Qui Custodes

Silliness reigns in teaching weapons defense

I just saw something very silly by someone who shall remain nameless because I'm gonna criticize him.  He's a self-defense instructor and was teaching what to do when somebody pulls a knife on you.  His technique completely ignored 3 things:  first, that nobody leaves a knife out there for you to grab; second, that if you do grab the knife-hand, the attacker will try to pull away and if you hold on you will either get your hand cut or get stabbed, and three, his technique moved to the "hot" side--the side where the attacker's other hand can strike you. 

Moral:  many of the techniques "experts" teach can expose you to even more danger.  Be careful of both the techniques and of the "experts". 

getting mugged--a tip

If you are being mugged and there is no gun, give them your wallet.  But don't just hand it to them.  And don't throw it in their face--flip it down to the ground at about a 45 degree angle.  Their eyes will follow your wallet and when they do ....  run like he!!.  Normally you can cover about 10-20 feet beforethey recover and they probably won't chase you--they've got your wallet. 

If they have a gun, you will have to do something else but that's another post.

Insurance

Seems a little odd for me to be writing about insurance in this blog, but that's what protection can get you into.  Anyway, be sure you have the right kind of insurance for your business.  Not just regular liability insurance or malpractice insurance.  You might also consider insurance to cover if you have a disaster or if you are injured and cannot work.  Anyway, check with your insurance agent.  You might be surprised. 

You might also ask them if their company or companies have people who give advice on how to reduce your risks.  Some do.  Take advantage of the free advice.  But remember--it's only as good as what you paid for it.

I love digital cameras on phones

Kids love cell phones and almost all phones these days come with little cameras attached.  Do you have a teenager with a cell phone?  Want to know what they are doing?  Do you have trust issues?  Call the kid and tell her to take 4 fotos of what's around her right then and email the fotos to you.  That's how you can tell what's going on.  Just telling the kids you might do that brings them up short. 

And don't buy into that old chestnut "you don't trust me."  The answer is simple "trust but verify". 

fingerprint your kids

When my girls were little 1 thing we did was fingerprint them when they were about 5.  Most of the police departments will do this for you.  You just get the prints and put them in the vault.  If you need them you have them and if you don't they make great souvenirs etc.  when they are older.

footprint your babies

I was reading about some of the missing and later recovered children recently and 1 thing I noticed.  Sometimes it can be hard to prove the child is yours.  Especially if it has been several years.  Well, keep in mind that virtually every child has her/his footprints taken before they leave the hospital. If you have this problem, don't bother with fingerprints, check the footprints.

Everything can be a weapon

I just love going on a plane.  They search you for all kinds of weapons.  But they never get the truly dangerous stuff like No. 2 pencils, pens, toothbrushes etc. etc.  After all, in prison they turn toothbrushes, razors, all kinds of stuff into weapons.  And now this Article in the Washington Post says that the scientists are working on a new way to solve the problem.  Wonderful.  Next thing we'll have to buy this new stuff just so we can fly.  Pfui!

Moral of the story:  anything can be a weapon if you are determined to use it as one.  Even a bar of soap in a sock or a tie or a handful of quarters.  I could go on but why bother? 

Walking the wall

I was out late a couple of nights ago and had to walk several blocks to my car.  One of the streets was dark--a lot of big trees were blocking the lights (and there weren't many of those either).  And I found myself on the sidewalk with a solid wall running down one side--you know what I mean:  it was the side of a large office building with no windows or places to conceal yourself.  So I walked down the street very close to the wall. Why?  So I could control which way someone could come up on me.   This way I could see the front and 1 side easily so I could concentrate on protecting myself and "check my 6".  Just another idea for you.

Groups

It seems obvious to me, but I guess it's not.  Don't walk between a group of people.  Don't let a group of people walk up and around you.  If you can't figure out why this is a really bad idea, consider this:  Do you want to be surrounded with no place to run?

Balance is good

I can always get a laugh when I try to show people how American men walk.  They have 2 ways of walking: 

1) Military, chest out, chin tucked in, shoulders square, back stiff.  They will fall over if they have to change direction quickly or even if they have to change speed.  As for being able to actually *see* what they are doing or where they are going, or even where they are putting their feet, fuggedabowdit!  Or,

2) head forward, butt backward, leaning into their walk. 

Both ways to walk are dangerous--you can be knocked over easily and be easily surprised.  Instead, learn to walk with good balance, ready to move in any direction.  In yoga they call it "centered". I call it walking with good ki.  Either way, learn it.