The new Seito inquired of the Sensei: Master, what is the best way to win a fight? The wise Sensei responded: "The best way to win a fight is not to fight". Seito (Student), Sensei (Master, teacher)
Believe it or not the above adage still holds true today after hundreds of years since it's origin in ancient Japan. An excellent means of self-defense is to use your senses. Always be-aware of your surroundings and follow your instincts. Learn to listen to that little voice within you.
Your intuition, combined with your common sense, can help you avoid trouble and in many cases help you get out of trouble.
When you are alone if you think that you are being watched or followed take appropriate action, look around, get out of the area, and move into a populated place.
Listen to your instincts.
Don't laugh at people who cross the street when they see potential trouble on the sidewalk ahead of them, this same action can and will save lives, injury and robberies.
Avoid potential dark shortcuts when you're alone. Avoid exercising alone in secluded places. Why invite trouble into your life when it's not necessary.
If you live in a troubled area, learn where the "Hot Spots" are. Dangerous nightspots and hangouts can be easily avoided once you know where they are. Listen to friends and neighbors when they discuss problems occurring in the areas where you live, work, or travel through.
He Who Fights and Runs Away
Don't be too proud or macho to go around potential trouble or even run away from it. Back in the early 1960's the Gangs were not as notorious as they are today but they did cause some trouble in large urban areas including Chicago's West Side where I grew up.
I can recall an incident involving one of my younger brothers and a gang near his high school. Due to jealousy one gang member challenged him to a fight. My brother was championship material for his high school's fencing team and a great athlete. To make a long story short, he punched out the bully and ran all the way home before the rest of the gang members could respond. When I asked him why he ran, his reply was" He who Fights and Runs Away Lives to Fight Another Day".
Non Lethal Weapons for Self-Defense
Most people will avoid trouble whenever possible, however there my come a time when you cannot avoid trouble and it pays to be prepared to protect yourself in case of just such an emergency.
Secret Weapons Old and New
The Commoner's Weapons
Going back in history to the time period encompassing Feudal Japan ( approximately 1185-1858a.c.e.), the commoners of Japan such as farmers, workers and merchants, were forbidden to carry the deadly samurai sword by law, only members of royalty, government officials and Samurai or professional soldiers were allowed the use of the samurai sword.
Because of the ban on lower classes having swords, the commoners created classical Japanese martial arts weapons from everyday objects, and taught themselves how to fight their enemies. Many of these weapons were easily concealed in the hand such as pot lids, decorative hairpins, pieces of carved wood, carved bone, even tobacco pipes.
The Yawara
Weapons easily concealed in the hand were called Hibuki, which literally means "secret weapons " or Hidden Weapons. One such weapon made from wood or bone, and carved to be easily gripped and concealed in the hand is the "Yawara" or Yawara-bo. This weapon is associated with the Martial Art of Jujutsu.
This short 6 to 8 inch rod is employed to strike sensitive nerve points, and soft spots in the human body. It is used to block opponent's strikes or to thrust into an aggressor's vital areas, as well as uses in control of an opponent by applying pressure and gaining leverage on an assailant's wrist or fingers to restrain him or perform a throw.
Kubotans
Kubotans have also emerged from ancient times as self-defense weapons. Kubotans are highly accessible, extremely durable, effective self-defense weapons. They can be used for stabilizing your fist, applying pressure to sensitive parts of an assailant's body, or gaining leverage on an assailant's wrist or fingers. Some Kubotans are in the range of 5-6 inches long and made of aluminum or some other lightweight sturdy material and have either pointed or flat tips.
Modern Day Secret Weapons
The Heart Attack
It is from the spirit of the Secret weapon that the modern day "Heart Attack" self-defense device emerges.
Remember how the self-defense experts used to tell you to place your keys between your fingers and punch. Now there is something much better and more effective, The Heart Attack Defensive Weapon.
Carry the Heart Attack on your key chain and be ready to protect yourself anytime. The Heart Attack is small (3.5 inches long) and made of tough plastic.
It's called the Heart Attack because of it's inverted heart shape with a pointed tip. At it's base is a horizontal bar of hardened plastic made to be easily gripped in the palm of your hand with the point protruding through your fingers. A well aimed thrust to an assailant's solar plexus, brachial artery on the inside of a bicep, a tricep, or any other soft tissue areas will generally discourage most attackers.
Using the heart attack for blocks and strikes to an arm or leg muscle can leave that part of his body immobilized. Thrusting the Heart Attack into an assailant's leg will discourage any leg kicks. Stabbing into the femoral artery high on the inner thigh near the groin can cause a leg to collapse. Hold it between your fingers and punch, punch, punch. Attackers beware!
Steel Baton
If you are looking for effective self-defense with extra reach, the steel baton is it. The solid steel batons expand to either 16, 21 or 26 inches with just a flick of the wrist. Law enforcement officials in countries around the world use the baton.
Pepper Spray
Learn how to use Pepper Spray properly with written information
The Facts about Defense Sprays and How to Use Them to Bring Criminals to Their Knees Self-Defense book. Written by nationally recognized self defense expert Doug Lamb
This 32-page booklet reveals the secrets of:
- Choosing a defense spray
- how to carry it
- how to shoot it
- what to do about multiple assailants
- date rape protection
- using defense sprays against guns and knives
- home tactical use and Much, much more about the realities of protecting yourself with defense sprays.
Common Pepper Sprays
High Grade Pepper Sprays come in 10% pepper spray concentrations and up. So far the hottest pepper spray available on the market comes in an 18% concentration. Pepper Spray at 10% concentration is rated at 2 million scoville heat units (compared to a jalapeno pepper, which is 5000 SHU), and made with a very fine grain which is more effective than the coarser grained pepper sprays.
Effects of the pepper spray
In most cases, the attacker will lose control of his faculties immediately. The spray causes inflammation of the eye capillaries and all other mucous membranes, resulting in immediate temporary visual impairment, difficult breathing, coughing, choking, sneezing, severe burning sensations to the eyes, nose, throat and skin, and nausea, with acute symptoms and discomfort lasting for 25 to 45 minutes. There is no permanent damage.
Stun Guns
Stun guns use high voltage and low amperage to temporarily disable an attacker for several minutes. Stun Guns comes in several voltages and sizes starting with the mini stun guns which are around 3 inches in length moving up to the 20 inch stun baton. Some of the mini stun guns have a voltage of 80,000 volts or higher. The larger, more powerful, and not so secret, stun guns go up to 3/4 of a million volts in power.
How Stun Guns Work
The stun gun does not rely on pain for results. The energy stored in the gun is dumped into the attacker's muscles causing them to do a great deal of work rapidly. This rapid work cycle instantly depletes the attacker's blood sugar by converting it to lactic acid. In short, he is unable to produce energy for his muscles, and his body is unable to function properly.
The stun gun also interrupts the tiny neurological impulses that control and direct voluntary muscle movement. When the attacker's neuromuscular system is overwhelmed and controlled by the stun gun he loses his balance. Should the attacker be touching you, the current will NOT pass to your body!
Cell Phone Stun Gun
On the market today is the 180,000-volt stun gun that looks like a Cell Phone. The cell phone stun gun's unique design gives you a tactical advantage of surprise. Many models also, have built in 130db alarms for signaling an attack, and are non-lethal.
Big factor in self-defense is SelfConfidence
Consider Enrolling in a Self-Defense Class
If you cannot afford to enroll in a school of self-defense, be aware of seminars and classes at your local high school or college where you can gain exposure to self-protection on a limited basis. You will be surprised at the information and confidence you can gain by attending one or two of these classes for just a few hours.
One of the keys of self-defense is confidence, confidence in your ability to defend yourself from attack, and being familiar enough with different threatening situations to act on your own behalf.
Instructional Fighting DVDs can make you more familiar with self-protection
One of the most important lessons of self-defense is to learn how to think when being attacked, or confronted by a potential assailant. If you cannot take classes on self-defense at the present time then at least become familiar with the concept of self-protection through the use of DVD's and other instructional materials.
Instructional Fighting DVDs on unconventional fighting methods designed to teach you how to not only level the playing field but to give you a distinct advantage in any violent situation where your safety or the safety of a loved one is on the line.
One final thought.
Arm yourself with confidence by getting and studying information on protecting yourself. Even better, go to self-defense classes. If you only arm yourself with all of the hidden self-defense weapons in this article and not have the confidence to use them in an emergency, what good will they do you?
