“Saturday Night’s All Right for Fightin……..”

Saturday night in a tourist town. Tens of thousands of tourists descend upon our town like hungry vultures every weekend, some residue remain through the week and the onslaught begins again next Friday night. Looking for relaxation, fun in the sun, swimming, boating, fishing, dining, and for the idiots, abusing alcohol and drugs while trying to engage in these pursuits.

The sounds of the night air are pieced again by the sounds of rescue squads, ambulances, volunteer personnel and various law enforcement vehicles. There will be a huge spike in the “crime graph” for 3 mos. when it will again fall to almost a flat line as Fall arrives.

Those sirens always make me feel a little empty, having seen all of the spectacular crashes of cars into cars, cars into motorcycles, both of the aforementioned into trucks (the order can be re-arranged to suit you).

Then there are the dreaded square black trucks of the water rescue teams, they are always on the prowl and looking for mia’s floating in the water or lying beneath it and let’s not forget the drunken fishermen who fall out of the boat and drown or the rich folks who love to run their huge ocean racing boats into cement or stone walls at full throttle or into other boaters failing that….and you guessed it…90%…alcohol and/or drug impaired tourists.

Bar room brawls and strangers vomiting and urinating in our city parks and sidewalks…and they all have their “beads”, just in case, great fun eh? Yup!

Summer is definitely on it’s way again! Please don’t drink and drive. Party responsibly and have a safe summer. We’ll be happy (cringe) to see you back again next year!

Violence Against Women Act 

I found this information while “snooping” through publicly accessible government web pages. I think it is an important step in ensuring a safer “today” for women. Because of such legislation, while crime rates are still intolerable they have been steadily and visibly decreasing if you look at the numbers and graphs for subsequent years.

Violence Against Women Act of 1994

I would encourage readers to check out this information by clicking on the title above and you will fall into a ton of links to information on Federal penalties, mandatory restitution for sex crimes, grants to combat violence against women as well as many grants available for prevention of crimes against women in public parks, on public transportation, education and safety (which we try to provide…where’s my grant money??) and a lot more!

You will see statistics, databases, research information and training programs for women all the way up to training programs for Judges! This act also includes info on the protection of immigrants all the way through deportation of offenders. I call this another “must read” if you are interested in women’s self defense, or you are an innocent woman who has been harmed and doesn’t know where to go or who to talk to. Please just “click on the title” and you will find help. It is a great resource depicting what has been legislated, is being done currently and where and how to get help if you have been victimized!

25% OF VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME ARE PHYSICALLY INJURED…….

According to a press release from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, about one in every four victims of a violent crime are physically injured during the attack.

They cited that: “Victims of violence were more likely to report being injured when the offender was an intimate partner (48 percent injured) or a family member (32 percent injured) than when the offender was a stranger (20 percent injured).”

They break down the “stats” nicely on this piece and contrast crime against women and the percentile brackets for the likelihood of attack by various types of groups such as friends, family, strangers etc..

There are interesting studies regarding variables of use of alcohol, drugs, urban vs. suburban & rural. Race, income level and the various combinations of all of the above are considered and they have compiled some very “eye-opening” statistics.

There is a great chance that you or someone you know will be the victim of a violent crime. Be prepared, think about it and consider the various scenarios in your own life, wherever that may be. Such thoughtful foresight will help in arming yourself with the knowledge and tools you will need to make a difference in defending yourself and your family.

Don’t forget 9/11 & Rat Out Terrorist Cretins!

Well it was a great to find this link to a site sponsored by the FBI called the IFCC: “The Internet Fraud Complaint Center (AFC) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C).”, it begins and you can see it here.

There you can find their Mission Statement and many great links for turning in terrorists and also for turning over criminals and criminal activity. It is very simple and straightforward. Anyone who can read and write can easily navigate the site.

Check out the site map and you’ll get a little overview of the site.

If you suspect any sort of terrorist activity and feel it worthy of the FBI’s scrutiny please check out this site and fill out the terrorist activity report here.

With Memorial Day almost upon us, let us remember and learn.

No More Forced Entry!

I wanted to make a short post today. I feel much better after studying some crime statistics from the FBI and my home state. They list crime as being down from previous years a percentage point or so. I looked for violent crime & burglary as well.

I would like to talk about burglary which is very serious threat to property and life. Unlike a mugging, which occurs when you are (in most cases) awake and at least semi-ambulatory, burglary destroys the “sanctity” of our home. If you’ve ever come home to a broken window or back door, only to see your precious possessions strewn about as the burglar systematically “tossed” your home, room or apartment looking for cash, jewelry and other easy to move goods, it ain’t pretty. The feeling is like you have been “personally violated” and now no longer are at peace within your own home.

I had a gentleman tell me that his windows were being broken regularly and thieves would just unlock the window, take what they wanted while he was away and walk out the front door! The gall! He bought some cheap little window alarms that sound like a smoke alarm when the glass is broken or shaken. He backed those up with an inexpensive motion sensor alarm that sounds when anyone breaks the infrared beams. When at home, he wasn’t afraid when he was awake, but after he fell asleep.

He has covered his bases now, with one “attempted” window break-in (alarm sounded and nothing inside was disturbed) that sent the burglar packing in the other direction! Silence is the burglar’s ally. If an alarm sounds they’ll be hauling out of there 99% of the time. The other 1% is why this man told me he got the infrared, motion sensor alarm, so that he could sleep in peace without the prospect of waking up to the end of a knife or the muzzle of a gun. This was quite awhile ago and now he is much happier, getting more restful sleep and has not suffered a burglary since that first attempt. It seems that news travels fast on the criminal grapevine in his neighborhood.

He took a few easy steps after he became aware that he couldn’t live this way any longer. He armed his windows with tiny little sentinels to watch the windows while away and defends his apartment with a motion detector alarm for night-time security inside, where he can quickly get to his new pistol which he told me he wouldn’t dare buy before, for fear of it being stolen and used in a crime, or on him for that matter as well. No more being a victim he decided. He chose a plan of action to get Aware and Prepared!

When & How To Say NO

Many people, men and women alike have a difficult time saying NO! I have a couple of close friend who can’t say no and never have a moment to themselves. Someone always needs a ride, needs something picked up at the store and dropped off, needs this, that and everything in between. One friend in particular is like a zombie from working a job, doing personal chores and the rest of the day doing things for other people. This person could not say “no”. I wondered why that was?

Some may lack self esteem and seek the “pat on the back” that they crave as recognition for their deeds. Still others, feel “useless” or “not as good as others”, for reasons to lengthy to discuss in this post and gravitate toward anyone who will reward them with a smile and a kind word, even at the expense of their own time, health and personal lives. They will do almost anything for you just to “be your pal” or hear you say “thank you so much”. They would fare better learning to be their own pals first.

To such people I would suggest that you learn to say NO! Prioritize your life and know how valuable of an asset you are to YOURSELF, your family and friends. I am not saying “never give someone a helping hand”, only learn to allow someone else to help out once in awhile. Don’t become a worn out, tired doormat that people walk all over. They will, even if that is not their conscious intention. Why, because they know in a pinch that these people are the “go to” guys & gals. Learn to distinguish when your help is required and when it is being abused. You will have more time for yourself and those who matter most and you will stop enabling others who are of the “user” mentality.

Learn to say no!

Learn to say no decisively!

Learn to instruct hard cases that “No Means No”!

Learn to say NO nicely without giving offense!

Where am I going with this you wonder? I have a female friend who is beset with this behavioral phenomena. She has lived her life in “service” to others needs and whims. When she finally would get to a point (about anything), where she was absolutely unable to render assistance, she would get all worked up, her little hands would ball up and she would begin to rant about why she just could not do “whatever”. It was as if she needed to justify to others, why she couldn’t perform a service or do a favor. A simple “I’m sorry but I’m all tied up today/night and won’t be able to pick up that stuff and drop it off for you. I’m sorry” would have sufficed.

That was easy right? Wrong, not for her!

She arrived at a class and shared a story from her previous night’s experience with a man, whom she had known casually from attending school and had asked her to drop him off at home the previous night. Of course she immediately was elated and said “YES I’d be happy to”. She didn’t know that man any better than she knew how to say NO!

She related that he “came on to her” and pinned her against the door of her car crushing her against it, asking for sexual favors (parked in front of his own house). She told him that she knew he was married and this was poor behavior for a married man. He even ripped her shirt part-way open and apparently she realized, he was going to rough her up and perhaps rape her.

Fortunately, she had hanging on the end of her keys, a kubotan or yawara stick. This she remembered because she was “1. aware 2. prepared” and immediately yanked her keys out of the ignition and started raking the man across the hands and arms, as he now struggled to protect his eyes and face. He bailed out of his side of the car in a heartbeat, like he was on fire, when faced with a “determined lady” and this simple and effective little martial arts weapon. Be Aware, Be Prepared, Be Unafraid….and learn when to say NO!

CN Tear Gas:

CN has been used in personal defense products since the 1920’s. Among the first such products were tear gas pens and pistols that used a ballistic device, generally a blank pistol cartridge, to propel solid CN particles at an attacker. Not surprisingly, numerous mechanical and chemical injuries to the eye resulted from the use of these products.

Unfortunately, reports on the toxic ocular effects of CN from this type of exposure were usually confounded by traumatic injuries from the blast effect of the delivery device, and this makes it difficult to determine with certainty the exact extent of ocular damage resulting from CN exposure. In addition, the blast effect can drive CN into the deeper layers of the cornea or even into the globe. Such injuries would not be expected with exposures produced by personal defense sprays.

CN was marketed as a personal defense spray in 1965 by General Ordinance and Equipment Company under the brand name Mace. This product gained wide-spread popularity in the 1960’s, and the term Mace is still incorrectly used as a generic term for all aerosol defense sprays.

A possible problem associated with the use of CN for personal defense is that it has been reported to have limited effectiveness against some individuals, notably those under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or those with certain mental disturbances. Additionally, it can take several seconds for CN to achieve its full effect, and the person using the spray would be vulnerable to attack during this time.

Exposure to CN at concentrations that might be produced by a defense spray usually results in extreme irritation of the eyes, burning pain, conjunctival hyperemia, lacrimation, and possibly blepharospasm. Concentrations of CN above those usually provided by defense sprays can cause more severe ocular complications including sloughing of the conjunctiva, corneal edema, and keratitis with subsequent risk of scarring. CN has also been reported to be capable of causing neuroparalytic keratopathy.

High concentrations of CN gas can also cause significant non-ocular effects including respiratory tract irritation, a burning sensation and erythema of exposed skin, irritation and burning of the oral and nasal mucosa, nasal congestion, and cough. Some individuals can experience nausea, vomiting, and headache following CN exposure, and primary contact dermatitis, allergic dermatitis and blepharitis have also been reported.

Revised selection from: “Pacific University College of Optometry”

CS Tear Gas:

In the 1950s, the Chemical Defense Experimental Establishment (Porton, England), developed CS. O-Chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile is a white crystalline substance that is usually mixed with a pyrotechnic compound in a grenade or canister for use. It’s useful form is intended to be a smoke or fog of suspended particles. Effectiveness in crowd control derives from its properties as an extremely severe skin and mucous membrane irritant and lacrimator, even at minute doses. Instantaneous conjunctivitis with concomitant blepharospasm, burning and pain are characteristic. These symptoms are exacerbated in hot or humid weather.

Since its introduction, CS has virtually replaced CN as the riot control agent of choice in England and the United States. During the Vietnam War, the United States developed an array of delivery vehicles for CS, including small pocket grenades, the “Mighty Mite” (a continuous spray device used in caves and tunnel systems) and 58-kg cluster bombs dropped from helicopters and planes.

Toxicology of CS:

Military studies among volunteers have noted that, in most cases, removal from exposure to CS results in fairly rapid recovery with cessation of all symptoms within minutes. Proponents of the use of CS believe that, when used properly, high or prolonged exposure to the substance would be precluded by an individual’s natural aversion to remaining in an area where the substance is present (United Kingdom patent specification 967 66; 1960). Its popularity among military and police authorities stems partly from comparisons with the other tear gas agents, which suggests that CS is a more potent lacrimator and seems to cause less long-term injury, particularly with respect to the eye.

Revised selection from: “Physicians for Human Rights”

Stun Gun Technology:

Many think of electricity as a harmful force to our bodies. If you stick your finger in an electrical outlet, the current can maim or even kill you. But in smaller doses, electricity is harmless. In fact, it is one of the most essential elements in your body. You need electricity to do just about anything.

When you want to perform a task by hand, your brain sends electricity down a nerve cell, toward the muscles in your arm. The electrical signal tells the nerve cell to release a neurotransmitter, a communication chemical, to the muscle cells. This tells the muscles to contract or expand in just the right way to accomplish your task. Sensitive nerve cells in your hand send an electrical message to the brain, telling you what something feels like. When you eat, your mouth sends signals to your brain to tell you how it tastes.

In this way, the different parts of your body use electricity to communicate with one another. This is like a telephone system or the Internet. Specific patterns of electricity are transmitted over lines to deliver messages.

The basic idea of a stun gun is to disrupt this communication system. Stun guns generate a high-voltage, low-amperage electrical charge. This means that the charge has a lot of pressure behind it but not that much intensity. When you press the stun gun against an attacker and hold the trigger, the charge passes into their body. Since it has a fairly high voltage, the charge will pass through heavy clothing and skin. But at around 3 milliamps, the charge is not powerful enough to damage the attacker’s body unless it is applied for extended periods of time.

It does pump a lot of confusing information into the attacker’s nervous system. This causes some things to happen:

The charge combines with the electrical signals from the attacker’s brain. This is like running an outside current into a phone line: The original signal is mixed in with any noise, making it very difficult to understand any messages. When these lines of communication shut down, the attacker has a very hard time making his muscles move, and he may become confused and off balance. He becomes partially paralyzed, for a temporary amount of time.

Current can be generated with “pulse frequency” that mimics the body’s own electrical signals. In this case, the current tells the attacker’s muscles to do a great deal of work in a very short time. But the signal doesn’t direct the work toward any particular movement. It doesn’t do anything but deplete the attacker’s energy reserves, leaving him too weak to move.

This is all there is to incapacitating a person with a stun gun: Simply apply electricity to a person’s muscles and nerves. Since there are muscles and nerves all over the body, it doesn’t matter all that much where you hit an attacker.

**Excerpts re-written from material by Tom Harris, Site Producer for HowStuffWorks.com

My Response Refuting: Stick-fighting With Gear Builds False Security

I’m sure you have to look at it from their/my perspective. They are aware, I’m sure, that they are just getting some “work in” and trying to make it realistic. I’m also sure they are aware that a lot of the shots they take to the “equipped” areas of their body…would be “fight enders” but how else can one practice?

In karate we spar against other black belts which makes you really fast but conditions you to fight “skilled” fighters. We certainly knew what would have happened if our controlled sparring would have been “full go”. Shiner from a pulled blow = detached retina. Sore ribs from controlled side kick = broken ribs. Fat lip = teeth knocked out and a trip to the dentist for sure. A “no-brainer” really.

In my youth I fought plenty of times and found that you had to either go off first….best case…..or be very aware and elusive for crazy, awkward blows flailing madly, coming from everywhere that you aren’t used to defending (but do) and hurt them as soon as you see the chance….sometimes in a split second, and the fight is over….second best case. Always in motion, body and with weapons. Never static.

Stress “body english”, footwork and practice, practice, practice your cuts, blocks, two man drills and always with a mind to cut the opponent and not get touched in doing so. I think you have an excellent idea. Use heavy bags and imagination for a little contact or sometimes “BOB” the rubber dummy guy from Century and whupp the bloody tar out of him. Nice for seeing jabs, and keeping the human anatomy in mind, which can be forgotten in training repetitions. Usually spotted by a student striking at awkward angles, instead of in proper form.

Have fun swinging those batons. That’s what it’s all about. When I stop having fun with martial arts, I’ll quit. I said that many years ago and it’s still a blast. Just have fun and be careful and you will progress. When you meet people (and you will) who know more, then try to train with them a little and learn all you can. It is the most simple martial art I have ever trained in and over time, the deadliest IMHO.