Hi

It's Tony here from the Aikido Health Centre with your Harmony Ezine packed with unique tips and insights on aikido, health and well-being.

In this issue is Self Protection - details below. Next month we turn the spotlight on The Shield to protect your community... stay tuned!

Self Protection

What is the Difference between Self Defence and Self Protection?

Self defence is where you take action to defend yourself after an attack has started. Self protection is where you take action as the attack is about to begin. This offers you a much more realistic method for success.

Self defence offers you strategies and techniques to use after an attack has begun. Self protection shows you how to recognise the signs of an imminent attack, and offers you more time to mount a successful defence.

What Are Some of the Effective Strategies Used in Self Protection?

YOUR MENTAL ATTITUDE

Decide beforehand whether you are going to take a strong aggressive stance to frighten an attacker off, or a weak stance to lower their defences and draw them in for a sneaky pre-emptive strike. Practise a silent stare, and refuse to exchange insults… this unnerves a bully.

CHANGE ATTACKERS ATTITUDE

Ask an unusual question or control them with pain which interrupts the fighting software of the brain. If you end up in court, then explain calmly… you didn’t start the fight, you were in fear for your life, you tried to reason with them, and you tried to use minimum force to protect yourself.

SIGNS OF ATTACK & DIRTY TRICKS

Signs of attack: taking a deep breath, hands and shoulders dropping, shaking, tensing, eyes blank, head pecking, single syllable words.

Dirty tricks: hand shake, open zip, untied laces, coughing, lets step outside, look over shoulder, got the time, got a light, asking for directions etc.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

1 - Be nice to people and apologise if you upset someone. Do you want to be right or safe?

2 - Stay away from dangerous, dark, or secluded areas.

3 - Traffic light system… Green relaxed/aware. Amber get ready signs. Red - pre-emptive strike.

4 - Keep it simple… fence, trigger points, BAR, pressure points, simple moves to escape or control.

5 - Use surprise, aggression, speed, and initiative.

These offer you a small example of self protection, there are many more!

By the way, if you want to learn, in full detail, how to protect yourself and develop real power, check out these... Self Protection Strategies

That's it, next month we will discuss The Shield - how to protect your community in an increasingly dangerous world... stay tuned!