Thursday, July 14, 2011

Get Your Head Out Of The Sand

This is a guest post by Anne Jacoby, a personal safety expert and child abuse prevention specialist, who posted this article on July 14, 2011.


Becoming educated makes a person more understanding, more aware and more comfortable with the truth.  I am personally becoming more and more appalled with parents that do exactly what is displayed in the picture above.  And, then I get phone calls and emails that their daughters have been assaulted and asked to help them through the system at the schools and law enforcement departments.  Makes me shake my head and ask………”Didn’t you even take the opportunity to check into the crimes stats BEFORE even visiting? Or, spend a some money on giving her the education and advantage of personal safety?”  The majority of the time is “NO”.
It is time for females AND parents to get their heads out of the sand, understand the myths (excuses) and learn the facts (reality) of “realisitic” personal safety training/self-defense and to become proactive. There is not one form of personal safety training/self-defense that is 100% guaranteed. Weapons of every kind are not a guarantee either (we’ll look at this too). However, with education at least you may be able to detect (awareness), learn the ability to de-escalate a potentially dangerous situation and ultimately if a physical altercation occurs you will be better equipped with the knowledge of “realistic” defense.
We all have excuses for things in our lives that we don’t do or spend too much time doing. These excuses serve as deterrents preventing us from following through with action and benefits. When you begin to understand or experience the consequences of your excuses you get a really good reality check. This reality check (wake-up call) usually changes your way of thinking automatically.
The “myth concept” not only affects many areas in our lives but also has the same influence in the personal safety training/self-defense world. These myths make females apprehensive toward or opposed to personal safety training/self-defense.
myth can be and often is used as an excuse for not doing something. 
The attitude, “it won’t happen to me” is a huge myth; every female should look in the mirror and realize that victimization does not discriminate. This is just plain ignorance if you believe that the possibility that you cannot be a victim is true. You have to debunk the thought that learning personal safety training/self-defense carries negative characteristics (aggression, arrogance, or violence). And, by not understanding that if trained properly to obtain the mental and physical abilities that you can possibly prevent or de-escalate an attack is a total underestimation on your part.
When we begin to understand the facts=reality of these myths=excuses we begin to understand objectives, the effectiveness and the technique of personal safety training/self-defense. We can save our life or the life of someone we love. We can prevent ourselves from becoming a statistic of crime. As I stated above, personal safety training/self-defense is not a guaranteed free pass from crime; however, your chances of survival and the ability to detect a possible altercation are increased significantly.
Becoming educated your level of awareness increases or is heightened, your intuition (gut instincts) are better in tune and your physical abilities are sharpened so that your chances of being attacked, raped or murdered are statistically lessened. You won’t broadcast that you know “self-defense” but you won’t walk down a certain street or in an area when your instincts (gut) kicks in and tells you to turn back. When someone grabs you from behind you won’t freeze but immediately your reaction will be to fight back upon recognition of your window of opportunity. You will see that a seemingly hopeless and defenseless situation has more opportunities for defense than you could have ever imagined.
Personal safety training/self-defense is NOT about being paranoid, it IS about being smart!
Knowledge is a powerful tool.
Stop making excuses and do something powerful for yourself and your loved ones – obtainPersonal Safety Training. Training (mind, body and soul) that you will have for the rest of your life.
How can any parent put a price tag on the life of their daughter?  Why wouldn’t you want your daughter in high school/middle school and especially college bound to be educated?
Question……beside looking at the pretty websites and visiting University after University…..has anyone truly looked in the stats of these schools as to their crime stats via The Jean Cleary Act or Title IX?  Parents…..do your homework.  In my book……………NO CAMPUS IS CRIME FREE AND THE NUMBER OF FEMALE STUDENTS BEING ASSAULTED (BY SOMEONE THEY KNOW OR RANDOM) IS OFF THE CHARTS.  Parents……give your daughter the tools for her tool belt, give her the opportunity that she will have for the rest of her life.  No parent wants to receive “that phone call”; trust me.  (*Again, no personal safety course is 100% guaranteed, but even if she gains 50% knowledge of what she never had to begin with isn’t that worth something?)  Think about…………long and hard.  Again, can you honestly put a price tag on your daughter’s life?  Most parents answer is “NO”.
How can any female NOT want to be proactive and at least have the knowledge of COULD happen if I don’t know personal safety?  Personal safety is so much more than watching a DVD in your livingroom – it is truly about education and ultimately physically how to protect oneself.  Girls talk to your parents……this is an exciting time but you guys have to know the possibilities and reality.  Not to “scare” you but you have to know the odds and know how to handle situations.
Parents – get involved in your daughter’s safety during college.  Parents or Gals……contact me for details as we are gearing up our tour to bring personal safety training (6 hours on one weekend day) to communities everywhere! Organizers of training’s will train for FREE!
Take care and STAY SAFE!


About Anny

Anny is a Survivor of Domestic Violence with many years as a Certified Advocate. She firmly believes that EVERY female has the absolute right to protect and defend herself mentally, emotionally, spiritually and ultimately physically.
Anny received her PDR (Personal Defense Readiness) Instructor Certification in 2008.
Anny is also a Steward's of Children Authorized Facilitator and Prevention Specialist who trains adults to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse through Darkness to Light's certification programs. www.annyjacoby.com, www.realisticfemaleselfdefense.com ,www.projectsafegirls.com,  anny@annyjacoby.com

Monday, July 4, 2011

Domestic Violence And Why It Is Relevant


For those of you that might have missed it, Dr. Phil had a special on domestic violence this past week.  It was sickening.  Several ladies were featured who were dealing with ex-husbands/boy friends that were physically and mentally torturing them.  We all know domestic violence is happening, but when you personalize it and see the effects of an abusive situation, it's really frightening AND maddening.

Have I been sitting on the sidelines doing nothing?  Heck no!

I have raised money for one of the big domestic shelters in Columbia and I have taught free self defense workshops for the volunteers of this shelter, as well as several of their clients.  I did quite a bit of research online, to better understand this topic and include domestic violence facts and statistics in my free quarterly self defense workshops where the community is invited.

Why?


South Carolina is ranked 6th in the nation in domestic violence and 10th in domestic violence murders!  It's very relevant to the work I do in my community AND more than likely, it's very relevant to the work YOU do!

I just created a free resource that includes resources on domestic violence, bullying, stranger danger, etc.  You can take a peek at it  HERE.

Now, the real work is to figure out a way to incorporate domestic violence into my INTELLIGENT CURRICULUM.

Long term domestic violence: Being abused in this manner is like being kidnapped and tortured for ransom but you will never have enough to pay off the kidnapper. by Rebecca J. Burns


Sensei Chris Feldt
 Samurai Karate Studio
Columbia, SC 29229
803-462-9425
samuraikaratestudio@gmail.com

Sunday, June 26, 2011

The Popularity of Grappling

Over the weekend, I watched some mixed martial art's matches on Showtime.  Gosh, these athletes are really good.  I love it when the fighters break to the ground and work feverishly on submitting one another.

Because of the popularity of the UFC and other MMA groups, I do get students from time to time that want to do nothing but grapple.  And while grappling is an excellent way to get in shape and learn how to submit your attacker, I don't believe it is the <b>ONLY</b> way to learn how to defend yourself.

Take for example the video below.  <b>&nbsp;</b>

<b>Warning</b>, it is pretty graphic and the language is very offensive.  However, it offers a quick illustration of what <b>can</b> and typically does happen in an altercation:


<div style="text-align: center;">
<object alt="EMBED-Bus Fight w/ black guy vs 67 year old white man free videos" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="384" id="1742222" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://embed.break.com/MTc0MjIyMg==">
</param>
<param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always">
</param>
<embed src="http://embed.break.com/MTc0MjIyMg==" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowScriptAccess=always width="400" height="384"></embed></object></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">
<a href="http://www.break.com/" target="_blank"></a></span>

Protecting yourself on the street involves more than just dropping to the ground and rolling with your attacker.  Having the ability to stand up and strike; or in this instance, even to block, is very important.

I love the Gracie family and what they have done for the martial arts, but I want to caution people who think that grappling is the best way to protect yourself on the street.  Instead, it should just be a strategy in your arsenal of techniques.

Sensei Chris Feldt
<a href="http://www.samuraikaratestudio.net/"><b>Samurai Karate Studio</b></a>
Columbia, SC 29229
803-462-9425

Friday, June 24, 2011

Domestic Violence: The Facts

According to Safe Horizon's website, the following are the latest facts on domestic violence:

Domestic Violence: Facts


Domestic violence (also known as intimate partner violence) can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, orientation, socio-economic status, or other factors.

The Victims

  • One in 4 women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime. 
  • Women experience more than 4 million physical assaults and rapes because of their partners, and men are victims of nearly 3 million physical assaults.
  • Women are more likely to be killed by an intimate partner (30%) than men (5%).
  • Women ages 20 to 24 are at greatest risk of becoming victims of domestic violence.
  • Every year, 1 in 3 women who is a victim of homicide is murdered by her partner.

The Families

  • Every year, more than 3 million children witness domestic violence in their homes.
  • Children who live in homes where there is domestic violence are also victims of abuse or neglect in 30% of 60% of such cases.
  • A 2005 Michigan study found that children exposed to domestic violence at home show greater symptoms of trauma, including becoming sick more often, complaining frequently of headaches or stomachaches, and being more tired and lethargic.
  • A 2003 study found that children are more likely to intervene when they witness severe violence against a parent – which places the child at great risk for injury or even death.
You can find more information HERE.


Sensei Chris Feldt
Samurai Karate Studio
Columbia, SC 29229
803-462-9425

Sunday, June 5, 2011

History of Karate

During today's class, students were asked to take a quiz on the general history of Karate.  Where did it originate?  Who were a couple of the key players?  What are some of the key characteristics of it?

Even though this is a beginner course in karate, I want my students to develop a sense of appreciation for this art and to hopefully understand its origins, and how the techniques were developed and how the early pioneers lived their life.  Yes, the martial arts is all about learning how to defend yourself on the street if you are being assaulted, however, it is really more than that.  To the serious practitioner, karate is a way of life!  Principles such as perseverance, courage, discipline, honor, integrity and respect; these are the character traits of a true black belt.  This is what I hope the students think of as they are taking their quiz.


Once the quiz was completed and turned in, a handful of students stayed after with me and asked some "what if" scenarios.  The first question was a good one, from one of my students who worked as a bouncer at a local bar in 5 Points.  He has worked there for several years now.  For those of you that might not be familiar with 5 Points, it is a popular spot located in downtown Columbia, with lots of bars and restaurants.  Its a local hangout for drinking and to get rowdy.



My student mentioned that it was very common to get 2-3 fights a night in their bar.  They instituted many changes to their rules, including dress policy, use of profanity, etc. and now they rarely have any more fights.

His question is he wanted to know what to do if you were trying to hold on to one patron and not get hit or jumped on by one of his friends.  Apparently, once a "fight" is occurring, the bouncers are instructed to "choke out" the unruly patron until unconsciouss.


I find it odd that they have this rule in place.  Truthfully, I am not sure it is even legal, but from a self defense perspective, they are attempting to choke someone out anywhere from 3-8 seconds, depending on the patron, which leaves them susceptible to other friends or attackers.

If they insist on choking, then the patron needs to be turned around, so that his or her body, is between the bouncer and the other potential attackers.  You never want to leave your back exposed, as you are inviting someone to hit you on the head from behind and it would be all over for you.  Use that patron as a shield and if the patron has been choked out, you can place them on the floor and prepare for the next attacker if there is one.