The holidays are always a time for celebrations and while most people prefer to stay at home to have fun with family and friends, others prefer to go on vacations. This is an opportunity that many burglars and thieves take advantage of because they know that homes are at their most vulnerable when there’s no one around. To keep your home safe during the holidays, here are some of the most effective home security systems you can use:

Door and window alarms
The entry and exit points of every home can also be its weakest areas. These are commonly used by intruders to break into your home. To keep your home safe, install alarms that will go off in case of unauthorized entry.

For door and window alarms, you have two choices: one that works independently and one that is connected to a home security company. A home security system could sound a loud alarm to alert neighbors, passersby and other people. The sound can often be enough to scare away a burglar and deter them from going further.

Another option is to use an alarm system that is rigged to go off silently. This is an alarm that is monitored remotely by a second party, usually the company from whom you purchase the system. After checking if the alarm is legitimate and not just a false alarm caused by accidental tripping, the company will alert authorities to check your home for you.

Security cameras
Security cameras have time and again helped protect and prevent homes from burglaries and other crimes. Once installed in strategic locations, security camera systems can deter potential criminals from entering your property.

If you rig your home security system to be monitored remotely, a security camera system can alert you in advance so you could immediately call authorities on site. In case a burglary does occur, security cameras can monitor and record any activities and help in the identification of the criminals.

Automatic timers
Another very useful home security system you could use is an automatic timer. You could install this for outdoor lights (patio, garage doors, yard, etc.) or for radios and/or TVs inside your home. Automatic timers can be programmed to switch lights, radios or TVs on at a particular time of the day or night and keep them on for a specific number of hours. This can be very effective in making your house appear as if it has occupants in it, even if you’re away for the holidays.

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It is said that the best cure is always prevention. The same holds true when it comes to handling and facing life-threatening situations. When the body goes into a fight or flight mode, it can sometimes be difficult to keep a straight head and avoid panicking. When it comes to defending yourself and your loved ones, one of the best techniques to use is anticipatory self-defense. It could help prevent a difficult situation and might be the best way out in case of a confrontation.

What is anticipatory self-defense?
The principle of anticipatory self-defense is based on prevention. Instead of waiting for a dangerous situation to arise, it’s much better to try to anticipate what might happen and prepare for it than to find solutions when the situation is already occurring. That way, danger may be averted and a difficult situation defused.

To apply anticipatory self-defense, here are some things to remember:

Learn to assess the situation
An important first step to anticipatory self-defense is assessment of the situation and the environment. Why is the situation happening? Who are involved? What type of environment are you in? Is it possible to put a damper on the situation? If not, what would be the possible results – a confrontation, an argument, a physical fight? Are you capable of defending yourself? Are there self-defense weapons you could use? Do you have an escape route?

Avoid confrontation as much as possible
Anticipatory self-defense is not about acting out an immediate counter attack. It’s important to try to see if a confrontation can be avoided through physical evasion or verbal contact. If not, only then should physical self-defense techniques be used.

Find an escape route
Having an escape route may just be your best bet to run away and save your life. In case a threat escalates or you discover yourself at a huge disadvantage, you might put yourself and whoever it is you may be protecting in greater danger if you stay and fight. Look for a way to escape the situation or at least to minimize the threat, such as allowing your companion/s to escape while fighting off the attacker.

Once the attacker has been neutralized, an escape route will also come in handy in case you need to leave the scene immediately.

Neutralize the attack with efficiency
The key to anticipatory self-defense is to use force with efficiency. Using too much force might exhaust you of much-needed energy. Use sufficient force to neutralize an enemy but reserve some in case further attacks from other opponents come.

image credits to sxc.hu

The art and science of self-defense is not something you inherit. Even the best fighting families have to teach their young in order to train them about the best ways to utilize certain techniques. If you’ve decided to learn self-defense for protection or for fitness, you must understand that you will not only be investing your time and effort on it, you will also be investing your commitment. Here are ways to hone your self-defense skills:

Learn from the right source
Honing your self-defense skills is like learning to play the violin. You could probably learn on your own and could very well execute the right moves decently but you may not be able to learn the proper techniques on how to utilize the moves properly.

When it comes to honing your self-defense skills, it’s important that you learn from someone who has been properly trained and have the right certifications. It’s quite easy to hurt yourself unnecessarily if you learn self-defense from the wrong source.

Take time to develop your skills
Learning a self-defense skill is not something that happens overnight. Some kung fu legends even tell of masters who teach their students one move and tell them to practice the same move again and again for a year. Within that period, the master doesn’t teach anything else. Extreme, probably but it does teach you about persistence and practice.

The key here is to allow your body to become familiar with a move. To execute a self-defense skill correctly, you must be able to know which parts of the body are utilized and how. You should also be able to understand why such a move is being used and for what. Once you have built muscle memory, it will be easier for you to execute the self-defense moves correctly.

Find a sparring partner
You could probably practice using a punching bag or a dummy but nothing beats a breathing, living, moving partner to spar with. A sparring partner will teach you many things that no dummy could – how an attacker could move, from where you could be attacked and how exactly you could execute a self-defense move. With a sparring partner, you could also learn the right pressure to use in order to subdue an attacker completely.

Practice, practice and more practice
To hone your self-defense skills, it’s important that you practice as much as you can. If you’re still a beginner, try to find the time to practice everyday. If the moves are unfamiliar to you, your muscles have to learn them over and over again in order for you to remember the sequences. If you’ve been learning self-defense for a while, it’s still important for you to practice in order to build your skills and make you an efficient and effective fighter.

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Most people have the wrong perception that being heavier and taller is an absolute advantage in self-defense.  In some cases, it can be a deciding factor on who wins and who loses. This is why professional sports such as boxing and taekwondo do not allow contestants belonging to different weight divisions to fight.  It would be an unfair advantage indeed for a heavyweight to fight a flyweight.  However, there are some instances even in real life where size and strength don’t matter in self-defense. Here are reasons why:

Weakness
Being tall and heavy might have its visual intimidation factor but it can sometimes be a disadvantage in terms of agility, speed and flexibility.  Being smaller and lighter can allow you to move faster and be lighter on your feet.  Used correctly, these ‘weaknesses’ will allow you to size up your opponent more accurately and use your perceived limitations to your advantage.

Technique
In certain martial arts, such as kung fu style martial arts, trainees adapt a certain fighting style depending on their abilities, skills and physical size. A smaller trainee, for example, may opt to use the monkey style of fighting while a taller trainee might use the crane style. This is so that their innate advantages are maximized.

Knowledge
True, being smaller in size and clearly disadvantaged when it comes to strength can often affect your mindset.  Imagine being 5’8″ and weighing 160lbs. and facing off with an opponent who is 6’4″ and weighing 235lbs.  A situation such as this will be enough to make you tremble and run for cover.

However, if you are equipped with the right set of knowledge regarding your disadvantages and how you can turn them around to fight back, you will be able to prevent an attack, fight using the right moves and actually overcome an opponent. Without this knowledge, you won’t have any idea what to do with the innate power and advantage you have in terms of your relative size and strength.

Training
True, size and strength don’t matter in self-defense but being able to fight off a bigger and heavier opponent is not automatic. At least, not for everyone. This is where proper and sufficient training comes in.  With the right training, you will have the skills and ability to use your body in the right way and to find the points in your attacker’s body where they are weakest.  With the right training, your attacks and counter attacks will be well-calculated and accurate and there’s a low likelihood that you could hurt yourself.

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The imaginations of product manufacturers heighten as crime rates rise. This explains why you’ll find a wide range of self-defense products ranging from the decently functional to the totally hilarious. Bras that send out electric shocks, anyone? But did you know that not all self-defense products are worth your time and money? If you truly want to protect yourself and your loved ones, don’t be conned into buying just about any self-defense product that gets pushed at you. Here are reasons why you should go for the real deals:

Not everyone will know how to effectively use a self-defense product
The more complicated the purpose, the more complicated the procedure. This holds true for many self-defense products out there that people have been conned into buying. They will probably work and in an ideal environment, they could actually bring down an attacker but therein lies the problem.

In a real life situation, some of these products may not always work as designed. In terms of tactical use, many people would probably have the faintest idea on how to hit. Strategically, they probably wouldn’t even know where to hit and how much pressure to apply. Most products come with a simple set of instructions, nothing more.

The user may not have enough skills or experience in using the product
A common self-defense product is the knife. It can come as it is or disguised as something else, such as a comb or a lipstick case. For someone with enough training on using a knife, this self-defense product can be very effective. Unfortunately, not everyone who buys this product knows how to wield it.

The problem is that without the proper skills, it will be so easy for an attacker to still harm you even if you’re holding this product to his face. Worse, it could even be used against you. In case you find an ad selling this type of self-defense product, don’t be conned into buying it unless you know how to use it.

A self-defense product that is easy to understand is easier to use
This explains the popularity (and efficacy) of self-defense products such as stun guns and pepper sprays. Their purpose is well-understood by the user – once you buy one, you know exactly how it works and which part of the attacker’s body to use it with. There are no complicated designs to master or difficult procedures to follow.

Furthermore, it’s much safer for you to use a self-defense product you understand. You know how to wield it and how effective it will be in case of an attack. Once you deploy a pepper spray or a stun gun, for example, you’ll know exactly the kind of reaction you can expect from your attacker and what steps you need to do next. So the next time you get tempted by a new self-defense product, don’t be conned into buying it. Go for the real deal such as stun guns and pepper sprays – they are easy to use and they are guaranteed to work.

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image dredits to wellstone

A lot of your efficiency and efficacy when it comes to self-defense will depend on your instructor – how well they can transfer their knowledge to you as their student and how effective their techniques are for real-life self-defense. Once you’ve decided to learn self-defense, your most important consideration is who to choose to learn from. But how do you check if your self-defense instructor is actually teaching you the right moves? Here are ways you’ll know:

He’s trained and certified in the self-defense course you want to learn
Decide on the type of self-defense class you want to learn first and then look for a teacher who has the appropriate training and certification in that discipline. This is because you can’t realistically expect a taekwondo instructor to teach the art of Krav Maga simply because he/she doesn’t have the proper skills and knowledge.

Always look for a self-defense instructor who is certified in the self-defense style you want. That should give you a pretty good idea if he/she is capable of really teaching you the right moves.

Check local credentials, certifications or national affiliations. Internationally trained and affiliated self-defense instructors are usually more expensive but you could have the assurance that you will be trained under the best. Ask for referrals from associations and clubs. Many of these are nationwide networks, which should allow you to find certified instructors in your area.

Ask for referrals and reviews
If you can, look for former or current students of the self-defense instructor you want to take classes under. Ask these students regarding their experiences – the techniques taught by the instructor, how well the lessons are structured and shared, how long each sessions are and the kind of progression you can expect.

Checking if your self-defense instructor is really going to teach you the right moves and will not merely take a move on you is sometimes just a matter of learning from others’ experiences. Do this before you sign up for any lessons.

Do your own research
It pays to have enough knowledge or background regarding the type of self-defense discipline you want to learn. That way you will be more familiar with the type of moves involved, including the kind you can expect an instructor to teach you.

There are plenty of books, magazines, videos or websites that can offer you excellent information regarding self-defense instructions. Learn from these. Once you know the kind of moves used in a particular self-defense discipline, you could easily check whether your self-defense instructor is really teaching you the right moves and not just taking a move on you.

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There are people who like pretty gifts and there are people who prefer functional ones.  And of course, there are people who might not give a functional gift much thought but would actually need one.  For the coming holidays and for other special occasions, why not give the gift of protection to someone you care about? It may not be something they’ll find very appealing at first but it will sure come in handy if they need to protect themselves. Want terrific functional holiday gift ideas?

Here are 4 self-defense products you can give:

Stun guns
A stun gun is an excellent self-defense product and a very useful holiday gift idea.  It’s handy, lightweight and easy to use.  It can be carried easily in a purse or pocket or in the case of mini stun-guns, made to look like a harmless cell phone.

Stun guns are very effective for direct contact attacks. Once it touches the body of an attacker, it sends out enough electricity to shock and temporarily incapacitate, giving the user enough opportunity to fight back, or if he so chooses, run away.

Pepper sprays
Pepper spray can be very effective in stopping or preventing an attack.  A short 3-second burst could send out enough sting to temporarily incapacitate an attacker for at least 10 seconds.  It’s easy to carry and use and is traditionally sold in small canisters.  It can also be made to look like an ordinary object such as a lipstick case.  This self-defense product is excellent as a holiday gift especially for women, teens, seniors and those with physical disabilities.

Diversion safes
Burglars are after one thing – your valuables.  These include cash, jewelry, family heirlooms and other valuables.  A very functional but out-of-the way self-defense product is the diversion safe.

It’s actually a safe that is built to look like an ordinary, everyday object.  Designs include a functioning wall clock, a book, a flower pot or even a bottle of cleanser.  Valuables can be kept safely inside to prevent any criminal from taking an interest.  If they see nothing worth stealing, they’re less likely to try to attack.

Home security system
For high-end holiday gifts, why not the latest in home security systems?  A whole system usually includes security cameras, a CCTV monitor and sensors.  Most packages come with recording devices for documentation purposes.  A home security system is the perfect holiday gift idea for newly weds, a son or daughter renting their first apartment or a couple who’s recently bought their own home.  It may be expensive but the cost is really nothing if you think about the lives it can protect and help save.

Most people consider boxing more as a sport than as a self-defense discipline. Thanks to the studied elegance of the sport and the big-name athletes associated with it, boxing is not always viewed as a useful self-defense style. However, this is inaccurate. Boxing can be very effective for self-defense. In fact, some aspects of it were even incorporated by the late Bruce Lee into his martial arts discipline, Jeet Kune Do. It’s only a matter of understanding how the principles of this discipline work and how to use them in case of an attack.

Here are some of the most important technical aspects of boxing:

The punches
There are 3 kinds of punches in boxing that may be used for self-defense. These are:

Straight punch. This is executed usually when the opponent is at arm’s length or a bit further. The straight punch is simply that – a straight blow with a closed fist, with the striking arm a little closer to the body.

If you’re standing head to head with your opponent, the straight punch should hit him on the bridge of the nose or the cheeks. It could also be used to hit an opponent’s chest or stomach.

Uppercut. The uppercut is a strike executed with a closed fist coming from the side of the body and moving up. This will land on the jaw, knocking the opponent backwards.

Hook. The hook is also known as the side winder or the side punch. It is made using a closed fist, with the striking arm coming at the opponent from the waist or slightly above it. It then curves to hit the opponent from the side.

Footwork
If you’ve watched boxers fight on the ring, you’ve probably noticed that they are constantly moving. This is to make them more difficult to attack and to allow them to move more quickly into a defensive or an offensive position.

When using boxing as a self-defense style, it’s important to remember to keep moving forward and backward and side to side. Use your movement not just to confuse your opponent but also to assess their next move. Footwork is also important for evading blows.

Strike points
When using boxing as a self-defense tactic, attacks should be considered based on the most vulnerable parts of the opponent’s body. These include:

- eyes
- jaw
- nose (especially the bridge)
- sternum
- sides of the torso
- groin (illegal in professional boxing but works well for street fights)

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Krav Maga is considered as one of the best and most effective self-defense systems for hand-to-hand combat. It is a Hebrew term that means ‘close combat’. Although it is commonly known as the fighting style of Israeli soldiers, it was actually developed in the 30s in Czechoslovakia and Hungary. Krav Maga was initially used to help teach the Jewish community to defend itself against the Nazis.

Today, Krav Maga is a self-defense style that is increasingly becoming popular. With its emphasis on using calculated responses to attacks and implementing defenses, it has become a favorite among self-defense students.

How it works
Krav Maga is a combination of many martial arts techniques, including karate, jujitsu and judo. It doesn’t actually have set rules of fighting and unlike other self-defense disciplines, it can be used by either men or women. Techniques are used to effectively and efficiently neutralize an attacker while allowing the person to escape.

To use Krav Maga as self-defense technique effectively, the direct threat must first be assessed and then dealt with accordingly. The type of force used on the attacker will depend on how serious the threat is, eliminating the need for unnecessary force and conserving the user’s strength.

Once the immediate threat has been managed, the next step is then to prevent any attacks coming from the opponent. In case the attacker does make any moves, techniques to neutralize them must then be implemented.

Training
Krav Maga is frequently taught by using physical and sensory distractions, including smoke, loud music or noises and flashing lights. This is to train the student to learn to focus on the more important aspects of the combat (i.e., the immediate threat). Often, the student is even trained to the point of exhaustion or blindfolded before an attack is initiated.

Training is also conducted on a variety of surfaces, including flat floors, dirt, mud, rock, concrete, etc.

Krav Maga is best for close contact man-to-man fighting and for situations when the user is disadvantaged, such as when there are multiple attackers, when attackers are armed or when the user is hurt. It is also very effective when trying to parlay attacks while defending another person.

Guiding principles
There are 6 guiding principles used with Krav Maga techniques. These include:

- Avoid getting hurt.
- Neutralize your attacker as fast as possible.
- Quickly switch from defensive to offensive techniques
- Use the body’s natural reflexes
- Use all the vulnerable areas of the body
- Use any objects that may be at hand

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Kidnapping is a very real threat, wherever you may be in the world or whatever city you may live in. It’s not just a problem in third world or politically unstable countries. Each year, tens of thousands of adults and children go missing due to kidnapping, the reason for which may not always be related to money. To protect yourself and your family, here are tips on how to prevent kidnappers from victimizing you:

Find alternative routes
If you think there is a threat, find other streets or highways you can use when driving from home to work and back. Kidnappers rely on your routine to track you down and then look for a time when you’re most vulnerable to an attack.

Do not accept lifts offered by strangers
Once you get into a stranger’s car, you are at their mercy. They could either incapacitate you or hold you hostage and you might not have an opportunity to defend yourself.

Do not leave your doors open
Kidnappers don’t always snatch their victims off the streets. They can sometimes begin the attack right in your own home. To prevent kidnapping in your own property, close your doors and gates and install locks or alarms. The more secured you are inside, the more difficult you will be to abduct.

Let someone know where you are
If you must meet a new acquaintance, make sure someone knows where you’re going and who you’re meeting. Leave word with a family member or friend where you’re headed and if possible, give the name of the person you’re about to meet and other details you might know.

Meet them in a crowded place or somewhere other people can see you. Heavy human traffic is a major deterrent for kidnappers and may just save your life.

Tell your child to never talk to strangers
Train your children to avoid strangers, even if they seem friendly and offer gifts. If a stranger asks for help, tell your child to refuse and to call the attention of an adult immediately. If a gift is being offered, tell them not to accept anything.

Arm yourself with self-defense weapons
Other than a gun, there are weapons and gadgets you can carry with you that are very effective for preventing kidnapping. Pepper sprays, for example, are very effective for stopping an attacker and giving you sufficient time to incapacitate him/her and escape.

A stun gun is also a very important self-defense weapon to bring to help prevent a kidnapping. A stun gun is capable of bringing a sufficient bolt of electricity to shock an attacker, rendering him/her helpless for a few precious minutes so you have time to run away.

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