Self Defense – Listen to that warning voice

You spend your days as usual: going to school, shopping, walking home late at night from a friend or neighbor’s house, coming home from work. Nothing out of the ordinary, right? But one particular day, a voice in your head (otherwise your gut) tells you that something is wrong. He has the feeling that he is being watched too closely, followed too closely, even that someone is driving too close to the curb, and he notices this repeating itself with every turn he takes around the blocks.

Instead of thinking it’s all in your head, sometimes that premonition will lead you to physical safety. Do you know of a busy area nearby that you can retreat to? A well-lit intersection? This is where flight or fight comes into play.

Surely we have been told repeatedly about ways to avoid dangerous situations:

• Know the areas you visit, are they well lit and trafficked? Do you know of any hiding places where thieves or rapists can hide, patiently waiting for the perfect moment to strike?
• You know how to avoid shortcuts through wooded areas, dark alleys, etc.
• Since safety is in numbers, when you are out late, have others you know with you.
• Going your way, make your posture dictate confidence. Show this on your face. An attacker will look for the vulnerability. Be alert to all the sights and sounds around you. (Maybe keep the ipod.)
• Scream, if you have to, if you really feel threatened, yell.
• Take a cell phone. You can call the police before an attack happens.
• Take a self defense class. Get ready to fight an attacker. Learn what you should and should not do in this case, and how to lessen the possibility of the situation becoming even more violent. Remember that your attacker’s adrenaline will skyrocket and they will be ready to expect certain things from you, like poke their eyes, kick their nose, etc. Good self defense teaches you to surprise this attacker, catch him off guard, and escape when possible.

Self-defense classes, whether it’s karate, kung fu, kickboxing, not only get you in great physical shape, not only give you self-confidence that you’ll demonstrate every day, but prepare you for any inevitable inevitability.

Listen first to that warning voice in your head. Make sure you are ready to act next. www.americanacademyofselfdefense.com