How to Protect Yourself By Learning From The Mistakes Of Others

Are you serious about learning how to protect yourself - about defending against the kind of violence that you can't even imagine? Really?

I can understand why with all of the danger in this often unsafe world. But, are you learning all you can about the subject? Are you taking advantage of learning resources that may be all around you - resources that can teach you as much, if not more about how to defend yourself than most of the martial arts and self-defense programs out there?

What do I mean?

I'm talking about getting out of the dojo or self-defense class setting and doing a little research on actual attacks. I'm talking about taking the time to find out just what it's like inside a real attack, how you can be set up, and exactly what you'll have to deal with should you be caught in a bad situation.

I'm talking about making sure that you're not being mislead, or trained in techniques and methods that you're never going to be able to use during a real attack in today's world. My point in this article is about learning how to protect yourself by learning from the mistakes of others.

As an example, here is a story that actually involved one of the students in my online training program. I must warn you though, the description is graphic, so proceed at your own risk!

A few years ago in his hometown of Kingston, Jamaica he was leaving a night club early in the morning. As he tried unsuccessfully to wave a cab down he noticed a man waiting at a bus stop. The area was not well-lit and there were no other patrons on the street. He kept a close watch on the man as he approached and started asking for money. What my student didn't notice was that another man was there lurking in the dark. Apparently this was a set up and as a result he was robbed. The two men stood on each side of him sticking knives in his kidneys. Being caught off guard my student reluctantly did nothing.

The attackers got away with over a hundred dollars and his cell phone. My student, on the other hand, was left there - unconscious with the blood draining from his lifeless body.

Luckily... my friend was able to keep his life. He survived the assault to be able to tell others about it, and to seek out the right instruction to make sure that it would never happen again.

But, rather than dismiss this as another one of those mildly interesting stories that we will soon forget, or simply talk about with your friends... let's do something different. Let's use this personal experience, one lived though by someone else, in the same way that my student did.

Let's ask ourselves some of the same questions that he did. The difference is that you don't need to wait until you regain consciousness in the hospital after having your own kidneys cut to shreds!

So...

What could he have done? What could, would, or should you do... in the same type of situation?

Do you know?

Well... here are some considerations that you can not only think about, but also make sure that the strategic thinking that goes into these strategies and tactics...

...are a part of your training, instruction, and practice.

To start off with, he could have been more aware of his surroundings. He should have been looking around for an escape route or a possible weapon.

Remember... It was early in the morning. He could have known that buses were not running at that hour (in his hometown), therefore making the man standing at the bus stop suspicious.

When the man began to approach him, he could have verbalized in such a way as get him to stay away. And of course, instead of merely walking away only thinking about how to avoid a nuisance...

...he should have already been thinking of a way to defend himself.

That being said... what could you do to protect yourself effectively in this type of situation?

And, even though there are too many variables to guarantee any set response, here are some suggestions that would definitely increase your advantage and potential for survival:

1. Put distance between you & your assailant, by crossing the street

2. Use your voice to stop the man from approaching. Open your mouth and tell him simply "stay away"

3. Once there is the realization that there was more than one assailant, use effective and strategic posturing to position the first assailant as a shield against the second one. Remember... it's one thing to walk away, and something completely different to have missed the opportunity to be proactive and begin to control the situation before the attack has a chance to begin!

4. If you're serious about self-defense and really being able to protect yourself, after analyzing the situation and realizing you are at a disadvantage by being outnumbered and weaponless - avoid merely accepting your circumstance and giving in to your assailant. Fight back at all costs!

5. Learn from this experience, and any other scenarios that you hear about

6. Prepare, train and educate yourself for the next time - hoping, of course, that there never is a "next time."

One of the most important lessons taught in the martial art of ninjutsu, and any other solid, reality-based self-protection system - and one of the most powerful tools for self defense that you could ever develop - is the ability to think "strategically." Another is to learn to use everything as a tool for your defense and survival - even if that "thing" is the unfortunate attack on another human being!

Effective self defense requires more than just a few "karate moves." It involves the ability to think strategically, and understand how to defend yourself with as little wear-and-tear on you as possible.

If you really want to know what most people don't know about how to protect yourself, and how to survive a real street attack, start by reading the self defense ebook: "Fight Smarter - Not Harder!" It's available free at: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/street-fighting-self-defense-book.html.

Jeffrey M. Miller is an internationally-known self defense expert. Each month he teaches literally thousands of students through live seminars, corporate training events, and his online self defense courses, the lessons to be able to survive in Today's often dangerous world.

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