Have No Misconceptions

I just received an Email from a woman who has a child (3 year old) and about to have another. Considering my wife is in a similar situation, this question couldn't be more relevant. This idea can be expanded to those of us getting older, injured or of smaller stature. Keep in mind, a little common sense goes a long way.

First of all, the life you used to enjoy has changed. You can not casually go to places you used to go. A woman, preoccupied with the safety and care of two children, let alone one, is a prime target for the pieces of sh$t who earn their lining taking advantage of this situation. So, how can you best prepare yourself?

First, pick your fights. Go to only very public, very safe places that are mother and child friendly. Going to malls in the evening or quickly running into the Laundromat with the kids in the car is probably not a great idea. If you can schedule a day to run errands child free, great, if you can't, just ask yourself, if I came back and my child was missing, was it worth it? That's it, it's a simple as that. Once you start talking about, I can't afford a sitter or I have no support- that's your decision, but if you chose a Laundromat with a delivery service worth it? What's it worth to you? Would you be thinking about the cost or inconvenience then? The point is you have to think in this way because the predators or banking on the fact you will play the odds and hedge your bets. All you have to do is be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Beware of people telling you, you will have no problems fighting with a child strapped on your back, protecting another while trying to escape a determined assailant. Those people should be arrested at the very least. I hear some of these experts talk and one thing comes to mind- this idiot has now idea what he's talking about. Plus he believes his own B.S. Personally, I don't care if you're teaching how to levitate, move rocks with your mind or prove the nothingness of lute-fish. But as soon as you tell a mother of two in her forties that she will be able to handle any attacker after a one hour seminar, you should be arrested. Now, don't get me wrong, people can be trained. It just doesn't happen in an hour or two.

As I said before in previous articles, if you're serious, really serious, take shooting lessons and be armed at all times. Next step would be push-daggers or finger-hole design knives; something that you can grab, squeeze and not let go. Next is pepper sprays and stun guns. Have these at the ready.

Strategically, the most vulnerable you will be is packing the kids in the car. If you are alone, have a system for packing the kids away while you have one hand on your weapon of choice. Your weapon if not in your hand should be at the tip of your fingers.

Practice: drill when you put the kids in the car in your driveway. Picture the assailant and draw your weapon. Do this during times of the loading process that you feel the most distracted.

Know your route, and pay attention to who's following you. A few extra turns may smoke someone out. Driving to the police station is an excellent option. Plus, we all have cell phones.

Choosing the correct equipment is essential. We have one arm, one hand EVERYTHING, from strollers to car seats. Think about this when you make your next purchase?HOLD THE PHONES!!! Here's your million dollar idea: The Tactical Tot Stroller. Hideaway compartments, pepper spray holders- stun gun caddy, .50 cal mount. You get the idea. Run with it. Put a stroller, a video. Hey, a magazine "Tactical Baby" is you child ready for the apocalypse? See what all the best dressed babies will be wearing in all the bunkers! PLUS, How to Burp you tot under fire?

Any way, what you want to do is be aware and plan ahead. People get jammed up because they don't think a situation through. The idea is to realize when you're getting in over your head. Don't let your ego put you in a place that you can't get out of. Be paranoid, be a little late. Plan and leave early. It's been my experience, if you have kids, the world will wait for you. If not, screw 'em.

So where do our videos and training fit in? As an absolute last resort. ALL HAND TO HAND is a tactical last resort. The training does two things: First, it gives you something to fall back on, second it gives you confidence and it awakens the part of you that doesn't think tactically and defensively. Finally, our stuff works, but its still a last resort. Will someone trained fair better than the person untrained. ABSOLUTLEY. But like the man says, "You don't bring a knife to a gun fight". If you choose to end the fight with out a weapon, that's YOUR CHOICE. I'd rather have it and not use it, than need it and not have it.

The person who doesn't prepare for the absolute worst and thinks they are going to get out of every situation with just their empty hand is either very ignorant, very lucky or very dead.

Just like the sign says www.thetruthaboutselfdefnse.com

Maybe I didn't sell a video, but I still have to look at my self in the mirror.

© www.thetruthaboutseldefense.com

Damian Ross is the owner of Zenshin and instructor of Tekkenryu jujutsu and Kodokan Judo. He started competing in the combative sport of wrestling in 1975 at the age of 7 and began his study of Asian martial arts with Moo Duk Kwan Tae Kwon Do at the age of 16 in 1984. In 1989, Shinan Cestari gave a seminar at Sensei Ross's dojo. Sensei Ross has trained under Shinan Cestari's direction ever since. In addition to Tekkenryu Jujutsu, Judo and Tae Kwon Do, Sensei Ross has also studied Bando. Sensei Ross continues his study of Judo under the direction of 8th degree black belt Yoshisada Yonezuka and Tekkenryu Jujutsu under it's founder, Carl Cestari. Below are is a list of some of his title ranks:

Yodan (fourth degree black belt) Tekkenryu Jujutsu under Carl Cestari
Shodan (First degree black belt) Kodokan Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka
Varsity Wrestling Lehigh University under Thad Turner
2nd Degree Black Belt Tae Kwon Do
http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com

---

I Know Karate and Kung Fu and Lots of Other Foreign Words!

Martial arts have become incredibly popular in the US. Drive... Read More

Catholic Self Defense

Note: I wrote this essay regarding the development of Tekkenryu... Read More

The Shocking Truth About Stun Guns

If you are outside the world of law enforcement, chances... Read More

John Styers

Most people have only been exposed to John Styers work... Read More

Applying Law of Gravity to Judo

In judo it is important to throw your opponent by... Read More

Its Not a Matter of Who is Right

"People here may belittle sports arts...."Who?Almost EVERY "combatives" man of... Read More

Strategy as Applied to Warrior-citizens

After years of study, I have come to a small... Read More

5 Steps to Choosing the Right Martial Art for You

One of the questions I get asked most frequently, in... Read More

Fun Games for Children Training in Martial Arts

Keeping children interested in their Martial Arts training requires an... Read More

The Plight of Industrialized Man

Living in the Pacific Northwest is a challenge for any... Read More

Martial Arts and The Zone

On the occasions you delivered the perfect strike; blocked without... Read More

How To Defend Against A Knife - Dont Use The Stuff Taught In The Dojo!

Defences against Knife attacks, Firstly if at all possible get... Read More

The Fallacy and the Myth

It's always amusing when "know it alls" dismiss certain methods... Read More

Real Life Self-Defense Starts From...

"Nicky Bats" was an "old school" kinda guy. He was... Read More

A Samurais Power Is In His Little Finger, Not His Samurai Sword

In the 12th Century the Shogunate was formed. The head... Read More

The Dojo

Just as an aside. For those who would "box" us... Read More

Dermot Michael (Pat) ONeill

Dermot O'Neill was born in 1905 in County Cork, Ireland.... Read More

Have No Misconceptions

I just received an Email from a woman who has... Read More

Martial Training as a Timeless Portal

Thanks to several centuries of enlightened teachings by extraordinary men... Read More

Are You Still Standing Toe to Toe?

How many times do you practice techniques with your training... Read More

Eight Simple Rules for Saving Your Life

Let's put the non-lethal fantasy to rest.1. Never trust your... Read More

Do You Take Yours Trained or Untrained?

If you ain't pissing anyone off, you're not doing anything... Read More

Judo Nagewaza (Throwing Technique) In The Street

How practical are throwing techniques (nagewaza) for self-defense or street-fighting?... Read More

Learning the Modern Dynamics of Judo

You may have the erroneous idea that force is not... Read More

Im Soooo Confused...

I was going to write about the BASICS of "practical... Read More

COMBATIVES? ...... Don?t Tell Me. I Know What That Is! (Part 1)

"Combatives" from the root word COMBAT ? "to fight in... Read More

Regular or De-escalated

We always stress that NOTHING occurs in a vacuum. There... Read More

Bogu Training

About four years ago Carl recommended we start using the... Read More

British Aikido Board National Nepotism Seminar

For many years The British Aikido Board (BAB) have shown... Read More

Martial Arts Sparring and Training Protective Equipment

The benefits of Martial Arts has always appealed its practitioners.... Read More

Elements of Unarmed Combat

Custom build your own personal "system":Useful areas of training and... Read More

Content, Are We?

I asked a simple question at the last seminar:"How much... Read More

The Test

"Will this work so that I can use it instinctively... Read More