#MANDELADAY’s 67mins Self-Defence Workshop

“Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was South Africa's first black chief executive, and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election.

…

Mandela was a controversial figure for much of his life. Denounced as a communist terrorist by critics, he nevertheless gained international acclaim for his activism, having received more than 250 honours, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Soviet Order of Lenin. He is held in deep respect within South Africa, where he is often referred to by his Xhosa clan name, Madiba, or as Tata ("Father"); he is often described as the "Father of the Nation"” 

-  Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela

On the 18 July, 2015, on what has now been known worldwide as “MandelaDay”, I will be doing a 67 mins Self-Defence Workshop for the local Chinese community, in spirit of what Mandela Day represents. The message behind Mandela Day is simple – each individual has the ability and the responsibility to change the world for the better. If each one of us heeded the call to simply do good every day, we would be living Nelson Mandela’s legacy and helping to build a country of our dreams. To me, this is a very heart-felt message as I deeply love my country of birth, South Africa. I had decided many years ago to not immigrate to the likes of Australia, Canada or the UK; as so many other South Africans have.  Furthermore, it encouraged me to take action against some of the problems we face in our society. Defence Unlimited was the embodiment of that love and desire to make a difference.

After coming across my advert on Facebook to promote the 67 mins Self-Defence Workshop, I was asked by a journalist from an international new agency the following questions:

1.         Why did you decide to celebrate Mandela Day that way?

WH: Nelson Mandela is one of my personal heroes whom I look up to for guidance and inspiration.  For me, he was a man of integrity, peace and understanding and is the embodiment of a true leader. I believe his ideals for humanity was truly inspirational, especially in his words, “umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”, or “you must serve your fellow man”. It is only through this caring and serving each other will we be able to overcome all the adversity that we, as South Africans, currently face. Furthermore, his words of “It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it” really inspired me to step forward and take action to address some of the issues our country and my Chinese community faces, one of which is crime and the fear of crime. Being in the business that I am, I felt that my company, Defence Unlimited and I, could do this free workshop to the Chinese community, as well as make a small contribution to the Hong Ning Chinese Old Age Home.

2.         How have you celebrated the day in the previous years?

WH: Last year was the first initiative that Defence Unlimited offered free 67mins public self-defence presentation to the public.  It was held at the Rivonia Sports Club on a cold winter’s evening. Attendance was small, but respectable!  Read about the experience here: http://defence-unlimited.blogspot.com/2014/07/mandela-day-2014-67mins-of-self-defence.html

In previous years, I had been with a few corporate initiatives, including food packing and distribution for various communities.

3.         Do you think is still relevant and will continue to be relevant to the world?

WH: If you referring to Mandela Day, yes, absolutely! If anything, I think the spirit of Mandela Day is more relevant now than ever! In light of all the global turbulence and chaos, we need more positive ideals and action such as the ones that Mandela day encourages.  There is a saying from the Bible that says, “If good men do not act, evil will prevail”.  Therefore, it is the interest for everyone to do their bit, no matter how small it may be, in combating this evil around the world.

4.         What does Mandela mean to you?

WH: Well, as mentioned, he is a personal hero of mine. I’ve read a few books about his life and his leadership styles, as well as researched some of his public appearances and speeches. By doing so, I got to know what his ideals and aspirations were for ALL South Africans, and actually for humanity as a whole. It is these aspirations that really touched me and made me want to be a better person both for myself, my family and for society.  I should mention that I also got to meet him briefly right after his release from prison in 1990. It was at the Park Lane hospital and he was going for a check-up. I was quite young at the time, and didn’t know who this tall, African man was who was flanked by even two bigger African men (his body guards). There was a moment that he stopped, waved and smiled at my sister and I. All I can remember was how genuine and sincere his smile was, as how happy that made me feel - I could not help but smile back!

5.         What lessons can be learnt from Mandela's life?

WH: Just too many to mention! Just off the top of my head: Have integrity at all times; Be courageous; Be compassionate; Be a good leader; Have core principles that you abide to; listen intensely before making a response; don’t hurry – think, analyse then act;  and my personal favourite, “never let fear defeat you”.

I hope that Mandela Day inspires you to go out and make a difference in this world.

Till next time.

Get EDUCATED. Feel EMPOWERED. Live a FULLY-ENGAGED life. 

For more information on the workshop, please go to:

Website: http://www.defence-unlimited.com/get-engaged/mandela-day/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/326248007545473/

For more infomation on Mandela Day, please  go to:

http://www.mandeladay.com/

HARD vs SOFT SELF-DEFENCE

In a workshop recently, I had to make a distinction as to when I would hit someone versus using a joint-lock or pressure point against a person, or what I called hard self-defence and soft self-defence.

I boiled it down to what the immediate situation called for.

I would employ hard self-defence techniques when I am physically attacked by one or more aggressors. The tools I would use will include kicking and punching and any other bodily tools that I have trained to use, as well as "unattached" weapons such as firearms, knives, batons and improvised weapons.

However, there are some scenarios where a broken bone or two, may not necessarily be the most  ideal way to deal with an harasser.  It may be “too much force” that could result in me being liable for his/her injuries. This is when I would employ a more subtle form of "soft" self-defence such as joint-locks and pressure points, which may be enough to subdue or deter a harasser.

Note also that I have used different terms, aggressor and harasser, to describe the “bad guy” when I use either hard or soft self-defence. I have done this deliberately so as to act as a trigger as to when I should employ the appropriate techniques.

Which is better? 

My suggestion would be to combine both these 'forms' of self-defence and use what is appropriate at the time.  

For example in the case of suddenly being physically attacked by an aggressor, the immediate response would be to deal with that situation with some "hard' self-defence techniques (block the aggressor's strike; counter strike; create distance and access own weapons (if any); move in to attack aggressor again). Only once the aggressor is subdued and has not fled, would I employ some "soft" self-defence to either restrain the aggressor with a joint-lock, or cause him to become unconscious while I get help or restrain him.

In another example, if I was a female employee and was getting some unwanted attention from a male colleague at work, I would employ some "soft" self-defence techniques such as a finger-lock or pain-inducing pressure point technique so as to deter the harasser from proceeding any further. It should be noted that in this situation, I would also have to re-enforce my position of not wanting any of the harasser’s attention by using strong verbal commands and posturing - more tools and techniques that fall in the "soft" self-defence category. If however, my attempts are not successful and the harasser decides to use more force against me (making him now an aggressor) , I would revert back to "hard' self-defence and strike him hard.

It is important to note that a person's heart-rate and ability to control his or her fine motor skills under a high-pressure scenario is also key as to whether they should employ hard or soft self-defence. Fine motor skills are vital when trying to employ joint-locks or pressure-point techniques (soft self-defence) and will deteriorate as one's heart rate increases.

A person is able to condition themselves to better operate their fine-motor skills under hear-rate increasing scenarios, with the correct training. 

With the correct training, both hard and soft self-defence techniques should be employed to potentially hazardous incidents. Furthermore, one’s ability to be able to distinguish between these types of incidents become important too, as the age old saying of "one size fits all" would not work in a court of law if you are found to be using excessive force in an incident.

To conclude, as your journey in becoming a safety-conscious member of society who studies practical self-defence techniques to empower yourself, you must always keep in mind that as you become more proficient in self-defence, you need to exercise greater self-control when handling an incident and never abuse your skills and knowledge. If you do, you become no better than the criminals we wish to weed out of society.

Till next time.

Get EDUCATED. Feel EMPOWERED. Live a FULLY-ENGAGED life. 

IMPROVISED WEAPONS FOR SELF-DEFENCE

In an interview recently, I was asked what my opinion on what improvised weapons should be used in a self-defence situation. As a broad guideline, an improvised weapon is an every-day item that can create a greater impact by being swung, thrust or thrown/projected at an aggressor.

As with any self-defence training, there are 3 aspects in using any improvised weapons:

1. Know what tool to use

2. Know what target to strike at

3. Know how to use the tools to strike at the target.

In this post, I will only focus on point 1, "know what tools to use".

When selecting a tool, anything that is around you that fits one or more of the following criteria is a valid improvised weapon:

• Items that are hard and will allow you to use at a distance (an arms-length or greater) against an aggressor. This implies you also need to be able to either lift it up or be able to move it around.

• Items that are small, but hard enough to allow you to apply pressure on it against an aggressor without breaking on impact in close-range (within an arms-length).

• Items that are easily accessible under a high-pressured situation.

Here are also some general guild lines on things to avoid using as an improvised weapon:

• Items that you will need immediately after the incident has occurred.

• Items that you do not want damaged, stolen or lost.

• Items that are hard to reach when the incident occurs.

Car key, for instance, is not an ideal choice for an improvised weapon. If you are in a remote area and get attacked whist in or walking to your car, you do not want to risk losing or damaging your car keys during the struggle with an aggressor.

Cell phones are other items to avoid. If you get injured or have to call the police or a loved one to tell them of the incident, your injuries and/or your whereabouts, you want to ensure that you have a working cell phone handy.

Of course, in the heat of the moment, you may reach for the closest items that are available to you, which may be the car keys or cell phone. If this is the case, you just need to do what is necessary to deal with the immediate threat with whatever means possible. This will mean that you may be without your car keys or phone after the situation, which may on its own be another problem. One way to mitigate this risk is to carry suitable "weapons" that can be used in a self-defence situation. It should be items that you have consciously decided that you will use on an aggressor, should the need arise. Furthermore, it should be items that you have practiced accessing and using under a pressurised situation.

One of the favourite "improvised weapons" that I have often heard and read about for women, are her high-heel shoes. Unless you are comfortable wearing and using high-heel shoes in a situation that will require you to move and kick in these shoes, I personally would not recommend removing them as an improvised weapon to strike an aggressor. Why? Well for starters, most high-heel shoes that I have seen on women have a strap on them to secure the shoes to the feet. This could take some time to remove and hence, goes against the principle of, "must be easily accessible". Furthermore, it compromises her balance as she would have to have to balance on one leg whilst trying to fend off an aggressor or even just to try and get away from the threat! Besides being prone to ankle injuries or losing her own balance and failing (which is definitely not ideal when being attacked), being off-balanced would seriously reduce her chances of being able to handle a self-defence incident.

Let’s look now at a few suggested improvised weapons that one could use in various environments. This list is by no means exhaustive, but, they do follow the guidelines above for selecting a suitable weapon:

At home:  Broom stick, umbrella, dog leash + chain, books, hard files, electric tooth brush, furniture, pot plants, dustbin, ash tray, ornaments, kettle cords, boiling water, rolled up magazine/newspaper, pepper/curry powder, pots & pans, knives, flasks, torch, garden tool, scissors, screw drivers, insecticide, etc..

While traveling in own vehicle: CD's, CD covers, fire extinguisher, cigarette lighter, traffic triangle, car jack, spanner, car tool set, steering lock, first aid kit, water bottles, etc...

Walking about in a shopping mall, to your vehicle, or using public transport: water bottle, walking stick, umbrella, jacket, belt, comb, cigarette lighter, deodorant, groceries, baby pram (minus the baby), etc.. 

An underlying theme in all of this is to have a self-defence ATTITUDE, which is basically, having the mental and emotional capabilities of using the correct tools to strike effectively at the correct targets, when the need arise.

Feel free to look around your environment and scrutinize what you carry and use every day and determine whether or not it would be a suitable tool for self-defence or not.  Furthermore, be sure also to practice accessing and using those items you find suitable - you never know when and where you might need an improvised weapon! If you are serious about your safety, I would suggest seeking out a suitable self-defence instructor that can explain the principles of self-defence to you, as well as empower you with the knowledge and skills relevant for your circumstances.

Till next time, be safe!

Get EDUCATED. Feel EMPOWERED. Live a FULLY-ENGAGED life!

FOOD FOR CRIMINALS - SURPRISE, FEAR, DOUBT, HESITATION

In Kendo (the Japanese art of swordmanship), there is a term called "shikai", or the four illnesses of the heart. These are: "kyo-ku-gi-waku", or "surprise, fear, doubt, hesitation".

In a brief analysis, I will attempt to explain the kendo concepts together with my understanding of self-defence:

SURPRISE will happen when someone breaks the other's mental or physical composure and is able to strike at them while off-guard. In self-defence, this is particularly true for people who are not aware of their surroundings and walk around with pink-tinted glasses. Criminals look for these type of potential victims, who, inevitable giving a statement to police such as, "He just appeared out of nowhere", or "It all happened so fast! I never saw what hit me!"

FEAR is when the one feels threatened by an opponent’s perceived skill or superiority. In a self-defence context, criminals will use fear to intimidate their victims in order to gain compliance. Criminals use a number of methods to induce fear, including verbal threats, physical violence, weapons such as firearms or knives or multiple attackers.

DOUBT is when one is unsure of their own ability and/or effectiveness of their technique. This can be the result of firstly, not even being aware of what to do in a self-defence situation, or secondly, from a lack of effective self-defence training. Irrespective, the outcome is that doubting ones capabilities or abilities leads to ineffective skills to be able to protect one’s self and one’s loved ones.

HESITATION is about the lack of commitment of an attack when an opportunity is presented or created. In self-defence, there sometimes might be a very small window of opportunity to be able to avoid, escape or strike a potential threat. A more proactive approach is to create these opportunities (which will be discussed in a later post). Hesitation in either case could mean one either lives or dies.

The Kendo method of countering "shikai" is by training to have "heijoshin", or "normal mind", which is a "calm, constant or unfettered mind". 

From a self-defence perspective, this "normal mind" can be cultivated through relevant education on crime-related topics, appropriate self-defence training so that one will feel empowered, and lastly, positively engaging in those activities that not only bring joy to your life, but also benefit society as a whole.

In summary, these 4 traits are among many others that a criminals looks for in a victim. The good news is that, through relevant training, one can reduce, and even eliminate these traits, thereby creating a self-defence barrier around them that will be off-putting for most criminals.

A lot can be learnt from the traditional martial arts, but the context will set the relevance of it for this modern day and age.

Get EDUCATED. Feel EMPOWERED. Live a FULLY-ENGAGED life.

Reference article: https://kendoinfo.wordpress.com/2015/04/13/the-four-sicknesses-shikai-is-there-a-cure/

For more info on Kendo in South Africa, please go to www.sakf.co.za.

Dealing With Surprise Attacks

So what is the one thing that most people find shocking when then are suddenly attacked? It's the fact that they, at that moment in time, they let their fear get out of control and that they do not know what to do!

Firstly, when the emotion of fear is felt, the body's natural defence mechanism kicks in, which is to flood your blood system with adrenaline. In prehistoric times, the flooding of this energy-boosting hormone is meant to trigger a flight or fight response. However, in this this modern age, because they may not necessarily be able to fight or flight, they just freeze. This “freeze” can also be considered as a manifestation of their fear.  This “freeze” is a build-up of the adrenaline in the system that has no outlet to go. Eventually it manifests itself as either frustration or anxiety. Why is this so? Well, back in the day when we weren't at the top of the food-chain, we had to be constantly of the lookout for potential threats. This meant us having to be in control of our fears and to be able to respond accordingly when actual danger arose. However, as we evolved and began to manipulate the environment around us, we also began to become soft and complacent, and had FORGOTTEN how to manage that primal emotion of fear in the correct way. Gone were the days when we were the potential main course for a predator. Now we had to deal with the corporate or social beasts.  This relied on a whole new set of skills that weren't physical. Suddenly, the height of our fears became presenting a big speech in front of the whole school, or a huge sales pitch for a multi-million dollar contact.  We had traded our spears for a microphone and a Mont Blanc ball-point pen! Trying to physically fight ones way out of a speech, or running away from a sales pitch, may not be viewed as the most ‘socially accepted” responses in this modern age.  Our response of fight or flight has been stunted, and what we are left with is the “freeze” syndrome. We are unaccustomed to the fight or flight responses and hence, when a physical threat is upon us, we fail to execute the most effective solution at the moment.  We have forgotten how take control of our fears.

Second, is the know-how of what to do in a physical altercation. Not KNOWING what to do when one is suddenly attacked is also a major factor that increases your risk of becoming a victim of crime. I have spoken to so many people that have said to me that the will "just know" what to do if someone were to attack them! It's a ridiculous statement that quite frankly, could get them killed out there! For instance, the one man I spoke to said he was a pretty decent boxer and would smash the aggressor's face in once he was in range. I asked him what he would do if the aggressor's pulled out a knife or a gun? Or what about if he came with a half-dozen other mates? He froze and I was waiting for a reply like, "I'd punch him before he could stab me or shoot me". The reply never came as I think I made him realise that there are limitations as to what can do if one is attacked with a weapon or by multiple-opponents.  I have a saying that goes like this: “Confidence comes with competence. Competence comes with practise”.  Therefore, to “just know” what to do when you need to is a myth. Practise… that is the only way!

To conclude, dealing with surprise attacks is not impossible, but it is difficult without the relevant training. Understanding how to control that emotion of fear when (and yes, it will) it kicks in is the first step, and the second is knowing what appropriate actions to take in that situation.

Be safe out there.  Till next time.

Get EDUCATED. Feel EMPOWERED. Live a FULLY-ENGAGED life.

CORRUPT COPS – What To Do If You Come Across One...

Amongst the obvious criminal elements we have in our South African society, another disturbing factor to take into consideration is the amount of corrupt police (cops) that have forgone their duties to enforce the law, and terrorise innocent people by abusing their power.

In a recent survey conducted by FutureFact, an annual survey that examines the attitudes and beliefs of citizens in the country, it was revealed that 75% of South Africans believe that a lot of police are criminals themselves!

Furthermore, according to FutureFact, 44% of people felt that there was no point in reporting crime to the police; 30% of adults fear going to the police station to report a crime themselves; while in general, 33% of people fear the police.

These are pretty scary stats and reflect the average South African’s reaction to all the corruption that they have experienced, or at least heard about amongst their social circles. It begs the question, if you can’t trust the protectors, who can you trust?

In doing some research, there are some internal mechanisms within the various policing structures that are supposed to weed out these corrupted enforcers and hopefully bring them to justice. Not much has ever been openly published, but I hope that something CONSTRUCTIVE does happen when these bad eggs are found.

For your own protection, here are a couple of points to keep in mind if you encounter some suspected-corrupt cops.

1. Remain calm and co-operative at all time.

2. Maintain constant dialogue in a respectful, non-sarcastic manner (even though you may be fuming on the inside).

3. Should you carry any firearm, inform the officer as such. BE SURE TO BE CARRYING BOTH YOUR DRIVER’S LICENCE and FIREARM LICENCE with you at all times when you are driving and/or carrying.

4. Keep your hands out of the pockets of jackets and jeans. It looks too suspicious.

5. Don’t make any sudden movements or gestures. REMEMBER, KEEP YOUR COOL!

In the case of SAPS (South African Police Services), try and get the “CALL SIGN” of his/her official vehicle. The CALL SIGN is marked on the side of the police vehicle and has 2 alpha letters & 2 numerals.  For example, “SD34”, indicates the station (SD = Sandton) and the vehicle number (34).  This CALL SIGN, together with the time of the incident, can be tracked on the AVL tracker system for future reference. It will also indicate the officers who were operating the vehicle at the time. If you feel the incident was unjust or the service was not satisfactory, you can report the incident to the SAPS’s Centre for Service Excellence on the toll-free line, 0800 333 177. You may also send a detailed report in writing to the following fax number: 012 393 5452 or email address: service@saps.gov.za

In the case of the various traffic officials (e.g. Metro Police, Ekurhuleni, etc), use the following numbers to report the incident:

Lastly, one of the findings of FutureFact was that 91% of South Africans believe that Crime Line, an independent crime tip-off service, is playing a substantial role in enabling people to address crime in a way that feels more effective than directly to the police themselves. This does not mention if this includes reporting corrupt cops or not, however, corruption in the police structure itself, is in my view, a criminal offense. Anonymous tip offs can be sent via SMS to Crime Line on 32211. For more on Crime Line, refer to www.crimeline.co.za.

PLEASE NOTE: Keep in mind that this does not address FAKE COPS, which is a whole lot more complex a more controversial topic, especially on how to identify them when they are wearing OFFICIAL police uniforms and drive OFFICIAL police vehicles (how the hell did they get hold of the official gear in the first place?). Perhaps more on this in a future blog?

Till next time, be safe out there.

Get Educated. Feel Empowered. Live a Fully-Engaged Life.

Sources and links:

http://defence-unlimited.blogspot.com/2014/10/police-harassment-what-to-do-when.html

http://www.futurefact.co.za/futurefact-finds/futurefact-finds-three-quarters-south-africans-believe-lot-police-are-criminals

http://www.saps.gov.za/services/services.php)

https://www.arrivealive.co.za/Corruption-Traffic-Enforcement-and-Road-Safety

https://www.crimeline.co.za/tipoff.aspx

SMASH-AND-GRABBER REVEALS ALL & HOW TO USE THIS INFORMATION TO YOUR SELF-DEFENCE ADVANTAGE!

The hot topic of smash-and-grab is once again in the public eye, thanks to social media. In a recent incident that was filmed by a fellow driver's dashcam and loaded onto YouTube, it can be seen how the criminals attack-ritual that leads to this less-than-20-second smash-and-grab crime. ENCA has a great news clip online at the moment that does an interview with a smash-and-grabber and reveals some of their methods and mentality. There are also some safety tips from the neighborhood watch.

To summerise, here are some of the main points from that clip that pertains to their methods:

• A spark plug, or "bomb", is used to break the motor window because it has a sharp point to penetrate the window. Keep in mind, that the size of the spark plug also makes it easily concealable. 

• Although they will do their dirty deed anywhere where there is an opportunity, the are currently using bridges to do their deed as once the deed is done, they flee under the bridge, knowing that most people will not follow them.

• At least a 2-man job. One to do the deed, the other as a lookout. More have been used in many cases.

• Women are targeted because they get scared easily (and offer little resistance).

• Smash-and-grabbers wait for you to be in traffic or at red lights before attacking.

• A smash-and-grabber will dress up in "protective clothing" such as a jacket or overall to protect selves from cuts after they have dove through broken glass.

•  If there is no getaway, the smash-and-grabber will probably not do it (but be warned, there are still desperate crininals out there)!

• The smash-and-grabber can use the threats of a gun or any other weapon to gain compliance.

A few safety tips to avoid becoming a smash-and-grab-victim:

• Consider safety film (anti-smash-and-grab film) or even window tinting for your car's windows.
• Leave your window open slightly (approximately 3 cm, but less than 5cm).This makes the glass more flexible and more resistant against shattering if they’re struck by a sharp object.
• Lock your doors.
• Never open doors or windows (fully) or for strangers. Less than 3cm of window is sufficient.
• Avoid getting involved in discussions with street vendors, flyer-distributors or window cleaner at intersections.
• Be constantly on the lookout for suspicious looking characters, for example those who are wearing usually warm or heavy clothing during warmer weather.
• Always be conscious of your surroundings, especially when stationery.
• Remain vigilant when coming to an intersection or stopping your vehicle.
• If you encounter obstacles such as rocks or tires do not get out of your vehicle to remove them.
• Leave a gap between you and the car in front of you to give you room to manoeuvre, should something happen.
• Be wary if you see broken glass lying on the road, as it may indicate a smash-and-grab hotspot.
• Hide your valuables - Car floors, dashboards and seats are not good places to leave items.
• Alternatively, lock your valuables away in your boot if you do not need them for the duration of your travel.

If you see a smash-and-grab incident taking place or about to take place:

• Be a responsible citizen and do something!
• Hoot and point, if you see suspicious characters walking around a fellow driver's car, or if the smash-and-grab is in progress.
• Assist the victim ONLY if you have ensured your (and your loved ones’) safety first.
• Don't give chase UNLESS you have had proper training to deal with such situations. Even then, I still caution against it.

For a previous blog on smash-and-grabs, please go to: http://defence-unlimited.blogspot.com/2014/05/smash-and-grabwhat-to-do-and-not-do.html

Get EDUCATED. Be EMPOWERED. Live a FULLY-ENGAGED LIFE.

The link to the ENCA clip can be found at:
http://www.enca.com/south-africa/smash-and-grabber-tells-all

Police Harassment – What To Do When The Protectors Becomes The Aggressors.

 A close friend of mine and his wife had an unfortunate incident with the SAPS (South African Police Service) last night.  

This is their story:

“I was returning home from a party last night when we got stopped by the SAPS on the freeway.  We were made to pull-off on the side of this busy freeway into the emergency lane. Two policemen then approached my car with loaded weapons and were extremely rude, screaming and shouting for me to get out of the car. My wife, who is 5 months pregnant and was sleeping at the time, was rudely woken up by their banging guns on the rear side windows. She was abruptly told to get out of the car too.

They then proceeded to search my wife’s vehicle’s boot and asked what the items in the boot were. This included my wife’s gym bag, some groceries we had purchased earlier, and the spare tire.

They also searched me. Before they did, I informed them that I carried a firearm for self-defence purposes and which I had a valid licence for. Upon searching me, he then pulled out my firearm from its holster, unloaded the firearm, and proceeded to dry-fire it at my feet!

He then asked why I carried hollow points as they were "illegal" - which I know isn't and I told him so. Furthermore, he also found my spare magazine and he asked why I had so many bullets, in which I replied, I can have up to 200 rounds of ammunition with me as a self-defence licence holder.

He then proceeded to ask me a series of sarcastic questions such as,  Why I was driving my wife's car? Why was my wife sleeping? Why is she tired (“uh...because she is pregnant”)? Why do I carry a weapon?  Why do I have groceries in my car? Why don't I protect my parents? (That last one caught me out of the blue).   

After about 20mins of this harassment, they eventually they let me leave, but I was extremely upset by the way they treated my wife and I. Unfortunately, I had tried to get some details from them at the end of the incident. When I asked for his name, he laughed at me and walked back to his car, muttering some inaudible grunt to me. Since I was on a busy freeway, and my wife was a bit traumatised, I just left it and headed off as soon as I could.

I am so pissed off right now, what could I have done better?"

My first response was that he did everything correctly. Being a hot-head normally, I was surprised by the way he kept himself contained for as long as he did. Using some personal contacts and various other means, I was able to quickly compile some further advice for my traumatised friends:

1. Remain calm and co-operative at all time.
2. Maintain constant dialogue in a respectful, non-sarcastic manner (even though you may be fuming on the inside).
3. Should you carry any firearm, inform the officer as such. BE SURE TO BE CARRYING BOTH YOUR DRIVER’S LICENCE and FIREARM LICENCE with you at all times when you are driving and/or carrying.
4. Keep your hands out of the pockets of jackets and jeans. It looks too suspicious.
5. Don’t make any sudden movements or gestures. REMEMBER, KEEP YOUR COOL!
6. When the officer is done, politely ask his name, station and the “CALL SIGN” of his vehicle.
7.  The CALL SIGN is marked on the side of the police vehicle and has 2 alpha letters & 2 numerals.  For example, “SD34”, indicates the station (SD = Sandton) and the vehicle number (34).  This CALL SIGN, together with the time of the incident, can be tracked on the AVL tracker system for future reference. It will also indicate the officers who were operating the vehicle at the time.
8. If you feel the incident was unjust or the service was not satisfactory, you can report the incident to the SAPS’s Centre for Service Excellence on the toll-free line, 0800 333 177 (refer to http://www.saps.gov.za/services/services.php).
9. Be sure to supply them with details of the incident, the CALL SIGN of the vehicle, the time of the incident, and the names of the officers and the station of where they are based (if you got them, else the call sign is suffice).  
10. Lastly, breathe and relax before heading back onto the road. Get your cool back before you get back on the road. You don’t want to be driving angry.

This is an unfortunate incident once again of our protectors abusing their powers.  It really makes my blood boil when I hear of such stories as I really do respect and admire the SAPS and its members for the good work they do in our country. Furthermore, having friends who are members of the SAPS, I understand the sacrifices they make to be able to protect us from the criminal elements out there and are truly grateful for them. However, it’s a few “bad apples” such as these two officers that really just tarnish the reputation of the SAPS, and undermine the good work they do.

Through my friends’ experience, I hope this EDUCATES and EMPOWERS you on how to handle such incidents in future, and to encourage you live a positive and fully-ENGAGED life.

Till next time. Be safe. Be vigilant. Just Be. 

Mandela Day 2014 - 67mins of Self Defence Empowerment

"Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu – it means you must serve your fellow man. You see? You must respect and serve your fellow man faithfully. That’s what, because without their support you can never progress. That’s what it means." ~ Nelson Mandela from a conversation with Richard Stengel, 29 April or 3 May 1993 #Time2Serve #MandelaDay 

It was a cold winter's evening at the Rivonia Sports Club in Johannesburg, that the 67mins Self- Defence Empowerment Class in honour of Mandela Day took place on Wednesday, 16 July 2014. The purpose of the free class was a means for me to contribute to what our late great leader, Nelson Mandela, subscribed to, namely, "Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”, which is to serve my fellow man (and woman).

For the 67mins, the participants were treated to an initial AWARENESS discussion on self-defence empowerment and how the mind can harness happiness or fear by ones’ positive or negative attitude towards crime. A negative attitude results in fear or frustrations, and can create an internal nightmare for oneself. Although there are genuine threats out there in the "external world" that can be fearful, a lot of the time the fear is made even worse by what happens in our minds (or the internal world). For instance, a person who is afraid of getting hijacked and constantly worries and thinks about being hijacked, will eventually get hijacked! This is the one extreme of the spectrum which is fear-based and is that of being paranoid. On the other extreme, the person may want to lead a more confident and happy life, so he/she takes the necessary precautions to prevent being hijacked by becoming educated and empowered through anti-hijacking training and practice.

It is easy to be let the external world of physical reality, circumstances and situations to dictate your inner would of thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs. However, there lies to key to living an empowered life - by being able to control your inner world first, your experience of the external world will be so much more positive!

The session continued with AVOIDANCE and ACTION techniques from the "Tri-Infinity System of Defence", which included a brief introduction on how to identify potential threats and thereafter, create a verbal and physical barrier to prevent these treats from harming you or your family. Lastly, physical ACTION techniques were demonstrated and practiced. It was stressed that sometime, the best ACTION in a situation is to just turn and run away - Not all self-defence situations need a physical response of kicking and punching. In actual fact, as a personal opinion, the best self-defence technique is one that will allow one to walk away unscathed both physically and mentally.

The evening concluded with a brief discussion on some tools that can be used for self-defence, and specifically how some of these tools can give one a false sense of security. The audience was made aware that some tools simply aren't worth using in a self-defence situation as it would cause them more harm than good!

Special mention must also be made to the Rivonia Sports Club who kindly donated the use of their venue for this event, and to Frans for arranging the hall for us. Thank you! 

The next FREE Self Defence Empowerment session will be in honour of South Africa's Women's Month (August), and will be on Wednesday, 20 August 2014.

The “Tri-Infinity System of Defence”, is a revolutionary way of thinking and doing self-defence that can be applied to all areas of life, not just personal safety! The crux of the system is based on principles, rather than techniques. However, practical techniques to handle self-defence situations, based on these principles, are incorporated into the Tri-Infinity System of Defence, making it one of the easiest and most effective systems of personal safety to learn! The “Tri-Infinity System of Defence” will make its debut soon!

Get EDUCATED. Become EMPOWERED. ENGAGE Positively. 

http://www.defence-unlimited.com/mandela-day

A treatise of Defence Unlimited's Vision of Education, Empowerment and Engagement

"I started Defence Unlimited in 2008 as a means to not only teach the martial arts and self defence skills, but to also empower the people of South Africa with potential crime-prevention solutions. I have made it my mission to educate and empower people and to unlock their potential by overcoming crime-related fears and frustrations, thereby allowing them to live a happier, fulfilled and engaged life!"

This is the brief biography that I have published on my various social media profiles. In this statement I had tried to put a large emphasis on the "happier, fulfilled and engaged" portion. 

In order to explain this further, I need to refer to "Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs", a model proposed by psychologist, Abraham Maslow, in his 1943 paper, "A Theory of Human Motivation", which attempted to explain the needs of people and how those needs would motivate them to take some action in order to obtain them.

To briefly describe this hierarchy, it is a pyramid with the largest, most fundamental levels of physiological needs at the bottom and the need self-actualization at the top (see the diagram below).

At the bottom is the 1^st  physiological need such as the need for air, water, food, sex, clothing and shelter. These are the basic needs that must at the very least be met. If this need becomes too great, there are some individual that may choose to obtain these needs by force, or illegally, thereby making that person a criminals.

The 2^nd need thereafter is one of safety, and includes personal safety, health and well-being. Financial safety is also classified under this need. A large portion of my efforts through Defence Unlimited is focused on addressing these personal safety and well-being needs.

The 3^rd level of human needs is interpersonal and involves feelings of love and belonging. A person who has a need to feel love and be loved, can draw on family and friends to fulfill this need. Then, on a deeper intimate level, the person will normally seek out a mate/partner/spouse to meet this intimate need. This is the normal path for most law-abiding people. However, again like the previous need of physiology, this need may become too much for the person and they resort to using less than legitimate ways in obtaining it. It is a fact that this need can override the fundamental physiology and safety need too. An example of this is in the case of children who will still cling onto abusive parents; or in the case of gang member participating in illegal and dangerous activity just to remain/belong to that peer group.

The 4^th need is that of esteem, and refers to an individuals need to have self-esteem and self-respect. Esteem also refers to the typical human desire to gain recognition and/or be accepted and valued by others, or to have a sense of contribution or value. However, again, like the other previous needs, a lack of this need can lead to an individual to perform criminal acts in obtaining this. Examples of this is rape that is motivated by the offenders need to feel dominant and in control.

The 5^th need is at the apex of the pyramid and is the need for self-actualization. This level of need refers to what a person's full potential is and the realization of that potential. Maslow describes this level as the desire to accomplish everything that one can, to become the most that one can be.

As mentioned, previously, my main focus is on addressing these personal safety and well-being needs. However, notice that that this need become under pressure from criminals’ need for all the other needs (barring the self-actualization need) - the physiology, safety, love & belonging and esteem needs. It is my vision to educate people in personal safety, self-defence and personal development. Furthermore, I wish to empower people with realistic personal protection and/or personal development skills. 

Once these fundamental needs are met, we can start striving towards the ultimate need, namely the self-actualization need. My personal opinion is that I could never make a person "self-actualize". It is something that the person will have to do by themselves (hence the "self" in "self-actualization"), however, what I can do is take them to the best level, namely assisting them in addressing the "esteem need". To accomplish this need, I have created a platform in which the person can accomplish this. I do this through getting people to engage in social-uplifting and environmental-awareness activities that actively contribute to building a harmonious global society.

I personally endorse the below initiatives  because they either are very close to my personal values, or are aligned with what I want to accomplish through Defence Unlimited - to educate and empower people to unlock their potential by overcoming crime-related fears and frustrations.

It is these three elements of education, empowerment and engagement that I truly believe will help to unlock a person's potential, allowing him/her to reach that apex of the pyramid!

With that said, the initiatives I endorse and recommend my students and associates to engage in are:

MANDELA DAY - "It is on your hands to create a betterworld for all who live in it." Nelson Mandela, 1983.

SLUTWALK JOHANNESBURG - Help raise awareness around a numberof sexual assault issues such as victim-blaming, corrective rape, genderviolence and questioning the acceptance of a "rape culture".

THE SANWILD RHINO SANCTUARY - "It is God's job to judgerhino poachers, it is our mission to arrange the meeting" - SRS CounterPoaching Units.

ARMING SISTERS DOCUMENTARY FILM - A documentary film following Patty Stonefish's quest to bring empowerment and self-defence training to indigenous women across America.

Please feel free to click on any of these initiatives to see how you can contribute!

Till next time. Get EDUCATED. Feel EMPOWERED. Positively ENGAGE.

Warren Ho

Founder of Defence Unlimited