Are You Serious About Self-Defense?

As someone who teaches safety principles and self-defense, I continue to study and train in both safety practices and martial arts and combatives.  I’m also always looking for ways to help others stay safe, and that’s why I absolutely loved a recent comment a friend of mine made in an e-mail.  Steve wrote, “Don’t even pretend to be a serious self-defense expert around me when you won’t take the most basic precautions to safe guard your health.”  Wow!  I couldn’t agree more.  Steve was actually writing about a specific incident, but I like to think of his quote globally and consider all of the things we do.  To me, self-defense and safety are so much more than the hapkido, combatives, and other martial arts and fighting styles I study and teach.  I want you to think that way too.

For instance, why train in hard-core self-defense systems or martial arts in order to protect yourself from harm, but then disregard wearing your seat belt when driving?

I live in Montana, USA, so it is easier to use Montana statistics.  Yes, I know Montana is a large state with a small population (4^th largest state and we just went over 1 million people a couple of years ago.) but it illustrates a valid point. Your location may differ.

In 2013, 108 of the 161 vehicle occupants killed on Montana roads were not wearing seat belts, according to Montana Highway Patrol statistics.  That’s 67 percent of the fatally injured Montana motorists unbelted.  It is proven that unrestrained occupants are more likely than restrained occupants to be fatally injured in a crash. While use of alcohol or other drugs remain a frequent factor, as does speed. No other risk is as predominant.  The simple truth shown by statistics is that the most common risk factor in Montana highway deaths is lack of seat belt use.

So, if you are serious about self-defense, shouldn’t you be serious about everything that can potentially hurt or kill you?  Some people think self-defense is learning some super-ultra fighting system.  NO!  I teach that self-defense is protecting yourself from ALL harm.  (We won’t get into the legal definitions of self-defense here, I’m just using the term broadly.  Please feel free to substitute the term with self-protection or self-preservation.)

So, with that definition, are you serious about self-defense?

Do you wear your seat belts?  The above stats should explain why.

Do you exercise regularly and eat healthy foods?  This will not only help you in a physical self-defense situation, but will help you prevent many killing diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and so on.

Do you stay hydrated when you are out and about?  Doing research on amusement park injuries I found that more visitors suffer from sunburn, rashes, heat exhaustion and heatstroke than all other injuries put together.  The person who is serious about self-defense protects themselves and loved ones from the sun too. (remember sunscreen!) Here’s a Summer safety tip video I filmed at Universal Studios in California:

Have you learned first aid and CPR? While I believe all self-defense instructors should learn these for sure, I also believe everyone who is serious about self-defense should have a basic knowledge of first aid and CPR.  It can save lives.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.  Self-defense, or self-preservation, means much more than just learning some sort of fighting system or martial art.  It’s taking responsibility for your own safety and practicing safe habits that will keep you safe and allow you to live to a ripe old age.  And more important, enjoy your life for many, many years.  After all, isn’t enjoying life why we want to be able to defend ourselves and loved ones anyway?  So take care and stay safe!

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