Self Defense
News: Japanese Martial Art Featured in Arizona
( posted 11 days ago )Yoshi Kumagai and members of the state of Arizona Aikido Educational Organization will organize and display aikido, an ancient Japanese martial art.
Aikido is captivating according to Kumagai, in that rather than using your own body powers and strength you use your opponent's strength to defend yourself.
"It's unique in its defensive approach rather than other martial arts which are offensive," Kumagai said.
The word itself is actually a work of art. Aikido is a derivative of the Japanese words meaning ai, or harmony; ki, or energy; and do, or the way.
The syllables go together poetically and the art itself is like poetry in motion. Shimmi said the ancient art has smooth, beautiful movements and fits in with the garden.
Aikido has the power to be lethal, but unlike other martial arts, the person executing aikido can defend one's self without injuring the attacker. The core values of aikido are based on self-improvement and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Kumagai, who was raised in Kyoto, immigrated to Arizona 25 years ago. Growing up in Japan he was taught more traditional martial arts such as judo or kendo.
But six years ago, Kumagai, 45, decided he would be more kind to his physical being with the study of aikido. He is on his way to earning a black belt.
Phoenix police officers also will be on hand to lead a discussion about self-defense and safety prevention strategies. Among those strategies suggested by Phoenix police are pepper spray practice and preparation.
What is Self Defense?
Self defense is a set of awareness and survival skills that allow a person to successfully confront, escape, and fend-off aggressive attacks. Solid self defense is based on safety strategies and physical techniques. We have outlined some of these below. You can visit our technique section for more detailed phyiscal movements that help you deal with an attack. Pepper spray is one element of self defense, but you must take other steps of preparation beyond pepper spray to practice good self defense.
Self Defense Easier With Pepper Spray
The issue of self defense is more complicated than one simple technique. A shot to the groin may work fine in many cases but it's not always easy to accomplish that. Most of our ideas illustrate the importance of having Pepper Spray as an additional source of protection.
Self Defense is Survival
Whatever technique a person opts for in a given self-defense scenario, whatever action she/he does or does not take, that individual is not at fault. A woman's decision to survive the best way possible must be honored. Self-defense is an act of survival that must take place quickly to be effective. If a woman is in danger, self defense techniques are legitimate and legal.
Suggestions for Self Defense
Good self-defense guidelines are not intended to be perfect blueprints. Our suggested options, techniques, and perspectives are intended to build ideas for self defense. When being attacked, a woman will rely mostly on instinct for her safety. In a best case scenario, she will be able to rely on some of the techniques or ideas that we suggest. If the techniques fail, pepper spray would be her next option.
Pepper Spray is One Form of Defense
Self-Defense training can widen your range of options and get you prepared to deal with responses to interrupt or delay an attack. Like any tool, the more you know about it, the more informed you are to make a decision and to use it. In most cases, we suggest that your self defense training be complemented by carrying pepper spray at all times. We believe that it is important to use pepper spray as your final line of defense.
No Guarantees in Self Defense
There are no guarantees when it comes to self-defense. However, proper training can increase your level of being prepared. The suggestions outlined here are designed to increase your odds against sexual attacks. The more you know about preventing rape, the better your chances are of never becoming a victim.
Assess Situation In Defense
Continually assess the situation as it is happening. If one strategy doesn't work try a different approach. If you are not carrying pepper spray, or if you have buried your pepper spray in your purse where it is not easy to reach, there are a few things that you can attempt to give yourself more time:
Negotiating, distracting the assailant with a confusing story, fleeing to a safe place, being verbally assertive, yelling to attract attention, etc.
Perhaps the most important form of self defense is preparation in avoiding an attack. It is clear that your best step in preparing for an attack is to buy pepper spray, but your best step in preparing to avoid an attack may be one of the following:
Street Safety
- Carry Pepper Spray in handbag or on key chain
- Carry a whistle
- Carry as little cash as possible
- Don't Hitchike
- Walk with confidence. Be aware and awake. Make note of who passes you and who?s behind you.
- Follow paths that are in bright, well-lit areas. Stay away from bushes, alleys, dumpsters, etc. In quiet unsafe neighborhoods, make your walking path straight down the middle of the road. Keep self defense pepper spray readily accessible.
- If a car rolls up next to you, cross the street and change direction.
- If you sense that a person is following you, turn around and look. Proceed to the closest well-lit building or convenience store. At this time, reach for your pepper spray so you know where it is.
- Travel Light - don't bring along heavy bags unless absolutely necessary. Make sure that you have your bag containing self defense pepper spray or your key chain with pepper spray
- Keep your purse or handbag very close to your body. Your wallet should go in a front pocket
- Wear clothes and shoes that give you freedom of movement
Home Security
- Lock all outside doors with deadbolts. Outer doors should be 1-3/4 inch thick solid core wood or metal.
- Make sure all entrances have good lighting. Keep pepper spray near the main entrance of your home
- Add extra locks to sliding glass doors and windows
- Get to know your neighbors and work out a mutual watch protection system
- Install auto-timers to control your lights to give the appearance you are active and in the home.
- Contact the post office and the newspaper delivery so that your papers don't pile up outside the house
Close and lock doors and windows every time you leave your home. - Make sure you take pepper spray with you when you walk to your car
- Put a peephole in your door
- Get new locks when you move into a new living spae or apartment
- Stay out of the laundry room or garage in a public living area when it's late at night. If you must go, bring pepper spray
- Get identification from sales, delivery, and repair people
- If you come home and find a door or window open or signs of forced, do not enter. Call the police for assistance.
Stalking on College Campuses
A study funded by the U.S. Department of Justice showed that nearly 15 percent of female college students were stalked in the seven months before the study. A justice department study in 1998 showed that only 3 percent of women in the general population were stalked during the previous year.
This illustrates the heightened danger on college campuses for females. Females on college campuses should strongly consider carrying pepper spray to add a level of protection to their daily travels.
The nationwide survey of 4100 college women by the U. of Cincinnati classified stalking as continually following, calling on the phone, watching from windows, sending emails or simply connecting with someone in a way that was overbearing and threatening.
Stalking is most likely escalated on college campuses due to the fact that people can follow patterns. Campuses are small isolated communities in which it is not difficult to learn a person's routine, follow along, blend in, aquire the home address, or phone number, or email for harassing communication.
Though stalking is a crime in all 50 states, many campuses don't have anti-stalking rules written into their bylaws. Moreover, victims are often reluctant to come forward, and cases are difficult to prove. For this reason, your protection by the campus authorities should be complemented by carrying pepper spray.
If you are experiencing campus stalking, it is very important to verbalize your concerns to the proper authorities. However, it may not be possible to get physical intervention until it is too late. Pepper spray is legal, causes no long-term damages to anybody, and can be aquired quickly here at peppersafe.com.
Take two actions immediately: protect yourself with pepper spray, and contact your friends, family and authorities if you believe you are in danger.
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