Edged weapons have a unique set of dynamics that make them a critical subject to study for self defense.  Edged weapon attacks don’t typically have the same dynamics as an empty handed attack, yet they are often mistaken for an empty handed attack.  Sometimes an attack may even begin with an empty handed assault, then escalate to include a knife. Learning to successfully defend against knife attacks starts with a realistic understanding of the threat itself and the dynamics behind it. This knowledge will help keep you from making mistakes that will leave you exposed when you are trying to protect yourself against a knife attack.  In this first article of an upcoming series, I will discuss the unique dangers of edged weapons.  In later articles, I will discuss crime with...

Do or Die: How to Build Confidence in Self Defense Self-confidence is a manifestation of trust in yourself. It is faith that your experience and understanding will guide and protect you when there is change, challenge, or difficulty.  It is a belief in your own capabilities and skills.  What could be more important in a life and death scenario? One of the critical factors that contribute to success is self-confidence.  With confidence, we can learn new skills, we can defeat an opponent, and we can reach our goals despite terrible adversity.  Confidence is the fuel that allows us to continue regardless of what struggles may lay ahead.  With it, we will not be inclined to quit.  Marcus Tullius Cicero said, With confidence, you have won even before you have start...

Life, Death and Personal Philosophy in Self DefenseAligning your training with your values You can train your physical skills, martial arts, self defense, firearms, fitness, emergency preparedness, etc. until you are a machine, but you must have your mind in the right place or it may all be for naught.  You need to cultivate your cognitive skills under pressure and you need the right mindset.  Without that proper mindset, you will not be able to apply your skills when you need them.  Perhaps even more important: You not only need to address your physical skills, cognitive skills and winning mindset, but also your religious or philosophical values.  You must identify and align your personal beliefs with your training to be able to defend yourself...

The Role of Fitness in Self Defense and Martial Arts If you do not have a physical foundation, you’re dead.   Imagine a military comprised of only extremely unfit men: Men who could not do a pushup or climb a flight of stairs without running out of breath.  What if not one of them could run 50 yards or lift anything heavy?  What if they only ate food from McDonald’s.  It would be absurd.    These are men who need to be strong both physically and mentally.  They need to be able to endure hardship and overcome an enemy that is trained, deadly and determined.  A military force like that would not survive it's first encounter.  The same is true for us.   If we are studying self defense for anything other than a fun pastime, then we need to be p...

Toward a Complete System of Self Defense What would a well rounded system of Self Defense include?   Many of us enjoy the activity of training itself.  We look forward to our next training session and can’t help but talk about training with our friends who share the same passion.  There is great pleasure in learning and making ourselves better, but we don’t do it for the fun alone.  We do it so we can protect ourselves.  We do it to protect our families.  We do it so we will be ready when there is a threat.  Because this is our primary purpose for training, we want to be sure that what we are training will actually work.   Beyond evaluating the effectiveness of individual techniques, I really want to know what other disciplines, training methods, ski...