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.

AN INTERVIEW WITH WARREN HO ON SELF-DEFENCE...

Recently, I had the privilege of being contacted by a TV producer to do a short self-defence snippet for a SABC TV program that was aimed at empowering the youth of South Africa. The specific topic they wanted to interview me on was my take on self-defence and my company, Defence Unlimited. Below are 3 questions that I was sent to prepare me for the interview. I decided to write it down (as I normally waffle quite a bit without a script and when I have camera’s focused on me), but it will be interesting to see the interview (once it has been edited) and compare it to what I had wrote!

Question 1: The importance of self-defence, the martial arts, and the responsibility that come with the freedom to defend yourself.

Firstly, I have made a clear distinction between martial arts and self-defence training. There are some martial arts, not many, that have retained its primary objective as being a means of protecting oneself from danger, hence a martial art for self-defence. However, many martial arts have progressed from this very primal objective to a more philosophical practise aimed predominately at cultivating the human body, mind and spirit.

There are some martial arts that have also crossed over to into the realms of sports and bring into it elements such as competition, rules and winners & losers. In many cases, this commercialisation has help some martial arts flourish and become as prominent as they are today. It does, however, bring with it the negative traits of sports too, such as bad attitudes, poor sportsmanship and politics.

However, besides the obvious physical conditioning, martial arts and self-defence training do have something else in common, which is to cultivate some very positive characteristics in the practitioner, namely confidence, resilience and discipline.

Confidence - By installing confidence in a person, you give them the ability to face life head-on, with their head held high. A stressful job becomes so much more manageable as confidence in yourself and abilities allows you to realise that this is just a job after all; or the peer pressure in school become less overwhelming as you feel you can now stand on your own and be ok with it.

Resilience – The ability to get back up after you have been knocked down, is a trademark of successful people. Life, like in the dojo (training hall) is not always going to be hunky-dory and go according to plan. There will be set-backs, slow progress, and disappointments. The key is to get back up, brush it off, learn from it, and keep on going.

Discipline – The assertion of willpower over more base desires, and is synonymous with self-control. Having this ability allows us to harness our time, skills and mental capabilities into something positive. In training, this could involve repeating a technique over and over again until it becomes instinctive. In life, it could be following a strict code of conduct (such as marriage vows) so as to ensure one’s marriage is happy and faithful.

By having these 3 characteristics, it gives us the foundation and choice to live what I call, a fully-engaged life – A life that you want to live. The key word here is that it gives you choices, and this on its own is a great responsibility. You can choose to live a good life, or you can choose to live a bad life. You just have to live with the consequences.

Question 2: A demonstration and tips on how to defend yourself in various situations.

In self-defence, I am a firm believer that non-violence is superior to violence, hence, I use a strategy I have developed called, “A.D.A.P.T”, the art of non-fighting.

ADAPT stands for:

• Avoidance
• Dodge; Escape; Elude; Evade;
• Arbitrate (officially try to settle disagreement. to officially try to settle a disagreement by considering all the facts and opinions); Verbal Dissuasion; Oral Combat; Dissuasion, Negotiation,
• Pretend / Posture
• Tactical Control; Restraint

All of these individual tactics are a non-fighting response to a possible harmful situation.

(More on this in future posts)!

However, at the same time, I am not naive and should an altercation become physical, I will use whatever means possible, physical or non-physical, to protect myself and my loved one.

One of the organizations I belong too, called MDW (www.multidimensionalwarrior.co.za) , have a nice maxim which is, “Pressure dictates tactics”. Basically, depending on the amount of pressure an aggressor directs at me, I will adapt my self-defence response accordingly. As an example, an aggressor comes at me empty-handed, I will draw a knife or retractable baton. If they come at me with a knife, I will draw a firearm. If they draw a firearm, I get in my car and get away! You get the picture, right?

Initially though, all attacks will begin with me being unarmed to defend myself. This is where I will use some unarmed techniques to give me that momentary opportunity to either get away, or draw a weapon, or position myself in a better position to launch a full-on assault at my aggressor. In the case of confronting the attacker, one must know and understand what tools he/she has at her disposal, and what target areas are feasible at that moment.

Question 3: The importance of being taught by an expert (Basically, what Defence Unlimited is, what it offers, and how people can contact you and make use of your services)

Expert is a very deceptive word. An expert implies I know everything, where in fact, all I am but a mere student who has found some truths that resonate with me and that I can apply into my daily life. Since I was 8 years old, I have never stopped learning something about any of the martial arts that I had studied. I have a love and passion for it, but realised that besides the martial arts, there is a greater need for something for the everyday-person to be able to protect themselves, so that they can live the lives that want to live. Hence, Defence Unlimited was formed.  Our mission is to “unlock potential to live a fully-engaged life through effective self-defence training”.  By educating and empowering people with self-defence skills and knowledge, they will feel more secure at home and work, and will be more inclined to engage positively in their life. This in turn allows them to strive towards their goals and dreams, and hence, allows them to live a happier and fulfilling life! Our self-defence system is for a smarter generation and is simple, effective and relevant. For more information on Defence Unlimited and what we do, please go to www.defence-unlimited.com.

With that said, there are many schools and “experts” out there that teach martial arts, self-defence or both. Some are good and some are bad and the best way to find out is to check their credentials and experience one of their classes. Be wary of some of the stuff you can find on You Tube as that would totally get you killed in the streets.

As a closing question, I was asked what my definition of self-defence is. My answer was that for me personally, self-defence is understanding myself and what I am or am not capable of doing in order to protect myself or my loved ones. It is about answering this simple, but profound question: "What am I willing fight, die or kill for?" If you can honestly answer this question, then you have answered what self-defence is for yourself. The rest is just commentary that must be practiced and incorporated into your daily life to ensure that that answer remains secure. 

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

SELF-DEFENCE TRAINING - Unlocking potential to live a fully-engaged life

"Unlocking potential to live a fully-engaged life". This is the mission that Defence Unlimited has committed to and constantly promotes in its marketing material.

So what exactly is a "fully-engaged" life? Well, in my definition, it is one where I am living a life that I choose. But you will ask me, many people want to have a life filled with many things, but never seem to achieve them - things like "job satisfaction", "financial freedom" or "eternal peace and harmony". I say, yes, that is true, but is that not because they don't take the necessary ACTIONS to fulfil that kind of life? That is a different topic all together as it deals with the mental attitude and actions to go out and create that kind of life. We at Defence Unlimited can merely start to "unlock the potential" to have that kind of life. This is key though - In order to have THAT kind of life, the basic foundation, must first be addressed. In our case, the need to feel secure, and taking the necessary precautions to ensure that security. This is also referred to as the "security needs" as defined by Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Without this secure security foundation, any attempt to build something upon it will crumble like a deck of cards build on a table with 2 legs.  And trust you me, in this day and age, it will eventually come crashing down. It is my humble opinion, that if one does not create this security foundation, and at is most primal form, the PHYSICAL and MENTAL security foundation, there is no way in hell they will succeed in reaching those large, gregarious goals, whatever they may be.

"Fully-engaged" also implies to a life that is filled with moments of fun, joy, laughter, and occasionally sprinkled with some heartache, sadness and crying. It is these emotions and every other emotion in between, and our expression of these emotions that makes us human. It reminds us that we are alive and that each breath we take will be unique both to us and to that exact moment in time and space. It's about being present for each of those moments where we linger not on the past or have any fears the future. We take charge of this moment in time and live it to the fullest. I have heard of too many people who have been victims of crime and have become reclusive in their homes.  They are not willing to face the present because the unfortunate past event has chained them to a life of fear, paranoia and depression. I have heard of others still that, out of fear or frustration, have focused all their energies on the negative current state of affairs, and the eminent doom and gloom of the country and the world. They have forgotten that their body is still bound to the present and they have no interest in enjoying the moment for what it is, thereby not living a life, but rather just passing negative commentary about it.

This brings us back to the final piece of our mission, "..through effective self-defence training". I truly believe that effective self-defence training can unlock ones potential to live a fully-engaged life. Effective self-defence training installs three vital characteristics: confidence, resilience and discipline.  Confidence is the first step as by installing confidence, one builds the capacity to be able to face life head-on, with head held high. Having the knowledge and skills to be able to protect ones self and ones loved ones, will give you confidence that you can take on the world! This is very different from being arrogant, and there is a clear distinction between the two, especially in self-defence terms. Next is resilience. Let's be realistic - not everyone or every situation is going to do or go exactly as planned. We need to accept the fact that sometimes, we might  get knocked down, and it will hurt either mentally, physically, or even both. However, the important thing is that we get back up, brush it off, and continue forward. All too often, a person will give up to easily because they got knocked off their feet, or it hurts too much. Being able to get back up and press on is the hallmark of a successful person! Lastly, discipline. Doing the same thing over and over again is perhaps the most boring and dullest thing I could ever do. However, change that mind-set that doing the same thing over and over again from something boring to something that will make me better, well, that is certainly worth striving towards. Whether it's mentally positively honing yourself, or physically doing it, discipline is another key to success.

With that, the mission of Defence Unlimited is very clear. We may be a bit fluffy on the outside, but we are sure as heck want to unlock and unleash as much positive human potential as possible within our lifetime! After all, don't we all want to have world peace?

Get EDUCATED, Be EMPOWERED. Live a FULLY-ENGAGED Life.

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