If You Had To, Could You Defend Yourself?

This is a question that everybody should be able to answer with a resounding, “Yes!”  As times are changing, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that there is one person responsible for your safety.  That person… is you.  As a professional martial arts instructor, and a former police officer, I often talk with people about safety.  Recently, more people have been asking me something similar to the following, “What if I need help, and I call the police, but it takes them too long to get here?  Or, what if they don’t come at all?”  My answer usually involves noting that there is an old expression: “When seconds count, the police will be there in minutes.” 

The bottom-line is this.  There is one person responsible for your safety.  That person is you.  We look for others to help, like the police, but ultimately… you are responsible for your safety.

There are several things you can do to help live more safely.

First, you should be aware of your surroundings.  Too many people have their heads buried in their mobile devices.  Attackers look for people who are distracted!  If you are distracted, you make an easier mark.  While it’s understandable that you may have to be on your device from time-to-time, it’s important to limit the device watching time when you are in public places.  Look around.  Just making this simple priority, a priority, will help make you safer.

Second, pay attention to that “feeling” you may have that tells you something isn’t right.  Using myself as an example, I’m in my mid 40’s.  That means that I have several decades of experience with people and interactions.  While I may not exactly be able to “put my finger” on it… those decades of interactions add up to an intrinsic understanding of being able to ascertain when something doesn’t feel right.  (If you are an adult, then you have developed a similar understanding.  Maybe you’ve experienced a feeling like, “Oh, wow.  That guy was creepy!”  Or, “I don’t think I want to walk down that sidewalk, let’s go another way.”  Pay attention to those feelings!  Something in your experience is giving you a queue that you should listen to in that moment.  You can always review things later and discern whether or not you believe the feeling was legitimate, but paying attention in the moment can help save you from a potentially harmful experience.  (Look back on your life, and see if there are any times you look back at and have said to yourself, “I should have known better.”  If you have those experiences, that’s case-and-point that you should often listen to the “gut feelings” you have.)

Third, get involved in self-defense classes!  If something does actually happen, and you need to defend yourself and/or somebody you care about, can you do so?  If the answer to that is, “No”… then you should change that.  Everybody deserves to be safe.  And, the only person responsible for your safety, is you. 

At Plus One Defense Systems, we have the ability to help teach you what to do and how to do it.  We can help you feel more empowered and in greater control of your life.  That feeling alone, is invaluable.  Learning to defend yourself is a life-skill that also provides health benefits.  Our classes provide for a great workout in a healthy atmosphere, and we offer a free session for your first one.

If you are interested in training, we have a variety of martial arts styles for you to choose from at our West Hartford, CT location.  They are all oriented toward self-defense and overall health and fitness. Give me a call today at 860-922-5343, or you can learn more, and register for a free introductory session, at: www.TeamPlusOne.com.