to convince them that you weren't worth it -- now, you're trying to scare the HELL out of them. If they back off, chase them. Don't give them the chance to regroup. If they scatter completely, you've succeeded.
7) PLAY DEAD. If your attackers follow you even past the point of sanity and are willing to risk their lives to hurt you, the best thing you can do is take the first attack they offer, and go limp. Pretend to be unconscious. At that point, it's best to just let them do whatever they're going to do, and hope you survive. It's amazing how much pain and indignity you can fake unconsciousness through when it means making it back to your friends and family in the morning.

This simple list of military self defense tactics is essentially a tool to help you exploit the most common weaknesses of criminals. They don't like to chase, to get scared, or to get hurt. They want an easy victim, not one who has taken the time to learn self defense. If you're ever the victim of an attack, use the self defense tactics here, and you'll maximize your chance of living through the nightmare.

Self Defense DVD

2010-09-19T18:43:00.001-07:00

Social Anxiety Disorder and the Self Defense DVD

Lots of so-called 'experts' are prone to disrespecting the process of learning to protect yourself from a self defense DVD, claiming that in-class martial arts training or military hand to hand combat training are the only 'real' ways to learn self defense. Of course, there are a lot of issues with self defense training from a DVD, but they have a distinct place.

Classes, unless you can find a master willing to teach you and you alone, lack privacy. For people with social anxiety disorder -- the kind of people who have mannerisms that make criminals prone to targeting them -- this can make learning in a class particularly difficult. Similarly, people who simply don't want to be judged by observers might not be able to develop the necessary self-assurance and discipline in a group environment. For these people, a self defense DVD can provide an appropriate level of martial arts training without the need for a crowd.

It's becoming common for modern colleges to offer online courses to provide for the people who cannot handle the interpersonal pressure of being in class. In much the same way, a self defense DVD can be used in the privacy of your living room, giving people with social anxiety disorder and similar diseases the opportunity to practice potentially life-saving skills that have the added benefit of boosting their confidence.

By creating an engaging atmosphere within a comfortable space, a self defense DVD removes all of the distractions that public classes are prone to, from taunting peers to laughing onlookers. And with the ability to skip back and forth to any part of the martial arts training that you feel you need to review, a DVD really offers a lot of course customization that you can't get from a group class.

There are two things you need if you're learning from a self defense DVD: good discipline and a partner. Your partner can be someone that you are already comfortable with, who won't trigger your anxiety, as long as they're interested in practicing with you. The discipline is necessary because unless you create it, there is no schedule -- no mandatory time that you must set aside to train. That can lead to a rapid breakdown of training, making it almost impossible to get started once the slacking has set in.

The partner is necessary because there's simply no substitute for a target that has the weight and feel of a real human being. Of course, you don't want to actually hurt your partner, so practicing full-speed and full-force is out -- but even at half-speed and almost no power, the simple presence of someone actually receiving your attacks amplifies the effect of training a hundredfold; it's practically the only way to really learn self defense.

It's a curious thing that can happen when someone with social anxiety disorder has the discipline (and a willing enough partner) to follow through with martial arts techniques from a self defense DVD. It doesn't happen for everyone, but there are those people who gain such a sensation of confidence -- even competence -- from pursuing such training that they learn how little of an actual threat most other people pose to them. It can help someone that is already undergoing therapy to have a new and powerful tool to overcome the disease.

So, if the thought of going to a group self defense class gives you the willies, be secure in the knowledge that a self defense DVD can offer you a perfectly valid and functional alternative that might even help you in more ways than one.

Self Defence Training

2010-09-19T18:42:00.004-07:00

What is Your Self Defense Training Missing?

The first thing that anyone notices when they start to look into self defense training is that there are so many different schools, styles, and techniques that it's almost impossible to pick one on any kind of a knowledgeable basis. You might feel an intuitive draw to something like the martial arts styles of Aikido or the hand to hand combat training of MCMAP, but you can't learn enough to make the choice from a place of understanding.

Most people just go to whatever class is closest, cheapest, or has the flashiest-sounding name.

The truth is very disappointing to many would-be ninja: no matter what they say, there is no comprehensive self defense system. No one teacher -- in fact, no set of teachers, no matter how large, can teach you everything you need to know about self defense.

There are a lot of ways of categorizing the various kind of self defense training as well. Some people who learn martial arts break them into the classic Eastern set (hard, hard/soft, and soft), but even that primarily addresses only the striking arts. A better way to break them down might be into a two-by-two grid with striking and grappling as the columns and aggressive and receptive as the rows.

That gives you a very basic but essentially complete framework for your hand to hand combat training: you should learn a little bit about each section. Hard striking like boxing or Thai kickboxing, soft striking like T'ai Chi Chuan or Xingyiquan, hard grappling like Krav Maga or Sabmo, and soft grappling like Judo or Aikido -- each has a relevant application to self defense training. Whatever training you're currently taking, it is almost certainly not covering all four bases.

However, there is an even more basic, and very rarely used, method of classifying self defense techniques, based not on what actions you take to subdue the enemy, but how you respond to the enemy's actions. In any scenario in which you are the defender, before you take action yourself, you must first react to an attack. There are only four basic ways to do this.

• You can block, rather than evade, the attack. This puts you into a "taking charge" stance, and you must respond with aggression against his vulnerabilities to capitalize on your situation.
• You can back away, reducing his attacking options but also reducing yours as well. Unless you have a significant reach advantage, your only option is to attack the limb or weapon that you just evaded -- but that's often a good strategy regardless.
• You can move 'inside' the attack, stepping toward your opponent on the inner side of his attacking limb. This can open up a myriad of attack options, but it can also leave you vulnerable if your opponent is skilled in zero-range combat.
• You can move 'outside' of the attack, stepping at a 45-degree angle along the outside of your opponent's attacking limb. This opens up fewer striking options, but is an excellent technique for grapplers and leaves him very few options for a follow-up attack.

Few if any self defense training courses really capitalize on these split-seconds, right as you react to an attack. Pay careful attention to which are the most common in your own self defense training, and you might find a profound insight into what your training is missing.

Self Defense

2010-09-19T18:42:00.002-07:00

The Very Different Purposes of Self Defense and the Martial Arts Styles of the East

There are two very different styles of combat taught across America -- the straightforward self defense schools that teach focus under pressure and incapacitation maneuvers, and the more spiritually advanced martial arts styles that teach philosophy and self-control in addition to complex physical techniques. Not that either one is definitively superior to the other, just that they're used for different things.

If you're worried that someone is after you, or that you're likely to get mugged, you want to study self defense, not martial arts techniques. The flying kicks of Tae Kwon Do won't serve you in a narrow alley, and the do-no-harm philosophy of Aikido won't keep a persistent attacker down for very long. Moreover, martial arts styles tend toward complex movements that require a very clear head -- in battle, the focus that serves so well in the dojo is likely to be completely absent, making those complex movements a distant memory.

On the other hand, if what you want is a fitness regimen that will lead you to a better understanding of yourself and the way you interact with other people and the world, martial arts excel. Krav Maga cannot teach you how to push yourself beyond your own limits through extraordinary training techniques, and there is little in Sambo that will lead you down a path of meditative introspection. Self defense classes, whether life on on a self defense video, will rarely encourage you to become flexible or develop excellent cardiovascular health -- they're all about what works, not what's best for you as a person.

Self defense instructors -- especially the ultra-aggressive types you see on a self defense DVD -- always fall back to the euphemism of 'the street'. If it doesn't work on 'the street', who cares? Simple, classic motions that are easy to pull off under stress and have maximum impact on the opponent are the name of the game. The attackers on 'the street' don't follow rules -- they're bigger than you, meaner than you, better armed than you, and there are more of them than there are of you. If you can't put them down in one or two seconds apiece, you're going to get stabbed.

Martial arts instructors consistently stress that your biggest competition is 'the self'. You must constantly push yourself to outperform your previous best. You have to strive to do your best not just in the dojo, but in every aspect of your life. Everything you do is a form of competition, even if only to compete with your own last performance of the same act. It doesn't matter if you win a kumite -- what matters is if you really gave it everything you have.

The wisdom of studying both at once is questionable, as you run the risk of 'confusing' your muscle memory -- but most certainly, once you've mastered the basics of one, it's well worth your time to start the other. In short, there are excellent reasons to study both self defense and one of the many martial arts styles -- whichever fits your personality the best.

Self Defense Techniques

2010-09-19T18:42:00.000-07:00

When Self Defense Techniques Are Appropriate

The improper or ill-timed use of self defense techniques have resulted in thousands of lawsuits across the US and the UK. 'Self defense' is actually something of a misnomer, because in reality any technique that can be used to defend yourself can also be used as an attack. Because of that, it's often up to a jury to decide whether a given strike or lock was actually self defense or was, in reality, an unnecessary aggressive action.

Legal definitions of justifiable self defense exist in every culture and every country, but they vary widely between those cultures and countries. In general, you must be able to prove that your physical actions were strictly intended to save you or another person from death, serious injury, or grievous property damage. If you can't prove that -- and there have been cases of people attacking robbers in their own home who couldn't -- your actions might be interpreted as a crime .

Learning self defense consists of three areas: self defense techniques, self defense tactics, and self defense training. Techniques are movements such as strikes and locks and throws. Tactics are mental activities such as sitting with your back to a wall that are designed to minimize the chance of an attack. Training is the method with which you make techniques and tactics an innate and everyday part of your life.

In order to be fully prepared for a physical attack, you have to implement all three areas in balance. Knowing the techniques and tactics without training them into your muscle memory is a waste of time. Knowing the tactics and training your mind to use them is good, but it's pointless to be aware of an attack if you can't do anything about it. And training endlessly in techniques is perfectly silly if you're unaware and get caught off guard and taken out before you can implement them.

There is something of a desire to prove your abilities once you start learning self defense tactics. 'How will I know if this is actually working if I don't get attacked,' the trainee thinks. This is especially true of those who choose to learn from a martial arts DVD rather than a live teacher. That can lead to improper use of self defense techniques, as the trainee becomes belligerent, attempting to provoke a fight in order to test themselves and the martial arts DVD.

That is the first step down a long slope that can easily end in jail time or million-dollar lawsuits. It is imperative to always keep in mind that the first goal of any system of self defense is to avoid combat, not win fights. The chief difference between self defense and asskicking is in intent and awareness.

As mentioned, they can be legally very difficult to discern, but in essence, if your goal is to incapacitate someone and thus keep them from harming someone or some property, you're in the right. The instant you cross over and let emotions get the best of you -- the moment you strike an unnecessary blow out of anger or fear -- you are no longer defending yourself. That's why mental training is just as much a part of self defense as physical self defense techniques are.

Self Defense

2010-07-21T09:20:00.004-07:00

Self Defense and the Principles of Punching

Effective striking is a fundamental skill that needed for many different approaches to self defense. It doesn't matter where you learn how to do, the principles of punching are fairly consistent. Every martial arts DVD will discuss punching in great detail, because if executed incorrectly, you can end up hurting yourself more than the target. There are a wide variety of punching methods, especially if you take a close look at a wide berth of martial arts techniques. To gain a better understanding about the nuances of punching, here is closer look at some of the basic principles.

One of the first concepts that will discussed when you learn martial arts is that muscle relaxation is vital to execute a punch properly. Many people will naturally begin to tense as their start their punch, however this will cause rapid fatigue and limited power. Additionally, relaxing your forearms will increase the speed of your punch, the power of your punch, and your overall reaction time. Another basic principle of punching is weight transfer. In order to generate power, weight transfer is vital. This is often done by rotating the hips, following the punch with the body, or dropping your body weight into it.

One of the most important principles of punching is rapid retraction. Once you have delivered your strike, you should retract your wrist as quickly as possible. Accomplishing this will provide 3 basic advantages. The first is that your arm will return to the protection that your stance provides instead of leaving it open to a counter attack that could cause joint damage. Another advantage of rapid retraction is that it removes your arm from your opponents reach, thus preventing them from grabbing your arm and pulling your off balance or using a painful clinch. Finally, it allows your hand and arm to quickly return to a position of power, so that you can throw another punch. If you do not have rapid retraction, you will either only land one punch instead of two, or your second punch will lack the speed, power, and precision necessary for a successful strike.

The final principle of punching is telegraphing. Telegraphing your strike will occur if your body movement alert your opponent to what you are about to do. One of the best ways to prevent this is to simply remain relaxed. Another way to telegraph your punch is to draw your arm back, much like you are cocking a gun, changing your facial expression, and even tensing your neck muscles. All of these movements can potentially alert your opponent that you are about to strike, which gives them a better chance of blocking or deflecting it. Every self defense DVD will give you additional telegraphing actions that you can look for as well.

All of these principles are fairly simple to understand, but can be difficult to conquer When it comes to self defense, one or two well thrown punches will be able to disorient, distract, or immobilize your opponent long enough to allow you to get away. Just remember to: keep your muscles relaxed, transfer your weight, retract rapidly, never telegraph your attack.

Martial Arts Self Defense

2010-07-21T09:20:00.002-07:00

Martial Arts Self Defense – Targeting Areas of the Body

During your martial arts self defense training, you will learn the different areas of the body that are best to target when defending yourself. This is incredibly important because if you can execute a devastating strike, it will not be very effective if it is not properly targeted. There seem to be 5 major areas of the body that are targeted by most self defense videos. They include the: head, neck, torso, groin, and extremities Here is a quick overview of each area and the type of damage that is most effective against it.

The first area to discuss is the head. In almost every self defense video, the best places that are identified to target are the eyes, nose, ears, temple, and jaw. The eyes stand out as a great place to attack because they are made up of soft tissue and are not protected by bone or muscle. Additionally, an effective attack to they can momentarily blind or disorient your attacker which will give you enough time to escape. If you are forced to target lower, then the neck is a fantastic option and is discussed in almost every martial arts DVD. The front of the neck, the throat area, is also composed of soft tissue that has no natural protection from bone or muscle. An effective strike to the throat will cause it to swell, which can temporarily close their airway.

The torso has four major areas that can be effectively attacked, they include: the clavicle, solar plexus, ribs, and kidneys. If your goal is to stun your attacker, then a swift strike to the solar plexus will knock the wind out of them and can temporarily immobilize them. The ribs are also an excellent target because damage to the ribs can also be immobilizing and even cause internal damage as well. The groin is another soft tissue area that has no natural protection. Additionally, because of its central location, almost all offensive martial arts moves can be used to strike it. When striking the groin, aim specifically for the scrotum. If you miss, you still cause a large amount of pain, and if you connect, it can cause the lower abdominal muscles to contract and the attacker will not be able to effectively stand for some time.

The final area that needs to be discussed is the extremities This area should rarely be the focal point of your attacks, however hindering this area in a close quarter situation is extremely helpful as it gives you a control advantage. Additionally, damage to the joints can cause immobilization.

As you can see there are a wide variety of options to choose from, so it is important that your strike serves a purpose. The most effective aspect of martial arts self defense is that with only one or two strikes, you can either disorient or immobilize your attacker long enough to escape, which should always be the top priority. Remember, when striking your attacker, focus on one of these five areas: the head, the neck, the torso, the groin, or specific areas of the extremities

Martial Arts Training

2010-07-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

Martial Arts Training – The Body as Weapon

The fundamentals of martial arts training is to teach you how to utilize your body as a weapon. There are a lot more potential weapons on the human body than many people realize. By focusing on the two most common areas (the arms and the legs) there are a large number of potential striking points. One of the most important aspects of self defense training is that you learn how to use your surroundings, which in many cases is only your body. Let's break down the two main areas of emphasized in self defense videos and see how many weapons we can find.

Let's start with the legs because they are considered by many self defense training videos as the most powerful weapon on the human body. One of the largest benefits that using your legs as weapon provides is that this area of your body is the hardest to injure, which makes it a safe choice. In military self defense, the feet are used quite often because of boots that are worn by soldiers. Marines will use the balls of their feet, toes, and insteps to attack an opponent. They will even use the cutting edge of their heels to stomp on an opponent. Another potent weapon on the legs is the knees. Knees are ideal for close range strike where extending your entire leg is impractical. It is recommended in several military manuals to strike an opponent in the groin with your knee and as they bend over, you can also use your knee to deliver a strike to their face, which can potentially break bones, but at minimum take them to the ground.

Along with the legs, using your arms and hands is often considered a primary strategy throughout most martial arts training. The hands can be used in a variety of ways. The most well known is simply to make a fist to target soft tissue areas. The edge of the hand can also be used against soft tissue area. The palms, because of their extra padding, is used for a variety of tasks including striking and blocking. Finally, the fingers can be used to rip, gouge, and even tear at soft tissue areas (specifically the eyes, throat, and groin).

With so much emphasis place upon the hands, it can be easy to overlook how useful the elbow is as a weapon. Marines use their elbows very similar to the way that they use their knees. They are striking weapons that are to be utilized during close combat.

As you can see, even when you focus on only the two primary areas, the legs and arms, you can still find a wide variety of potential weapons. Many types of martial arts training will teach people ways to use all of these weapons and more. If you ever find yourself in a position where are being attacked, it is important to remember that you have a wide variety of weapons available to you, and that is only counting different parts of your body and not the surrounding environment.

Self Defense DVD

2010-07-21T09:19:00.003-07:00

Self Defense DVD – Simple Rules to Winning a Surprise Street Attack

A self defense DVD will cover a variety of different situations that the average person needs to be aware of, however some of these situation may seem unlikely for you personally depending on your lifestyle: where you live, what you do, the hours you out, do you travel a lot, how many crazy ex's you have etc While this will give you an excellent foundation of military self defense, a surprise street attack is something that you simply cannot prepare for in its entirety. Many of the variables can be reproduced during your training, but not all of them. Here are some simple rules to keep mind when addressing strategies for dealing with a surprise street attack.

The first thing that you absolutely cannot do in a street fight is go to the ground. This issue is widely debated as grappling and submission holds become more popular. However, if you get surprised on the street, there is a chance that your attacker may have a buddy or two lurking around. Until you have had time to assess your surroundings, going to the ground is dangerous for a variety of reasons. The first is that those buddies who are lurking around can easily come up while you are on the ground and stomp on you until there isn't much left.

Another potential hazard is the environment itself. If you are the target of a surprise attack, then you probably have not completely assessed your surroundings. There is nothing worse than dropping to ground, only to find out that a broken bottle or a few nails have found their way into your side. Keep in mind that nearly every combat self defense manual used by the military states that going to the ground should be a last resort.

Another tip to keep in mind is that you should never use all of your power on your first strike. This is a problem that is most commonly found with martial arts moves because they are designed with only one strike in mind, not an extended fight. The problem is that probably have not been able to assess your attackers potential strengths and weaknesses, which means that you have not found their weakest points. Why waste most of your power on a strike that plays into your attackers strength. The key is to combine a quick barrage of strikes. This will not only put you on the offensive, but your attacker reaction will tell you a lot about them.

As you can see, there are some simple rules that you can follow to give yourself a better chance to stand against a surprise attack on the street. Remember, follow the combat self defense rule of thumb - “stay off of the ground”, make sure to accurately assess your surrounding environment, and make sure that you never waste all of your power on your first strike. Even though these rules are specifically applied to fighting on the street, there is a good chance that these rules will also be applicable to a variety of situations that are discussed on your self defense DVD.

Learn Self Defense

2010-07-21T09:19:00.001-07:00

3 Things to Keep in Mind as You Learn Self Defense

When you first start to learn self defense, everything can quickly become intimidating and overwhelming. You start to think about the infinite amount of situations that arise and how you will react to each one of them. This kind of thought process is going to do you a lot more harm than good. While it is true that you could be placed in a situation that you have not specifically prepared for, by setting a few guidelines that can apply to every situation, you will feel more confident and be more effective. Here are 3 guidelines that can be applied to any situation.

The first is that you absolutely must remain calm. One of the fundamental rules that govern every form of martial arts is that you must always be in control of yourself. This includes both your body and your mind. If you do not stay calm when a dangerous situation arises, you likely response will be a snap-decision made out of fear or under stress. Either way, these states of mind do not allow you to think clearly. By staying calm, you will be able to react quickly and execute the moves that you can practiced over and over again during your hand to hand combat training.

The next guideline is often often one of the hardest to truly let sink in. Expect to get hit. If you are attacked, there is a good chance that you attacker will land at least one strike. Getting hit isn't fun, in fact it will probably hurt. But if you let one or two punches affect what you are going to do, then you might as well not waste your time learning self defense in the first place. Your attacker isn't going to just stand there and let you pummel them, they are going to come at you as hard as they can.

The final guideline is that there are no rules. Nearly all martial arts styles have a set of rules that must be followed while you are training. This isn't the case when are fighting on the sidewalk, in a bar, or even the middle of the street. This is especially true if your attacker seems to be a solid fighter. Ram your fingers in their eyes, throw dirt in their face, kick them in the groin, if it is against the “rules” then it will probably give you an advantage. What's the worse that could happen, someone makes fun of you fighting dirty? That is much better than being one who is laying on ground. The one caveat to this rule is that you should try to avoid strikes to the spine or back of the head because those cause life changing injuries and could land you in jail. Remember, defense not assault and battery.

If you can keep these three guidelines in mind while you learn self defense, you will be much more successful if you ever have to use it. Make sure that you always remain calm and in control, going into every encounter expecting to get hit, and when someone is attacking you on the street, it's all fair game.

Chris Pizzo: Martial Arts Training History

2010-06-17T08:25:00.000-07:00

Chris Pizzo has been a student and instructor of martial arts and close combat training methods for many years. One of his passions in life is helping other people protect themselves from dangerous criminals. But the martial arts aren’t just about fighting and taking out your opponent. They are also a great form of exercise and a fun way to relieve stress and build self-confidence and self-esteem.

The History of Martial Arts Training:

Martial arts mostly likely arose from humans’ tendencies towards aggression. The desire to win in battles of strength led to the practice of fighting, and sparring or mock combat became a way to practice and train using acquired skills and techniques. Many different forms of martial arts have been practiced in just about every country on earth, despite Hollywood’s emphasis on the Asian martial arts in television and movies.

Pankration was a martial art that was practiced the citizens of early Greece. This fighting discipline includes a potpourri of combative styles. It contains elements of wrestling, throws, boxing techniques, and grappling. The earliest written records of this martial art being practiced date to around 700 BCE, but the chances are that it had been practiced for many, many years prior to that time. Pankration is still practiced to this day in Greece and in many other countries around the world.

The development of the martial arts in Japan are said to have arisen from the practice of breathing exercises. The martial arts came later and were influenced by the migration of Chinese martial arts experts. Many Asian countries have developed and honed their own forms of martial arts disciplines. In Korea, they have the ancient martial art of Hwa Rang Do. In the Phillipines, Kali has been practiced. The steady flow of movement and the emphasis in breathing techniques in the martial arts are closely related to the practice of Yoga.

Since the beginning, the martial arts have evolved. Thought the martial arts were developed for battle, they are now used as a method of self-defense and a way to maintain excellent physical and mental conditioning in the modern era. It is ironic that these arts which teach the ultimate skills to be engaged in warfare in the Far East are transforming people all over the globe into well-disciplined and even-tempered individuals.

The irony is not lost on Chris Pizzo, either. His desire to keep people safe is a direct result of his own dangerous encounter. By utilizing the martial arts disciplines, he has honed and created his own form of self defense teaching the takes the best of all techniques and melds them into a single program. Pizzo emphasis awareness and calm in helping his students make clear-headed decisions in stressful situations. But he also teaches his students how to fight their attackers, because sometimes awareness and reason aren’t enough to keep a violent criminal from threatening you and the ones you love. The martial arts have helped people defend themselves for centuries.

Turn Into a Stronger, More Confident You

2010-05-28T13:02:00.000-07:00

Life goes by fast, and if you don’t pay attention to the way it shapes you, you may wake up one day feeling like a human pincushion. This is equally true for both men and women; that life experiences can have a negative affect on the self esteem. This is not how it should be. In order to live a life that you enjoy to the fullest, you want to learn ways to increase your strength and confidence through every experience you have.

The way to begin making changes in your life is to first realize they are necessary. Reaching for a more confident you doesn’t make you selfish, and won’t turn you into a braggart who is arrogant and no fun to be around. The beauty of life is that you get to create the story and the characteristics you will possess as the hero or heroin of that story.

While there are little ways you can improve your confidence and gain strength; there is one that beats out just about everything; and that is to learn self defense. Not only do you gain great knowledge by engaging in self defense training (sometimes spelled self defence training); but you also gain such personal power that you will never be the same person again.

How you learn self defense tactics is up to you. You could enroll in an ongoing class that consists of martial arts training; or you can even learn moves from a self defense video. The goal is to put yourself in the position of learning something new. This alone will increase your self esteem. But, while you could do this by taking cooking lessons or something mundane like that; self defense is unique in that it reaches inside of you and pulls out all that is tough – all that says “ you can’t hurt me”.

There is no faster way to gain confidence and become stronger than to face something that may be scary. Violence is scary, folks. While you do not face real danger in a class of other students learning self defense, you become aware of the fact that violence exists. To employ the moves that increase your personal safety takes effort and in this way you also add physical strength to your personal toolbox.

You learn many things at once in one simple training program of self defense. You learn to protect yourself. You gain personal insight into the strong person you really are. You gain an awareness of yourself and your surroundings. You learn necessary tools for safety. And most of all you make a statement by learning self defense that says “I will not be a victim”. Although initially that statement refers to crime; it has a way of bleeding into other areas of your life. Self defense teaches you that you are not to be a victim; and when you learn that, you will not be a victim of any sort of injustice.

With a stronger, more confident self image, you have the power to take your life down a completely different path.

Self Defense May be Different than What You Think

2010-05-27T16:18:00.000-07:00

When you think of self defense, what comes to your mind? Is it Bruce Lee spinning kicks that land perfectly every time? Does your image of self defense consist of martial arts moves or weapons like a gun or pepper spray? Do you even think of self defense at all?

The sad fact is that, for many, the issue of personal safety comes to mind rarely, if ever. With statistics showing that 1 in 4 women will become a victim of a violent crime, it seems time for personal safety to become a high priority.

Personal safety is a big ball of wax that includes more than just self defense tactics like strikes and kicks. While these are the meat and potatoes of self defense training (sometimes misspelled self defence training) , there is much more that you need to know to adequately protect yourself in the event of a fight or an attack.

First things first; it is not just women or children who should learn self defense. Having the ability to protect yourself and your family is for men too. It doesn’t matter how big you are or how strong you are if you are caught unaware by a violent attack. The worst thing that could happen is for your family to come into a dangerous situation and you not have the ability to protect them. So men, women and children are all good candidates to learn self defense tactics.

Self defense is not all about the actual fighting. This is where a lot of misconception comes in. Because the emphasis in self defense is learning how to thwart an attacker, this is what people think of when they ponder the whole thing. However, self defense begins with awareness. This awareness needs to be on at all times. That means when you are at home, you are aware of the fact that some bad guys might want to come in. It is not unheard of for a bad guy to come knocking on the door.

Because it has happened, it is something you should be aware of and take measures against. This means that you keep doors and windows locked, even when you are at home. It means that you place lighting outside of the home to give a bad guy less places to hide.

Self defense goes with you as you leave your home in the awareness that you possess. As you drive out of the driveway even, you should look around to see what’s going on outside of your house. When you pull into your parking spot at work or at the store, you must learn to look around and see all that is happening around you. Is there someone in the car next to you as you park? Are there people hanging around the lot? Is there adequate lighting?

The way you pay attention when out in public is a major part of self defense that many people don’t adhere to – or never learn. However, this is the part of self defense that prevents you from becoming a target in the first place. To stay safe, watch a self defense video and open your eyes to this aspect of self defense and never forget to utilize it at all times.

Luck Comes to the Prepared

2010-05-27T12:54:00.000-07:00

Remember the old Clint Eastwood movie, with the infamous line “Do ya feel lucky, punk? Well…do ya?” Ah, how great would it be to utter those words for yourself!

Our world is a violent place. This is not doom and gloom; it is just a fact. However, most people tend to live in a bubble of perceived safety as they travel throughout their days in the same way. Day in and day out, we drive the same streets, walk down the same hallways, and shop at the same stores. With all of this familiarity, how could danger possibly touch our lives?

But the fact remains that crimes do occur; we just ignore their proximity to us and our family. If what you want is to become a target (1 in 4 women will be a victim of violent crime); then just keep doing what you’re doing now. If you want to keep yourself and your family safe, then read on and find out how self defence training can make an enormous impact on your personal safety.

There are plenty of martial arts styles that are taught throughout every town in just about every country. However, they are not all equal. The idea that any form of martial arts can effectively be used as self defense techniques is misguided. Most forms of martial arts taught today are actually for sport. They do not address the severity or brutality of violence. It might sound a little scary; but real self defense must address these issues.

One type of self defense training that is highly recommended is that of military self defense. This type of training has gone on for years within the ranks of Special Forces units throughout the world. The Israeli army trains in Krav Maga, as do some U.S. forces. The main point behind military self defense training is hand to hand combat. There are times when the armed forces aren’t armed with weapons and they must rely on what they can do with their hands to fight the enemy.

When an attacker goes after a victim; that attacker is the enemy. Chances are you are not armed with a weapon and you will have to rely on what you can do with your hands. Were you to come face to face with an attacker today, what could you do?

Learning what to do in the event of an attack is, luckily, not very difficult. What is necessary is your commitment and some time. You can learn effective self defense moves right at home with a quality self defense DVD. Just remember that martial arts does not always equal self defense. If you plan to learn through a DVD, do two things: First, find a program that focuses on actual reality based self defense; not forms and sport martial arts. Second, commit to your program. Learning at home is a challenge because there are many distractions. You must be committed in order to learn effectively.

Avoiding the instance of an attack is not just luck. There is more to it than that. When you are prepared for violence; it has a way of bypassing you. However, should it show up, self defense will help you put your attacker in his place – flat on the ground.

Your safety is your Responsibility

2010-05-26T12:53:00.001-07:00

The title of this article may sound very blunt; but the fact of the matter is that millions of people still have not reached the point in their awareness that leads them to self defense training. The fact of the matter is that violent crimes are occurring with increased frequency; bank robberies are on the rise at this very point in time. Any yet, most people are still under the assumption that crime is “out there” – out there being somewhere far away from them.

All it takes is a few minutes of headline searching to see just what goes on in your town. It’s not enough to look it up though. It’s not enough to be scared. You should never be scared. You have the right to live out your life in a safe environment. However, bad guys don’t have the manners to let you do this and so your safety becomes your own responsibility.

Sure, there are police in every town. But we are living in a time when most cities are experiencing budget cuts. Through those cuts there may be a shortage of police which results in longer response times. When you take responsibility for your own safety and learn effective self defense techniques like combat self defense, you eliminate the need to wait for help to arrive because you are your own best defense.

Some people believe that any martial arts training is effective self defense. Be wary of this trap. While martial arts are an awesome sport and give you a way to get in shape and focus your energy; many styles of martial arts are set up for sport. To defend yourself adequately, you must learn to fight. Martial arts fighting is not like street fighting. Some styles have techniques that are intricate enough to escape you in the event of an attack.

For self defense to be effective, it must be easy. This is because your brain does funky things when under stress; and an attack is extremely stressful. In order to remember what to do and do it quickly enough to put a bad guy down and run to safety; the moves need to be sharp and simple yet effective. Yelling isn’t enough; one kick may not be enough. The point is you never really know how a fight will go.

Because of that fact, the best way to adequately protect yourself could be to get yourself a good self defense DVD. This DVD should include information about how to avoid violence in the first place. It should include moves that are made using large muscle groups because these moves are remembered more readily should you need to use them.

Most of all, you safety comes down to you. If you get serious about self defense, you will learn and you will practice. It’s not a one time deal. Your safety is your right; your responsibility. With just a few minutes a day, you can claim your right and be your best defense.

Building a Wall of Protection with Self Defense

2010-05-26T12:07:00.000-07:00

Statistics show that 1 in 4 women will be a victim of a violent crime. Watching the news and reading the papers, it may be easy to live under the assumption that violence happens somewhere away from you; that you will never come face to face with it. You live your live inside of certain parameters; and thus you are so familiar with your surroundings that you have a perception of safety. You know right where everything is and how to get to it. This may seem like a good thing, but it actually steals your safety to be this comfortable.

If you are reading this; you have come to the point where you understand there is a need for self defense. This is not a difficult conclusion to come to when you are surrounded by stories of attacks on girls and boys both. Chances are you would need more than your two hands to count the number of crimes or attempted crimes just in your area this week. So yes, you need to learn self defense in order to keep yourself out of harms way; and able to fight it off should it come to you.

There are several ways that you can learn the effective military self defense techniques designed to send an assailant to the ground. Some people take a one-time rape clinic class. While these are great; they cannot substitute for ongoing training. You didn’t learn to read by sitting down with one book. No, you read book after book after book. You started with something easy like See Spot Run and you moved on to more difficult Dr. Seuss books. As you grew, you learned to read bigger words and now you can read just about anything.

The methods are the same when you learn to protect yourself against violence. There are small chunks that you learn as you slowly put together a puzzle and upon completion you have a full wall of protection through tactics like hand to hand combat training comprised of different martial arts moves.

How you learn is up to you. You can join an ongoing class or you can pick up a martial arts DVD at the store. A mixture of both gives you ample instruction as well as plenty of practice help. The goal is to find a training program that is focused and all inclusive of the entire self defense lifestyle.

There is more to protecting yourself that knowing how to throw a punch. A good training program will consist of instruction in strikes and escapes; but will also inform you of the things that go on in your body when you are under immense stress from an attack. If you don’t know what to expect, even your training can fail you when the adrenaline hits. The wall of protection that you build will include techniques as well as avoidance practices. The best type of self defense, after all, is learning to avoid danger altogether