Category: Self-Defense

Please note that we are NOT the original writers of this blog post. All credit goes to the original writers. Find the original post as published at this link: http://invictaselfdefense.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-importance-of-learning-self-defense.html

While this may sound trite and overly obvious, it is a sad fact that women worry about their security frequently, though do very little to ensure or enhance it. We spend years worrying about walking through underground parking lots by ourselves, walking down the road when it is dark outside, or feeling anxiety when we see groups of males in closeness to us, and yet, a lot of women never take any measures to alleviate this anxiety. 

The first step to creating a change is deciding to take up self-defense. At a minimum, women should have a self-defense course or seminar every few years so as to stay sharp. Self-defense skills are like any other skills: you do not use it, you lose it. If you choose one French seminar, your French skills will quickly improve, though will sharply decline without regular exercise. You will undoubtedly retain some vocabulary, though you will be a far cry from fluent; in actuality, it may take you a couple of minutes of thinking to think about the word you’re trying to recall. Self-defense is exactly the same – you will be amazed what you may retain (even years later), but these techniques and skills ought to be practiced and preserved. 

How to find a self-defense school or teacher:
1. Look for a reputable martial arts club or instructor locally – How long has the teacher been training? What are his or her credentials? Have they been teaching for long? 
 2. What style of self-defense do they teach? This is an important question. Not all styles are created for the type of self-defense we are talking about here. Some styles that will not be particularly useful in terms of learning self-defense are: karate, taekwondo,  Capoeira, kickboxing, Tai Chi, Judo, Ninjitsu, etc.*  Rather, start looking for instructors and schools which educate jiu-jitsu, Krav Maga, Hapkido, or other styles that are meant for near, hand-to-hand combat, and that employ techniques that are based on body mechanics rather than strength (joint locks, scenario-based techniques). 
3. Are there other females in the seminar/school? – A club ought to be female-friendly, particularly if they’re trying to offer women’s self-defense calsses. It’s wonderful to have other females to associate with, and to look to for help. It’s particularly nice to have female teachers.
4. Ultimately, it depends on who is teaching it and the duration of the seminar. 
5. Location, location, location – anybody who is serious about keeping women safe and is interested in teaching women how to defend themselves should have a college located in a reasonably safe neighbourhood, which is public transit-accessible, on a well-lit road and have closeby parking within an equally well-lit lot or road. 

 Go try a few classes, and find out how the school feels to you. Check the local paper and online for upcoming women’s self-defense seminars. 

Above all, go and attempt seminars and schools with an open mind, a willingness to learn, and put 100% effort into trying everything that you learn. If your teacher asks you to hit a pad, HIT IT!

*Note: these are perfectly fine styles, and that I personally hold rank in a couple of them, but they aren’t great for the average woman with no martial arts background who is looking for a couple of effective techniques to improve her arsenal.

Please note that we are NOT the original writers of this blog post. All credit goes to the original writers. Find the original post as published at this link: https://selfdefensemusic.com/post/185832167298

I hear this often from people who don’t read comics. It is pretty basic to the american comic reading experience, and it’s a simple convention: without the ability to convey the auditory elements of language, comics does its best by bold-italicization for accent.

The letterer on that specific book is more old-school than I am and was more inclined to utilize that sort of emphasis. But in either case, it’s not random.

Please note that we are NOT the original writers of this blog post. All credit goes to the original writers. Find the original post as published at this link: https://selfdefensemusic.com/post/185832230088

I like to keep things breezy for this reason. Getting to know people can be draining, although I’m delighted to talk to anybody. Having said that, I hold the view as good individuals are that people that are bad are entitled to artwork as sure.

Please note that we are NOT the original writers of this blog post. All credit goes to the original writers. Find the original post as published at this link: https://moderncombatandsurvival.com/survival/pandemic-survival-three-killer-myths/

Throughout the Ebola scare I mentioned, there was a day right before the midterm elections in 2014.
The entire national media was told to stop talking about Ebola.
Bear in mind the Ebola outbreak that reached US soil recently?
They will change their story whenever they’re told to do so, frequently by the White House.

That, therefore, is fantasy number 1 when it comes to pandemic information that the public thinks.

When it comes to pandemics, the vaccine development curve is obviously far behind the pandemic itself.

If you read an HPV Gardasil vaccine insert, it states that young girls, after they’re injected with this, can lose consciousness and fall down and hurt themselves.

What it comes down to is that in a pandemic, vaccines aren’t a cure-all.
If you read a measles or a mumps vaccine fit, it says this does not work on everyone.
I’m not against immunization, but I will tell you that when you take the time to research plenty of vaccines, you learn something bothering.

But this year’s flu strains have already mutated and they are different.
The media will do whatever its told by the government.

That’s to say nothing of the other stuff that’s happening, as well as the downside of antibiotics losing their efficacy … even on diseases we thought were easy to wipe out.

Pandemic Myth #3: The Media Will Tell You The Truth

Many of them simply don’t work.

I spoke with my friend Mike Adams concerning the three biggest myths about pandemics.
For example, if you read a chickenpox vaccine insert sheet which includes the vaccine, it states this can spread chickenpox.
Pandemic Survival Myths

Some vaccines say that they can spread the disease they’re trying to prevent.

As a survivalist and a guardian, you know that you’re the only one you and your family can truly depend on in a crisis.
They’ve openly lied to the public, too.
The CDC has engaged in documented cover-ups, such as silencing whistle-blowers.
It affects more quickly than a bacterium or an amoeba, or certainly primates or mammals of any kind.
Learn what you will need to know NOW, so you can take the steps to live when it finally happens.
The government will lie to you.

Please note that we are NOT the original writers of this blog post. All credit goes to the original writers. Find the original post as published at this link: http://martial-arts-self-defense.blogspot.com/2015/10/ben-carson-challenges-sheep-i-would-not.html

Republican Presidential Candidate Ben Carson creates a daring but true statement concerning the Oregon massacre.  “I wouldn’t just stand there and let him take me,” Carson said on Fox and Friends Tuesday morning. “I would say,’Hey guys, everybody…
http://bit.ly/1WNuRw9

Please note that we are NOT the original writers of this blog post. All credit goes to the original writers. Find the original post as published at this link: http://invictaselfdefense.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-to-stay-safe-in-city.html

 A amount of women have asked me to write about ways to tay safe during your daily activities, because let’s face it, those are the times that you’re most likely to strike someone you do not know, or who may make you feel uncomfortable. I will write a few things on this over the next few weeks, but in the meantime, let’s start with some basics to keep in mind: 

1. Make Use Your Senses – which means not having your iPod earbuds in, rather than having your eyes down on your phone as you text, especially if you’re by yourself.  To the predator, these are automatic and highly visible signs that you’re disengaged from your surroundings, which you are not paying attention, and most importantly, that you’re an easier target because today your attacker has the element of surprise on his side. Maybe you didn’t hear him sneaking up behind you, or maybe you didn’t see him walking towards you since you were texting your bestie. Trust me, your texting and emailing can wait until you’re safely in your destination, or in a well-populated area. 
2. Purse – Don’t travel with your purse open. I see countless women who don’t pay
   

   attention to their bag and keep it open to make getting at their phone or other purse-contents simpler. Safety is about minimizing your chances of being victimized, and nothing is more inviting than an open bag.Your handbag may also serve as a handy self-defense instrument, and you’ve always got it with you. The majority of women carry a number of things in their purse (myself included), and swinging that sucker around to smack an attacker in the face will certainly hurt.

3. Weapons – I do NOT imply that women should carry weapons with them EVER. Any weapon that is ever introduced into an altercation can be possibly used against you. I’d also like to point out that pepper spray, mace and switch blades are illegal in Canada. However, that does not mean there aren’t really effective things which you can use for self-defense. 
1. Rolled up magazine – A rolled up magazine is a fairly common thing to find in many women’s bags, but the surprising thing about them is that the bottom of a rolled up magazine is extremely powerful. If you hit someone in the temple, across the jaw, in the throat with one of these bad boys, trust me, it’s gonna hurt. 
   
2. Kubaton – These useful tools were originally invented by the Japanese Police Force and were introduced to the LAPD for use by female officers. They inflict a surprising amount of pain, but with non-lethal force. I have a kubaton in my keychain, and am always happy to have it with me. I have it handy when I am out alone at night. It’s terrific for penetrating any soft surface on your attacker (eyes, neck, behind the ear, zyphoid procedure, etc.) . Kubatons are available at most martial arts supply stores and some martial arts schools, but they’re also easily ordered from amazon.com or ebay.com, and range in cost from barely $5-$15.  Do you have any tips or suggestions of your own to add to our list? I plan to continue growing it, and input is always welcome. 

Please note that we are NOT the original writers of this blog post. All credit goes to the original writers. Find the original post as published at this link: https://moderncombatandsurvival.com/survival/survival-food-stockpiling-tips-guidelines-for-storing-food/

Combat Training.
I understand that “Spaghetti & Meatballs” and “Lemon Pepper Tuna” sounds like something you might order off a restaurant menu… but coming out of an MRE foil package, it damn sure doesn’t taste the same.

Canned products are even worse – good for home, but a no-go if you’re ever forced to bugout to endure.
Canned goods can be helpful when you have a survival cabinet, but you need to be certain you’re eating everything you’re storing and refilling your stockpile regularly to keep things from going ba.
MRE’s and canned-goods have a fairly short shelf-life (2-5 years average).
Again, this is where freeze-dried survival food kits rule because they’re mobile and since they don’t have any additional “water weight”, they’re ultra light if you need to bugout on foot.

3. Weight Matters

However, being in the 10th Mtn.
I can tell you that if you were among the lucky people who go an MRE with Hot Dogs & Beans in it, that was a happy day indeed – but you had been miserable if you pulled an unfortunate “Chicken A La King”.

1. Taste Matters

What Food Are You Stockpiling?

Share Your Best Advice With Us Now…

In the military that’s just fine because they get issued steadily to the troops and stock becomes rotated quickly.

Here’s What GI’s Know About Survival Food (That You Might Not)…

Of course Uncle Sam doesn’t want us to starve so we were issued MRE’s (Meal Ready-To-Eat) to pack with us to make sure we live, but…
Good-tasting survival food really does boost morale which means something when you’re under stress and need the will to go on.

Please note that we are NOT the original writers of this blog post. All credit goes to the original writers. Find the original post as published at this link: https://www.offthegridnews.com/self-defense/shotguns-weapons-for-home-defense/

Read More Here.

The Pump Action Will Always Drive People Away.

If you can take a 12 gauge comfortably, then by all means use a 12 gauge. But if the recoil of that 12 gives you too much of a kick to your shoulder, then there’s no shame in admitting so.  Women and people who are small in height will often turn to the 20 gauge as an alternative.  While the 20 gauge is not quite as powerful as the classic 12, it still delivers a whole lot of knockdown power and provides less recoil. The only thing to watch out for is that the weight of the shotgun; a 20-gauge shotgun with half of the weight of a 12 gauge may have more recoil.

Realities

1. Shotguns Are Outstanding Weapons For Home Defense.

Unlike what many people believe, birdshot can and will travel through your walls. But penetration aside, buckshot will almost always be more effective than birdshot in a defensive situation. A small number of pellets will do much more harm to human flesh than countless significantly smaller ones.

Sometimes, yes. But it’s never guaranteed that an intruder is going to be stopped dead in their tracks with a single slug or buckshot in their gut. When an attacker is high on drugs, there’s a significantly higher chance that you are going to need to rack in another fire and round again. Take note: Use a semi-auto or pump-action shotgun as opposed to a single or double barrel.

4. It Just Takes One Shot to End the Fight.

Point and shoot, and you’ll hit anything before your shotgun’s barrel, right? Wrong. It’s one of the biggest myths that exists about shotguns — and primarily only subsists in some people’s minds because of what they see in the films. You still have to aim when you take a shotgun, especially if things are up close and personal. The closer the target, the smaller the pattern.

3. Buckshot Is More Powerful Than Birdshot.

Shotguns are one of the most popular weapons for home defense, but they are also one of the most misunderstood. Let us look at a few myths and realities of them:

The article Myths And Realities Of Shotguns As Weapons For Home Defense appeared first on Off The Grid News.

2. The 20 Gauge Is a Better Choice for Smaller-Statured People.

In general, shotguns are excellent weapons for home defense and may mean the difference between life and death if you ever find yourself in a situation like this.

An individual could make an effective case that a 12-gauge shotgun loaded with buckshot rounds is the most effective weapon for home defense now available to the average American. While you have to be careful not to be vulnerable to the myths we have just discussed, it’s tough to argue against the lethality of a 12 gauge at a close-quarters defensive situation.

Although it’s absolutely right that a 12 gauge is stronger than a 20 gauge, a 20 gauge still has a lot of power to it (roughly equal to 2 .44 Magnums at precisely the exact same time).
A 20 Gauge Isn’t Powerful Enough.

Once an intruder hears the classic sound of the pump actions, they will likely recognize it and possibly think twice. But that does not mean that they will turn and run away. When an intruder is desperate enough, it is very unlikely that the sound of a pump action is going to do much to dissuade them. They, too, probably are armed. The one thing that might make them flee is if they are staring down the business end of a shotgun.
People think of 12 gauges, when shotguns come to mind. To this end, they guess that a 20-gauge shotgun, another common shotgun round, is too underpowered. This is simply not correct.

2. It’s Impossible to Miss..

Please note that we are NOT the original writers of this blog post. All credit goes to the original writers. Find the original post as published at this link: http://invictaselfdefense.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-underreporting-of-sexual-assaults.html

Sexual assaults and violent acts are chronically underreported around the world, which is unfortunate because a lack of reporting translates into a lack of resources and programs, a lack of understanding of how uncontrolled these problems are, the promotion of rape culture, and a lack of policy making.  Prof. Walter DeKeseredy writes,”Perhaps among the most important [causes of lack of changes in policies] is that policy-makers tend to listen only to big numbers. Unfortunately, if government officials are led by some survey researchers… to believe that violence against women isn’t a statistically significant issue, they are not likely to devote sufficient resources to prevent and restrain one of Canada’s most pressing social problems.”  (1)

We see evidence of an increase in reporting in the Middle East and in Asia. 
The recent, very public and horrifyingly brutal gang rape of a woman in December 2012 by half a dozen men was certainly a turning point in India. Thousands of protesters hit the streets in the days after her passing on December 29, 2012 to push on the government to make changes, and to hold police accountable for their ineffectiveness and their attempts to stop the rape epidemic. 

In New Delhi just this past month, two 5-year old girls were raped (and one was tortured) by two guys, which follows the rape of two foreign girls (one Swiss, one British). Tourism has steadily declined to India by women due to widespread and well-founded fears. 

But is this a new epidemic? Of course not. The difference is that crimes are being reported by more women in the Middle East and Asia, and the media is being forced to listen to women speaking up and demanding policies that are better and policing practices. This is a huge step forward, and one which North American women can surely have a cue from, because we’re still a far cry from where we should be in terms of this identical problem. In actuality, 1 in 3 (two ) women in Canada will experience sexual assault, though we know that those numbers are likely higher because most girls (young girls, in particular) choose to tell no one. Part of the issue for underreporting stems from our narrow definition of what”violence” encompasses.   DeKeseredy argues,”Narrow definitions not only exacerbate the issue of underreporting, but they also trivialize women’s feelings and experiences.” (3), 

Changes in policies, the amount of programs available to women who experience sexual or violence attack and our whole culture’s attitude towards rape culture can be shifted, but the changes must happen from the ground-up for anyone to notice. It’s in not just your best interest to report it if you experience an act of violence or sexual assault, but it is in the interests of every girl out there. We are seeing progress all the time, such as in Saudia Arabia (http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/04/30/saudi-arabia-abuse-ad/), and in Egypt (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22367447)so it’s imperative that we continue to advance in our policies, but progress even further in our thinking about what’s acceptable and what’s not.  http://www.women.gov.on.ca/english/resources/stats.shtml

(3) DeKeseredy, p. 7.

Please note that we are NOT the original writers of this blog post. All credit goes to the original writers. Find the original post as published at this link: http://invictaselfdefense.blogspot.com/2013/05/safety-in-city-pt-2-parking-lots.html

I have had a couple of women ask me about what to do in parking lots when they need to get to their car at the end of the night. As a girl, I know that walking into your car when it’s dark and there aren’t many people around can be a pretty nerve-wracking experience, and can definitely be highly stressful. Many women know the fundamentals about safety, but I’ll include a few ideas that might make you feel safer: 

• If possible, have security escort you to your car. I know this sounds overly obvious, but a lot of women tend to shy away from actually doing this out of the worry they’re bothering the safety guards or because they believe that they are being silly and that they should not need to ask staff to escort them everywhere. Again, this is a mentality that lots of women need to move away from. We are the only ones in charge of our security, and we most definitely are not bothering security guards whose job it is to provide security. Ask nicely, and it shouldn’t be a problem. You might have to wait a couple of minutes if they are busy, but I’d always rather wait a few minutes and be escorted with peace of mind than to venture out alone in a dark parking lot if it is unnecessary. If there are no security guards around, see if a friend or feminine co-worker can walk with you to your vehicle. If you’re alone, you could always enlist another girl to walk in the general direction of your car, or to stand by the door and make sure that you get to your car securely. . .obviously in an effort to avoid being run over). However, when you’re walking through a parking lot on your own and there are not many people around, resist this urge and try to walk in the middle of the rows. Predators rely on surprise so as to get control of their victims, so if anybody is waiting for you behind a car, they’ll need to jump from the cars to the center of the lot, giving you time to react and to hopefully run to safety. 
• Have your keys out and ready before you even walk into the parking lot. Having to spend some time fumbling through your purse means an easy target and that you’re distracted. 
• Fake a telephone call – Another great tactic is to take out your phone and fake a phone call to a husband, boyfriend or male friend. “Oh, you’re just at the end of the parking lot? Great, I am walking to my car so I’ll meet you. Well, I am not surprised, you’re the biggest guy on the team!” If anybody is in earshot, it will deter them if they think that somebody else is around (especially if that someone is the largest person on their soccer team). You always want to give the illusion that you aren’t alone, whether you fake a phone call, or call out to an imaginary person in the end of the parking lot, or even if you wave back at someone who you are pretending is watching you.
• Walk with purpose, be alert – Keep your head up, your eyes alert, your hands free (that means phone in your pocket or purse), and your ears open (no iPods). That your intuition has data Take advantage of your perceptions. Additionally, once you’re walking, make sure that you do so with your shoulders back and that you’re walking with confidence and purpose. You want to project how confident and strong you are, which will make you less likely to be targeted. 
•  Park beneath a light, and as close to the door as you can – Again, this is to minimize your vulnerability. Darkness is the predator’s ally, since it means that they can move more easily without being detected. 
  

• Avoid back, side, or secluded exits where possible – attempt to use the main entrance, since it will have the most visitors, and will ordinarily be monitored by safety cameras. 

Wear comfortable shoes – in the even that you need to run, having sensible shoes can make a significant difference. Moreover, the clacking sound of a pair of high heels in an echoing, empty parking lot is a direct sensory sign that you are a woman by herself. Certainly not the sign we want to send.  Being in a state of constant anxiety actually dulls our intuitive senses; be smart, follow the tips that I have listed above, but most importantly, listen to your senses:

• Can you hear anyone (footsteps, breathing, soft talking, music playing, etc)? 
  

• Do you see anyone (shadows moving, reflections on surfaces, a pair of feet behind a car)?
• Do you smell anything (perfume, deodorant, fresh laundry from clothing, food)? 
• Is there a legitimate cause for concern that your intuition has picked up on with your senses, or are you worried because you are by yourself, it’s dark and you’re in a parking lot? 

Learning to listen to a listen to your intuition and to develop your intuitive senses should actually be a very freeing experience, and will instruct you to let go of unfounded anxieties and concerns. Again, you should always be mindful of your surroundings, take precautions to reduce your risk and be smart in your decisions, but to be on high anxiety all the time when it is unfounded is simply unnecessary, a waste of time, and only serves to reinforce your fears and anxieties.