| iPod wearer = Victim | | | | something is just not right with a particular person |
| In light of another of the excellent newsletters | | | | or location. Unfortunately, with victims who were |
| (#116 "Don't Let It Happen In the First Place!" ) | | | | killed, we do not know how many of them |
| written by Lt Col Al Ridenhour USMC, I thought I | | | | ignored their intuition but I suspect a significant |
| might add a point on why awareness may be | | | | number of them would affirm the belief that "you |
| paramount to your survival. | | | | ignore your intuition at your own peril." |
| Recently in one of our Saturday intensive self | | | | Another point about why you need realistic self |
| defense classes, former NY homicide detective | | | | defense training to back up your awareness skills |
| John Perkins explained why in no uncertain terms | | | | is that, as Col AL stated, "sometimes you just |
| you should NEVER wear headphones (Ipods, | | | | find yourself in unfortunate situations." In a recent |
| Cassette/CD players) while jogging in the street | | | | New York Daily News story a brave young |
| or the park and how it detracts from your | | | | woman who was on a New York City subway (at |
| awareness and makes you more susceptible to | | | | 2 am with her headphones on) found herself in a |
| assault/rape. This came to mind the other day | | | | subway car alone with her attacker. She bolted |
| when I read in the paper that another woman | | | | from the train only to be followed by her |
| jogger was assaulted and raped while jogging in | | | | attacker who caught up with her. She started |
| the park (I cannot remember what paper I read | | | | screaming and made eye contact with one of the |
| it in or else I would include the article in a link). | | | | subway clerks on duty who DID NOTHING, I |
| What stood out in the article was that the | | | | repeat NOTHING to assist her; his only action was |
| woman was jogging while using an ipod at the | | | | to push a panic button inside of the booth. |
| time and did not see or hear anything prior to the | | | | The cavalry is not coming to save you |
| attack (who knows-- maybe if she was in our | | | | It is because of situations like this that people |
| class that day and heard GM Perkins she might | | | | have to realize that in many instances you and |
| not have suffered this fate). | | | | only you are responsible for your own safety and |
| Criminals are doing job; you do yours | | | | survival. The cavalry is not coming to save you. |
| Unfortunately, crimes of this sort are all too | | | | Awareness training in conjunction with realistic self |
| common and are not isolated incidents. As Col Al | | | | defense training may be the only things that |
| stated, the criminal element is out there plotting | | | | stand between you being a victim versus being a |
| and preparing their crimes and they are watching | | | | survivor. You will never know how many attacks |
| to identify potential victims. So if you look at it as | | | | on yourself never happened because of your |
| the criminal element doing their job (finding easy | | | | heightened state of awareness or the aura you |
| prey to victimize) while yours is to not be an | | | | give off of not being an easy victim that the thug |
| easy victim, then you will see how awareness is | | | | can perceive and thus left you alone to find easier |
| key and paramount to your survival. Believe me, | | | | prey. |
| criminals are out there even though you may not | | | | So if you join a self defense program that ignores |
| see them or even be aware that they are | | | | awareness altogether or doesn't touch on the |
| conducting surveillance on you and others. | | | | subject repeatedly during your training then run-- |
| Listen to your gut | | | | don't walk away-- to ATTACKPROOF or some |
| Another common element with many victims was | | | | other program that recognizes reality versus how |
| that they failed to follow their intuition. They felt | | | | we hope the world is. Pass this information on to |
| something wrong in advance of the attack and | | | | friends and loved ones even if you don't think |
| for whatever reason they ignored that feeling. | | | | they will follow your advice. |
| We all get that feeling from time to time that | | | | |