How to Choose a Martial Arts School - 10 Steps Guaranteed to Save You Time and Money

What are the most important things to look for when comparing martial arts schools?

What are the tell tale signs of a quality school that you can spot immediately?

What are the best questions to ask, and how do you know if they can really deliver?

What part of a contract can you negotiate?

These are just some of the important questions you need to know how to answer before shopping around for a martial arts school.

A commitment to martial arts is an investment in time and money, so knowing exactly what to look for in a school, and knowing what questions to ask, will give you the clarity and confidence to make a smart choice.

A bad choice in a martial arts school can be an expensive lesson, so use this guide to educate yourself.

There is a huge variety of martial arts schools out there. Facilities range from expensive health-club-like facilities to open space warehouses. Martial arts schools aren't regulated to insure quality of instruction or business practice. There is no official governing body and no universal grading standard in martial arts. Almost anyone can open a school and appear to be an expert.

What do you look for beyond price, amenities and convenient schedules? While most people first consider price and the facility, there are more important factors that you need to consider first!

These 10 steps show you how to make the best decision in choosing a martial arts school:

Objective

Instructors

Class Dynamic

Student Results

Curriculum

Style

Facility

Service

Price/Fees

Instinct

1. OBJECTIVE:

Before you start looking into martial arts schools, determine your true goals for martial arts practice. To get the most out of your training, clearly identify your real goals and the specific benefits you want to have.

Ultimately, you just want to feel good about yourself and feel super confident, right?

However, this is usually not enough of a specific emotional motivator for consistent practice.

The majority of people who start martial arts rarely make it past a few months of consistent practice. It's not just a lack of motivation. Not having clear goals is usually why people don't follow through in practice.

To determine what you really want from training, start by narrowing down what you wish to focus on.

The focus of your practice can be broken down into several areas. There's no right or wrong - it comes down to personal preference.

For starters, you can number these in order of importance.

Physical Fitness as the main goal, with martial arts aptitude as a secondary benefit.

Purely Combative Focus, with fitness and personal growth as added benefits

Creative and Artistic Expression, aesthetics, beauty and WOW Factor

Competitive Focus, sports aspects such as one on one competition

Mental and Emotional Growth, catalyst for self-discovery and spiritual growth, cultural and philosophical interests

Ask yourself clarifying "Why" questions, so you can identify what you're really going for.

This is the first step in filtering the selection of schools to choose from. Once you've identified your goals for martial arts practice and understand why they are your goals, you're ready to search for a school.

2. INSTRUCTORS:

An instructor plays the key role in how you will achieve your goals.

Finding a good instructor is more important than choosing a style, and is probably the biggest factor in your decision to join a school. It's nice to have impressive amenities and expensive equipment, but ultimately a martial arts school is only as good as it's instructors.

Being a black belt doesn't qualify someone to teach!

A competent instructor is knowledgeable, experienced, and has the ability to effectively pass on his craft.

A good instructor possesses leadership and communication skills.

A great instructor will also display sincere empathy, showing a genuine interest in helping you achieve your goals, bringing out your individual strengths.

Look for other attributes that increase an instructor's ability to add value to your training:

Proven competitive track record, such as World Champion Titles

A degree in an area such as psychology, sports medicine, kinesiology or related fields

Military, law enforcement, or security experience

Involvement in a credible martial arts organization

Extensive knowledge of a culture or philosophy that you're interested in

Although an instructor's experience and background provides some credibility, don't be overly impressed with awards and certificates.

Their mindset and level of experience will be apparent through subtleties in character and by their actions.

Quality instructors are sincerely interested in helping You and won't feel the need to boast about their own credentials or prove themselves. Instead of boosting their own egos, high-level instructors are very attentive on coaching you to achieve your goals.

You can often measure an instructor more accurately by their students' results and satisfaction than by credentials alone. The students themselves may be the greatest indication of the quality of instruction.

Just like a good business is constantly researching and developing, high-level instructors research and develop methodologies in order to continually improve. A lifetime training in martial arts isn't enough to reach human potential!

A high level instructor portrays noble characteristics of a role model and leader.

Confident instructors welcome feedback and respond to your questions with patience and insight. They are usually very humble, and rarely speak negatively about any other school or style.

Also, find out if the school's head instructor is actively teaching. Some schools have classes primarily taught by an assistant or senior students, while the head instructor only makes an occasional appearance.

While assistant instructors may be totally capable of teaching, watch out for schools that "sell" you on the instructor but have someone else teaching.

3. CLASS DYNAMIC:

Make sure you know how to evaluate a school in two parts, the content and the context.

The context of a martial arts school is made up of the training methods and environment. What kind of setting is the school providing?

A supportive learning environment is crucial to maximize the assimilation and retention of material. The context of training can be more important than the content, (or material), intended to be learned.

Look for context such as:

The collective mood or energy of the instructors and students

The class dynamic - structure and flow

How the amenities and equipment are used

The training methodologies

How the ranking system is structured

The quality of service

One of the best ways to evaluate a school is to watch or participate in a class.

You can watch videos, visit a website and read all about the credentials and features of a school. However, you can only get a true feel by "test driving" the actual group classes. Many schools offer free consultations or introductory private lessons.

If a school allows you to watch, or better yet, participate in a class without obligation it speaks highly of their confidence and transparency.

The class dynamic is the best demonstration of the instructor's martial arts aptitude and ability to teach. It reveals how the students interact with each other and the instructor. It's also the perfect opportunity to see how their curriculum is implemented into training.

Consider the size of the classes and how that may effect your training. The make up and flow of the classes will either help your learning experience or hurt it.

Look for the following:

Is there a significant age difference among students that may restrict your practice?

Is there a significant difference in the students' experiences or physical abilities?

How formal or informal are the classes? And, how does that effect your practice?

How much supportive individual attention do the students receive?

Is there anything about the facility that'll hinder your practice? such as cleanliness, stale air, too cold or hot, distracting noises, etc.

Many beginners prefer large classes. It can be easier to follow along with the examples of many other students. There's also less intimidation as the collective group dynamic can conceal individual insecurities and lessons the pressure to keep up.

On the flip side, there is a key benefit to smaller classes that's important to consider. There is more opportunity to receive personal attention from instructors that can greatly accelerate your learning curve.

Again, instructors are the backbone of a martial arts school. The instructor consciously, or unconsciously, dictates the energy of the entire class.

Here are some other things to look for:

Does the instructor facilitate class with control and safety? (Notice if the students are enjoying themselves or seem uncomfortable and hesitant).

Is the instructor passionate and actively teaching or seemingly going through the motions and mechanically calling out commands?

Do the students seem inspired?

A martial arts school provides the setting of a controlled environment where you'll train to overcome future or potential challenges. In order to maximize results, good schools teach in a context that anticipates and matches the actual environment of those future and potential challenges.

The classes must simulate the intended environment and must provide the necessary emotional stress in order to engrain instinctual trained responses.

For example:

If you're seeking a combative style for self-defense, look for schools that safely facilitate reality based, high-stress scenario exercises.

If you're training to fight in a ring or cage, look for a school that teaches you how to maneuver in the confines of a ring/cage under the same guidelines of the competition.

If you're goal is to perform in tournaments, look for a school that can facilitate your training in a loud, distracting environment with large mirrors and an audience.

If your goal is to have fun getting in shape, look for classes that use good training equipment, have high energy, exciting exercises and a social atmosphere

Pay attention to the flow of the class and notice how much of the class time is instructional. Some schools implement a lot of conditioning drills while others teach with a lot of verbal explanations. Notice if they have a lot of unnecessary "filler time".

It's also a good idea to inquire about the school's ranking system. Most traditional schools use some modification of a belt system, but what's required to earn each belt can vary drastically from school to school.

Is there a clear standard for aptitude and execution of techniques at each level? Or are the requirements based on time and the amount of classes taken?

Many schools test for promotions after a set number of classes. This gives the perception of building capable intermediate and advanced students, which can be an important aspect of a school's perceived value. Not to mention, belt promotions are a crucial source of income for some schools.

Remember that there's no official governing body in martial arts, so belt levels may not be valid outside of that school or organization.

4. STUDENT RESULTS:

The students provide tremendous insight as to the quality of instruction. You can often tell more about a school by the students' results than anything else.

The students are the products of the school's training system and methodologies. If the advanced students don't model your martial arts goals go find another school!

When observing the students, pay attention to the ratio of beginner to advanced students. It's a good sign if there are a lot of intermediate and advanced students. That means the school is able to retain their students, and usually equates to student satisfaction.

Just as you probably don't want to eat at a restaurant that's always empty, be cautious of a school with a few students. What's considered a small student base? Depending on the size of the facility and how long they've been in business, classes that have less than 10 students is a pretty strong sign that there's something lacking in the school.

Consider the characteristics and personalities of the students as well. It's important that you are comfortable with your classmates cause you may be spending a lot of time with them.

Are they the types of people you'd like to be around and train with?

Would you feel comfortable and safe training with them?

Are the students supportive of one another or are they highly competitive and trying to outdo each other?

The student dynamic may also reveal how the instructor instills leadership and other life skills that you may wish to develop. Watch how the advanced students handle both challenges and successes.

Take the initiative to speak to some of the students. Getting insight from existing students can make all the difference in your decision to join.

5. CURRICULUM:

Remember that a martial arts school can be evaluated in two parts, content and context. The curriculum and style of a school make up the content.

Whether they call themselves a martial arts school, studio, academy, gym, or dojo, they are still businesses. They will promote themselves in creative ways to gain an edge over the competition. You can expect them to entice you with price incentives, boast their credentials, amenities and equipment, or make claims to get you results in the shortest amount of time possible.

Don't allow marketing tactics to distract you from determining if the school can actually support your training goals.

Whatever a school claims to provide in your martial arts training, their students, classes and curriculum will give you a good indication of the school's quality and true emphasis.

The martial arts curriculum, (content), is made up of the techniques and material you will be learning at a school.

The focus of your training must be supported by the curriculum and training methods.

There are key points to look for in determining the quality of a curriculum. Begin by identifying the school's emphasis. Take into consideration that when there is more focus on one aspect of martial arts, other areas are compromised to some degree.

Forms and jump spinning kicks in the curriculum? You've most likely found a school with an artistic or traditional focus that may participate in tournaments. If this is what you're after, the curriculum should consist of aesthetic techniques that have dynamic kicks and beautiful forms with and without weapons.

Are the techniques based on kickboxing and wrestling? A lot of sparring and no weapons in the curriculum? This is probably a school that focuses on one-on-one sport competition. Schools that build towards competition usually emphasize physical conditioning to reach peak performance.

Although physical fitness may not be the primary goal in many styles, fitness is generally a by-product of training. You get in shape by default in martial arts practice.

The majority of schools have a curriculum designed to provide a general overall perspective on fitness, sport competition and self-defense. For most people who are just beginning martial arts, a school's curriculum and interpretation of martial concepts should be comprehensive enough to support you through many years of practice. If this is the case, start to look into other components of the school like their class dynamic.

For those who have martial arts experience, or seeking a specific area of focus, determine if the school's curriculum actually supports the emphasis you're looking for.

It's not uncommon for a school's true emphasis to be different from how they market themselves. Take note of the techniques in their curriculum and their applications.

For example, let's say your primary reason for martial arts training is purely for self-defense on the streets. You visit a school that claims to be proficient in teaching self-defense. Yet, they teach fixed stances and forms and only implement weapons training in advanced levels.

This is a big red flag! This doesn't mean it's not a good school. It only reveals that their true emphasis is not truly combative.

70% of assaults on the street involve some sort of weapon and over 90% of attacks go to the ground. Any school that claims to teach true self-defense while neglecting weapons training and ground fighting is just plain negligent.

You should seek elsewhere if this is your focus. Modern combative styles will implement training in weapons and ground fighting right from the beginning.

Training methods also implement high stress scenario drills with multiple attackers. You won't find fancy acrobatics in the curriculum.

Remember the old adage, "A jack of all trades is master of none." Be cautious of a school that claims to deliver health and fitness AND teach you culture and philosophy AND turn you into a professional fighter AND prepare you for the streets AND promise personal or spiritual growth.

6. STYLE:

Martial arts can be compared to a huge tree with many branches or styles. All "styles" are based on the mechanics of the human body. Every style has strengths and weaknesses as they each focus on different aspects of the arts.

The true measure of a martial art lies in the practitioner, not the style.

Having a general understanding of the different types of styles and their focus will help you in achieving your goals. In martial arts there are hard styles and soft styles.

Hard Styles focus on striking techniques where the body is used as a weapon for attacking and defending - force against force. Much of the training is external, based on physical conditioning for strength and agility.

Soft Styles focus on redirection and physical manipulation through leverage and positioning - using an opponent's force against him. There is often more focus on internal training, training of the mind as well as developing the body's sensitivity to energy.

Blended Styles incorporate concepts from both hard and soft styles in a complimentary method, flowing and transitioning from hard to soft and vice versa.

Depending on the area of focus, each style differs in philosophy and training methods. Applications obviously differ as well.

Among styles the emphasis of training will primarily focus on one of the following areas:

Artistic Expression - Schools with an artistic focus emphasize creative physical expression - the "art" aspect of "martial arts". Artistic styles implement forms or choreographed techniques in training. They typically have more aesthetic beauty, as movements are fluid and graceful like a gymnast or dancer.

Tradition - Traditional styles are rooted with Eastern culture and philosophy. Traditional schools implement both external and internal training for the development of the mind-body-spirit relationship. With this emphasis, martial arts practice serves as lessons for life skills. Practice may also encompass elements of spiritualism.

Competition - Competitive styles generally focus on the sports aspect of martial arts. Competitions can range by category including weight class, level of experience, geographic region and specific style. The emphasis is on winning recognition such as rankings, awards, and trophies that is based on a fixed set of rules.

Combat - Combative styles focus on street defense or military application, including law enforcement. It's the "martial" part of "martial arts". The emphasis is on practical application over aesthetic form or physical conditioning. Training includes weapons and reality based scenario exercises.

Fitness - Schools that focus on fitness use martial arts as a catalyst for holistic health. Classes usually consist of fun, energetic physical exercises based on martial arts techniques. Classes will typically implement a broad and general combination of styles and areas of focus.

There are also Modern Styles, which are evolved blended styles that are the result of further researched and developed methodologies. Their focus can be artistic, competitive, combative, or emphasize physical fitness.

While it may be a good idea to blend styles, it can be counter productive to combine your area of focus. Be clear on which area you wish to predominantly focus on.

Again, there's no right or wrong style. It's a matter of personal goals and preference.

7. FACILITY:

The first thing to consider is the school's location in relation to your home or workplace.

Creating a new habit can be challenging, so convenience plays a big role in supporting consistency. You may be commuting several times a week for training, so make sure the facility is close enough so it doesn't become an excuse for you not to go.

Martial arts schools come in many forms. They can be part of a franchise, belong to an organization, or be a one man show run by a single instructor. They may resemble a fitness gym, yoga studio, gymnasium or warehouse.

Don't judge a book by it's cover, and don't judge a martial arts school by it's facility.

Although you can't measure the quality of a school by the facility alone, it does reveal a lot about the owners mindset, aptitude, emphasis of the style and curriculum, as well as the school's level of professionalism.

The degree of cleanliness may reflect the standard of service. You can get a good idea of the school's style and emphasis by the school's design.

A school should have the amenities and equipment that support the context of it's curriculum, such as a cage or ring for MMA or kickboxing, proper mats for Jiu Jitsu, etc.

Consider what the school puts money into and determine if it actually adds value to your training.

Also notice the subtle details of the facility that may effect on your training. Does the air stink? Does the lighting or colors of the facility effect your energy and mood? How's the parking? Is it noisy?

Remember, expensive equipment, and other luxuries equals higher tuition fees. Be aware of the costs of extra rooms and large offices that don't directly add value to your training.

With a good instructor and some basic equipment you can practice anywhere!

8.SERVICE:

Some schools have great sales and marketing techniques to get you to join. But, it's the quality of ongoing customer service that really counts.

Choosing a school that's skilled in customer service will potentially save you from a lot of unnecessary headache. Poor customer service can ruin your martial arts experience at any level.

Make sure that there are open lines of communication and that staff members are readily accessible to answer questions to your satisfaction.You may be with a school for many months or even years. Choose a school that cares enough to build a relationship with you.

Know how to distinguish sales techniques from service.

As mentioned, some schools are great at getting you in the door with attractive features and promotions. The question is, once you have signed up are you just another enrollment?

A good comparison is the large franchised fitness gyms. Their amenities, equipment and low monthly fees are hard to pass up. However, once you join there's virtually no service whatsoever. There are too many people who have gym memberships and don't use them. They already have your financial commitment - a contract. Rest assured their service will pick up when it's time for renewal. But is that service or just another sales technique?

The level of transparency is the greatest measure of a school's integrity. It's a reflection of their standards of service.

Does the school fully disclose all the costs involved in your training? Some schools have additional fees, like mandatory programs or association fees, that they don't mention until you reach a certain point in your training.

When you have questions, do you get a clear answer right away or do you get an evasive response? The response you get is a good sign of what kind of service you can expect.

Many schools require you to sign a contract in order to take classes. Some schools offer a trial period where you can pay for a number of classes before you agree to a contract. A contract is simply a written agreement between you and the school, and it can always be negotiated. They should be willing to explain the details of the contract to your full understanding and agree to make any changes you feel are important, as long as it's mutually beneficial.

9. Price and Fees:

How important is price to you? For many people, it's the only real limiting factor.

Since most people don't know how to compare value to price, martial arts schools generally don't advertise their prices - unless they're promotional.

Be honest. Before you read this guide, what's one of the first thing you wanted to know about a martial arts school?

Fees are usually priced by:

Term period - specified time period with flexibility of the amount of classes taken, usually monthly or yearly

Number of classes - specified amount of classes taken

Combination of term and number of classes - usually a monthly fee based on the number of classes taken per week

Specific Programs - packaged programs such as Black Belt Clubs, Instructor Programs, Certification Programs, Seminars, etc.

Tuition can range anywhere from $50 per month to $500 per month, depending on the school. Nowadays, the average tuition is about $150 per month for 2-3 classes per week.

Tuition isn't the only cost to consider. You will eventually be investing in training equipment, to some extent. Keep in mind that some styles require more equipment.

While price is important, a common mistake is to compare price without comparing value.

Consider the previous steps and the benefits before you focus on price. This way you can place some sort of dollar value on each component of a school and then shop around.

Think of the convenience of schedule and location, the suitability of teaching style, class dynamic and level of instruction in relation to your personality and goals - can you put a price on that?

With the knowledge you gained by reading this guide, you can make an educated choice in "how to invest" in your training instead of "being sold" a membership.

Most schools require annual contracts. The contract should clearly explain the details of your membership. Generally, schools don't offer any refunds on tuition.

In most cases, a school will agree to make reasonable changes to the contract if you ask them.

If you're committed to your practice and have found a school following this guide, signing a contract is usually not an issue. However, knowing potential costs and understanding school policies will help you negotiate any changes, if necessary. What you're really after is "peace of mind", isn't it?

A contract should be mutually beneficial, so you want to insure that the contract also benefits you. This can mean discounted rates, as an example. A contract is also an incentive for you to get your money's worth by coming to class regularly.

Ask about:

Price incentives for paying in full

Discounts for family members

Training equipment - and if they have to be purchased directly from the school

Belt testing fees

Any federation or association member fees

Cost for programs such as Black Belt Clubs and any other mandatory programs

Membership freezes in case of travel, injury, or maternity

Policy for relocation or moving

Fees for early cancellation

It's also a good idea to ask whether the billing is managed directly by the school or if they use a billing company. Many schools use a billing company to help manage your tuition payments.

If the school out-sources their billing, you will be dealing with the billing company for the payment of your tuition fees. The billing company will generally only contact you if you are late on your payment. If you ever have to deal with the billing company you can expect the type of service you get from a collection agency. They can also make negative reports on your credit.

A high-quality school has the confidence to earn your business without requiring a contract. But they are rare. These schools are clear about their role. They focus on their core responsibility of providing quality instruction and guidance in your martial arts practice. Schools of this caliber don't need to use creative sales and marketing techniques. Their business is built by their reputation, word-of-mouth.

10. INSTINCT:

Pay attention to your intuition when visiting a school. While going through the 10 steps outlined in this guide, you'll instinctively know when you've found the right school.

How long the school has been in business? Are they stable?

Are you confident in the instructor?

Do you like the instructor's teaching style and personality?

Are the students friendly?

Did you have fun? Did you feel inspired?

Ultimately, we make decisions based on our emotions and we justify them with logic.

Your decision should be instant and definite. If you find yourself thinking too much or having to convince yourself, something is out of whack. Go back to step 1 or keep looking.

Can Martial Arts and Self Defense Training Prepare Our Children For a School Shooting?

The subject hits home to everyone. At one point our biggest safety issue in school was bullying. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. Over the past few years, school shootings have been increasing in frequency and in violence. Imagine, there you are, going through your every day routine, thinking about your next class, upcoming test or joking with your friends and then all of the sudden you are in the middle of a war zone, your world is turned upside down as you try to put your mind around what is happening around you. In the wake of the aftermath, the discussion is always the same and the conversation always leads to two main questions: can this be prevented and how can we deal with it when it occurs? The first solution is always increased police and security on campus. Unfortunately when this starts to happen, the issues of civil liberty violations and rising costs of funding the added security arise. As time goes on, the farther away from the atrocity, the urgency for a solution goes away. At the end of the day our children are left to fend for themselves while they wait for the authorities to respond.

The school system can only do so much. They can plan evacuation and increase points of communication; install cameras in all the public areas, but our youth will need an immediate plan of action for the eternity that is the time of the initial contact and the time help arrives. Children are our most precious resource and a little preparation and a little practice goes a long way. The answers you need are there. They are proven in combat. All you need to do is look at what happened to see what will help them. You don't need to be a hero, you only need strategies that will make you a survivor not a victim.

Before I continue, my thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of these gruesome atrocities. I only hope to provide this information so that these types of events can be minimized or avoided.

The first place to start is where all good self defense and martial arts training starts: your instincts. If you notice something suspicious or someone acting odd let someone know. You might just prevent something horrible from happening before it ever starts. I'm nt talking about holding inquisitions, but a little investigation and asking a few questions can be all it takes to deter some one.

The very next tactic any good martial arts and self defense training program will teach you is to put as much space between you and your threat as possible. Your first instinct should be to run if you have the chance. If you're see someone who's armed, leave the scene. If you are temporarily trapped or out numbered going for cover is fine (you will naturally do this), but you can't give the give the gunman a second chance, so you need to keep moving. Even at close range the assailant is almost 10 times more likely to miss you than hit you so make a run for it as soon as you can. If your school has plans to deal with an attack, study them and memorize multiple escape routes. Some people have proposed staying where you are, this is not good advice unless the room you are in is completely secure and you are isolated from the assailant. Hiding in plain sight, in unsecured areas or just lying in a compliant position is a big mistake. The vast majority of victims froze where they were, hid under tables and desks or simply lay face down in a compliant position. Remember, the further away you're from the shooter the better off you're. No matter how scared you are, the last gross motor skill to leave is the ability to run. Trust your instinct and get as far away as possible. Practice now by telling your children to run at the first sign of trouble.

Unfortunately, when you can't run, and you can't hide the only thing that remains is to fight, and keep fighting until you can escape. This is a last resort, but when people around you are being executed, there is no reasoning. No time for a debate, you need to survive and history tells us that when all other options are exhausted, your only choice is to fight

Martial artists have a variety of interesting theories when it comes to armed attackers. All of which you will not be able to recall in a life or death situation. In reality, you only need a handful of simple techniques and the will to survive (easier said than done). But throwing objects like desks, chairs and over powering the gunman with sheer numbers will increase your chances exponentially. Now no school administrator will ever suggest fighting back because they're worried about being liable by recklessly endangering a child, but that doesn't mean you can't train to fight back.

In 1998 at Thurston High School in Springfield Oregon seven students (five of them boy scouts) overpowered Kip Kinkel who had four guns, a knife, and over a thousand rounds of ammunition. The shooter had already wounded 25 other students before wounded student Jacob Ryker and several others, tackled Kinkel. If you have the presence of mind and you will have an opportunity when they reload like the students did at Thurston.

In the case of Virginia Tech, student's recalled watching him reload and continue shooting. At Virginia Tech many students did run and others barricaded themselves in class rooms, but it wasn't enough. The shooter, Cho Sueg-Hui continued on his rampage until he killed 30 and wounded 17 and finally took his own life.

The Columbine High School massacre, the Platte Canyon High School shooting, and the Virginia Tech massacre, are just a few examples of what a crazed individual is capable of doing. We need never forget those who died, but we need to look at these situations and put into place strategies that will stop these types of attacks from every happening again.

We all need to stop the trend of passiveness and denial and plan. The only way to take down these cowards is to prepare through basic practice and mental preparation. It isn't about courage; it's about practice and training. With the proper training you don't have to think, you just act. When you train in martial arts you learn how to perform simple tasks in extraordinary situation. You discover how to be proactive and look for solutions. Martial arts trains you how to react when fear grips your mind.

As a parent you don't need to be told that there is a lot to be concerned about, but you can't let denial or fear keep you from doing everything you need to do to keep your children safe. Take time out and talk to the children and make sure go over some basic self defense and survival techniques. Also teach them not to be a bully, and to respect everyone around them. Be aware of their peers and sensitive to things out of the ordinary. You don't have to like everyone you go to school with, but you need to respect them. That being said if things become violent it doesn't really matter how it happen it is time to go into survival mode and do whatever is necessary.

Most people think that martial arts training will enable them to defend against any assailant or defeat any attacker. This could not be farther from the truth. For these types of survival situations it takes a little commonsense, a little preparation and awareness to increase your chances of survival. This type of self defense training won't take away from study time or from sports, and the training will help you and your kids stay safe in and out of school. Don't wait for another tragedy to occur, be ready to survive, and protect those around you. Survival is something that is earned through hard work and having the right mindset. School is a place to learn and have a good time, but when terror strikes you need to be ready to fight. Be remembered as someone who took action and helped others not as another victim.

Learning to KISS Will Make You More Effective in Your Martial Arts and Self-Defense Training

Why is it that so many people report that, even after learning self-defense, they doubt that they'll actually be able to use what they learn? Many things will challenge you as you progress through your martial arts study and training but, when it comes to learning self-defense, you must make sure that you're not running into this common problem.

In the world of the martial arts, there seems to be no shortage of "tricky" moves. We can be so captivated and impressed by a master's or self-defense experts ability to tie his opponent in knots but, even for students training for mastery, there is still a common and overriding doubt that says, "I don't know if I'll be able to do this stuff when I need to."

It's important to remember, and I'm talking to students and teachers alike here, that the dojo or class environment is VERY different from a real-world self-defense situation. Besides the fact that...

...you're training partner is NOT really trying to hurt, beat, or kill you...

...you're not operating under the same fight, flight, or freeze mechanism that will be firing when you're really being attacked on the street.

Any combat veteran will tell you that, when under the shock-and-awe response that occurs when that center of your brain (called the amigdala) perceives a threat and sends a signal to your hypothalamus, which in-turn dumps the chemicals adrenaline and epinephrine (among other things) into your blood stream, your body works in a very different way than it does when your stress-free and chatting with your friends.

What this means is that, in a life-threatening self-defense situation, your body and brain are not going to be able to do half of the things that are being taught in most martial art schools and self-defense programs. And the primary reason for this is due to the fact that, under pressure, you lose all fine motor skills - including brain functions - and reduced to relying on gross motor functions.

You're going to have enough trouble making sense out of the chaos that is a fight or brutal attack, without having to remember some tricky maneuver that X, Y, Z style swears by. And most people, if only subconsciously, know this.

You know tongue-tied or confused you get when under pressure. You know how easy it is to forget where you put your keys or to remember this or that when you're being rushed or in a hurry. And, no one's even trying to kill you!

No, if you're really training for effective self-defense, you have to learn how to KISS in training. I don't mean pressing your lips against any part of your attacker's body either. That's not the kind of kissing I'm talking about.

What I'm talking about is the acronym, K.I.S.S., which means...

"Keep I Simple Stupid."

Not exactly politically correct, I know. But, it is fitting.

Because in a real life-and-death encounter, you've got to keep your defense short, simple, and effective. And then you've got to get out of there - fast!

Remember that, you're attacker is probably going to be bigger, faster, stronger, or more experienced at attacking than you are at defending. So, you have to learn things that are quick and easy to do, and they work against bigger, stronger people.

You have to KISS.

When you're training, you have to keep your focus on the goal - self-defense - not going the full two or ten minutes in a some sport contest. You have to KISS.

You have to remember that, in a self-defense situation, you have to end things in 2 to 10 SECONDS and, just like plumbing, the more complicated the pipes, the easier it is to stop things up. You have to KISS.

The point here is that, if you're training in the martial arts or a self-defense program to be able to protect yourself in a full-out, ballistic encounter against a crazed attacker throwing what he wants, and in a way that's designed to overwhelm, confuse, and leave you for dead, you can't afford using things just because they...

look cool
haven't changed for centuries
some tough guy used them a long time ago
work in the dojo...
Or any other common but equally pointless reason. You must keep things simple and do what works.

After all, your attacker's not going to help you win. And, he's certainly not going to be impressed by that "way-cool" technique you tried to do on him.

In fact, if he sees martial arty looking maneuvers, he's more likely to turn up the heat, and really give you something to worry about!

Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. A senior teacher in the Japanese warrior art of Ninjutsu, and a former federal police officer, undercover agent, private investigator, and bodyguard, he specializes in teaching the ancient ways of self-protection and personal development lessons in a way that is easily understood and put to use by modern Western students and corporate clients. Through his powerful programs, you will learn proven, time-tested lessons designed to help you create the life you've always dreamed of living, and the skills necessary for protecting that life from anything that might threaten it.

How Should the Proper Martial Arts and Self Defense Training Look Like? The Biggest Mistakes

Proper training is everything. Especially in martial arts and self defense. You just need to be sure that you can count on the moves and techniques you have learned. Like in any other sports, if you are not doing things correctly, you will most likely fail. In martial arts and self defense, you can not afford to fail, especially when fighting on the street and for more, when fighting for your or someone else's life.

Your training is the key and you have to make it the best you can.

So what are the most overlooked things in training martial arts and self defense systems?

1. You Never Actually Mean To Really Hit Your Sparing Partner

What you actually are taught to do, especially in martial arts, is that you repeat some scenario technique after your sensei. You hit, he dodges and throws you on the ground. That sounds nice but it misses the point of reality.

The most common experience is that you lead your punching hand to the place where it should be dodged. You don't even aim on the guy before you. You are just trying to reach the invisible point where your fist, or whatever it is, connects with your sparing's dodging technique and you leave the rest on him, so he can do the technique right and you won't mess it up... but it is messed up already.

In martial arts and mostly in real self defense you have to learn, that in training you must ACT LIKE IN THE REAL EXACT SITUATION - only in slow motion.

Your first intention must be to HIT! If your sparring mess the dodging technique, he'll get hit. Not very hard, but he will learn from it anyway. This way you both will get some added value from your training. You throw real punches and he encounters almost real feeling of failure if he fails to dodge.

Just understand that you all need to learn how it looks like in a real fight and if you won't be able to throw real punch on your training lesson... how would you like to punch someone for real? YOU WON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THE REAL PUNCH LOOKS LIKE!

Athletes can have another chance to show their skills if they fail to manage their training properly.. but when it comes to martial arts and self defense (especially when fighting on the street)...you may not be so lucky.

2. Lack Of Body Conditioning

Another great problem of Martial arts guys and gals is that they do not train their body and do not make it ready for the action. If you are serious about your self defense skills, and you should be if you are taking courses of real self defense, you must spend time conditioning your body so you won't get hurt and make the body harden - especially the parts you are hitting with.

Condition your knuckles, your elbows, shins... you name it. Just make sure you are ready for the hit, because an action always causes a reaction. Make sure you won't break your arm while punching your assailant in his face.

Hit some hard stuff and slowly increase the power until the pain is unbearable. After that just put your hands to hot water and make them relax.

You should also condition the areas you may get hit to. Like your jaws, ribs, stomach... make your body parts strong and used to the pain. This way it won't hurt that much when it is for real.

3. Shadow "Dancing"

I can understand when someone in martial arts or self defense, who is competing in Kata performance does these shadow moves and hits. He needs to get better and better and make it look nice and fancy. Or when you practice your speed with weights. Then it is all OK.

But what I can not and I will never understand is why the rest of people involved in martial arts or even the real self defense do that? If you want to perform good strike, you have to HIT SOMETHING! You have to have a target to aim at and you have to feel the thing you are hitting.

If you will do shadow training, you may get all the fancy nice looking move, but you will be useless on the battlefield. You can move like a dancer - but you will get beaten like a dog!

That's no self defense. That's learning how to get ripped off in a nice fancy way.

Go get some good old MAKIWARA or a HEAVY BAG, SPEED BAG... anything you can hit and feel.

Hope it helped you a little and gave you the idea of proper Martial arts and Self Defense training.

I hope you understand a little bit by now.

And that is far from what you can actually know about street fight and real self defense. There is much more you can learn.

Self-Defense Versus Fighting

There is a massive distinction between the act of self-defense and the act of fighting. Self-defense can be defined as such: The right to protect one's self against violence by using reasonable force.
 
In criminal law it states that a person has the right to use physical force to defend themselves or another against an aggressor's imminent use of unlawful force.
 
There is often a very fine line between self-defense, fighting and assault. This happens when the person being attacked is able to effectively fend off the attacker and subsequently turn to an offensive position and instead of removing himself from the scenario become themselves the attacker.
 
It can be difficult to walk away when the ego has been wounded, which is why so many altercations change from a self-defense position to fighting confrontation. When you're trying to protect your pride in your ego you will undoubtedly wind up in a fight. When you are attempting to protect your body from harm or another person's body from harm, you are providing legitimate self-defense.
 
The reason a self-defense situation can become a fight is because your body starts to adrenalize, your emotions go up and your intellect goes down. Through proper training. You can learn how not to over adrenalize, which will help you maintain control of your emotions so that you may intellectually discover the most appropriate means to defend yourself.


 
To put it in simple terms, if you are not in fear of being physically harmed, then there is no self to defend. However, if there is a fear of physical threat then you must be prepared to take the necessary measures to ensure your well-being.
 
What this means is you must be able to use the most effective, surest and quickest way to end the altercation in as little time as possible with expending as little energy as possible. Self-defense is not about violence it is about limiting violence, but by its very nature in your self-defense you are delivering a brief act of extreme violence.
 
What many people find out very quickly is that once they understand and are able to efficiently and effectively defend themselves from physical harm, they have absolutely no desire to harm another human being, and they also seem to possess a keen ability to avoid conflict.
 
Of course there are other great side effects that one can benefit from knowing the proper application of self-defense, which are high self-esteem, confidence and being sure of oneself. So you see, self-defense isn't really about fighting and all, in fact. It's about very much the opposite.

How This is Different Than Other Self Defense Training

If you think self-defense is about learning how to fight that you are sadly mistaken. Knowing what self-defense is is the difference between doing it well or winding up in a heap of trouble.

First off let's talk about what self-defense isn't. Self-defense is not about winning or losing, and it's not about fighting. It's about living or dying, and your ability to survive an assault on your life.
 
Common sense good manners and good habits will serve you far better than any physical fighting ability. Why? Because if you don't have common sense good manners and good habits and all you know how to do is fight than that will always be the place you will find yourself in.
 
It's critical when talking about the topic of self-defense, that we not confuse sport fighting with practical defense fighting strategies. Many martial arts these days are anchored in sport, and as such do not teach practical applications in self-defense. I want to be clear here that I am not criticizing or downplaying the importance of martial arts and its place in the world. I believe all training is good training but let's not confuse systems.
 
Many of the martial arts over the years have become sport based, meaning they have rules and regulations they must follow and adhere to achieve their objective, which in most cases is to gain points, or amass points through repeated contact with their opponent.
 
Any self-defense training worth its salt is not about how many times you can hit somebody. But how quickly you can end the confrontation, we are talking 5 seconds or less. The object of self-defense is to get out of harms way as quickly as possible, eliminating any threat of further violence. The most efficient way to do that is with extreme swift and brutal violence.


 
It's very much the old adage, you must fight fire with fire, but to be realistic. A whole bundle of things would have to go wrong for ever to get to that point. You have to be completely oblivious to any kind of violent situation arising, which in most cases you can see a long way off. You would also have to be an extremely bad mannered conversationalist to antagonize someone to the point of aggression and assault. The bottom line is violence is always a last resort.
 
So the question then becomes why learn self-defense? And the answer is, because when you know how to defend yourself in a strategic, calm and intelligent way you have the ability to alter circumstance meaning you're more confident and sure of yourself, which becomes a trait most attackers seem to shy away from.
 
With confidence, comes high self-esteem, and with high self-esteem you can achieve anything. Learning a few key principles in proper self-defense will put you in control of your circumstances and allow you to protect your most valuable asset that being you and the ones you love.

Self Defense For a Woman in a City is Important

Self defense for women is now adding clarity to this subject. Self defense remains a complex topic that is made even more complex due to erroneous information out there. Self defense courses seek to reverse this problem. Far too often, teaching a woman martial arts is considered the cure all for any serious threat she may face. Whether the martial arts take the form of traditional styles or modern ultimate fighting systems, neither really address the serious concerns surrounding women's self-defense. Thankfully, through self defense classes, the ability to acquire a proper foundation in women's self-defense can be realized.

One of the main components of a serious self defense class would be the stressing of awareness on an environment. Awareness refers to the ability to be completely cognitive of your surroundings. This allows you to either completely avoided aggressive behavior, become less of a target, or employ the physical techniques you learned in your private self defense classes in a more appropriate manner. Since awareness is a major component that is stressed in the course material, the student's ability to preserve her safety is greatly enhanced.

Understanding how an aggressor behaves is important to successful dealing with such a threat. Now, the way to properly deal with the threat is to escape. By escaping, your ability to walk away from the situation safe and unharmed is greatly expanded. A solid New Orleans self defense program will present clear and detailed information on this subject. Many streetfighting programs may stress more direct engagement with an assailant but this is very dangerous and often unnecessary. Scenario training that centers on avoidance, awareness, and averting will usually provide much better and safer results.

Common scenarios could include recognizing danger when you step up to an ATM. Can you recognize people who may be willing to do you harm and, if so, can you extract yourself from such a difficult scenario safely? If not, then taking a self defense class would be a wise move.

However, there will come a time when it may be necessary to attack an assailant. While we would prefer that such a situation was completely avoided, such avoidance truly is not always possible. As a result, the need to take a defensive (or offensive) action will be necessary. And, of course, it is critical to do so in a manner that would be deemed effective. New Orleans self defense classes can ensure your response to a serious situation will be an effective one. This is how you will preserve your safety and avoid any serious harm from befalling you. Knowing you can deal with such a situation can definitely instill the confidence needed to act when a problem arises.

Is Self Defense the Punch Line of the Martial Arts?

First of all, it's extremely difficult to talk about the reality of self-defense without sounding like a complete whack-job. So, before we get into it you have to accept two simple facts. First, violent crime happens every day and second, violence happens to a wide variety of people regardless of race, income level or education.

Now, all you have to do is use your common sense and leave your agenda at the door and we can have a worthwhile discussion without sounding like fanatics.

As president of the Self Defense Company, I have the rare opportunity to train, teach and communicate with thousands of people worldwide. Most of you have some martial arts training and have reached a point in your lives where you're still unsure about the martial arts you studied and the self-defense you were told would work.

You have been through the karate classes, the Tai Chi, the Aikido, the kickboxing, the mixed martial arts and the submission fighting. You have purchased the videos and self-defense courses only to find that it's the same thing over and over again. I know, because I was like you until I met my instructor (and now your instructor) Carl Cestari. I am lucky to discover the truth about martial arts and self-defense. This is the driving force behind the ZenShin Dojo and the IACCP.

What happened to self-defense and martial arts? Martial arts can be divided into three primary categories: Hobby, Sport and Self Defense. A hobby benefits you culturally and spiritually. A Sport, trains you for a specific event or competition. And self-defense should prepare you for the realities of a life and death struggle. And it's the self-defense aspect of the martial arts that's the most overlooked and least tested. It has strayed from the battlefield into the realm of fantasy.

Today, most martial art systems are a combination of sport and hobby unwittingly mixed up and confused when applied to self-defense. The most common error is trying to use sport techniques for real combat. Sport techniques require practice with rules, time limits and protective gear that are rightfully there to keep you safe. Unfortunately these cause you to develop habits that will get you killed. You'll pass up opportunity to end the fight and leave yourself vulnerable while you bide your time, jockey for position and try for a sport-submission technique.

The other mistake made is taking old jujutsu techniques completely out of context and trying to apply them to a street fight. Techniques that were designed for people in armor or that are based upon a sword are good for cultural and spiritual development, but have little, direct practical application. That would explain a lot of the somewhat ridiculous throws and joint locks that should only used done when your adversary is wearing 70 pounds of armor.

Instructors make these mistakes because they simply regurgitate information without giving any real thought to what they teach or why they teach it or they have been so consumed with sport, and confuse what happens in the ring or a challenge match, with the street. Combine this with the lack of without direct, battlefield feed back, real self defense has become victim of the children's game of telephone. Over the generations it has been altered bit by bit to now where it barely resembles what it once was.

Chances are, you will never have to protect your self, but when you have to, even the most skilled martial artist will respond in a convulsive, brutal manner. I have known martial artists who have gotten into street fights and never used one technique they teach! Gichin Funakoshi, in his book Karate-do describes the first and only time he was ever in a real fight. He simply grabbed the man by his testicles and squeezed until the man fell down. Not much "karate" there. But I do applaud Funakoshi for having the good sense to do what he had to do to survive.

The reason people place so much emphasis on sporting techniques is because it's easy to test them in competition. While the opportunity to test and record the effectiveness of close combat techniques is difficult to say the least. So from a martial arts instructor's point of view it's easier just to repeat or simply make up what ever you call self-defense, knowing full well that it will never be tested or even tried.

Womens Self Defense Training That Actually Works!

Women can find self defense training in a lot of places, but the most useful things you can learn might take a little research and phone calling to find a reputable self defense instructor to teach you how to properly react to being attacked.

Womens self defense training #1 - You will want to find a self defense instructor that uses a full body padded suit so you can let out and use maximum violence and aggression to respond to a simulated attack. It is important, because what you practice will be what you do in a real life or death assault.

Womens self defense course #2 - If you are just looking to lose weight and get in better shape then take classes like Tae Bo and cardio kickboxing. But don't consider these forms of physical activity as any form of real self defense training. Because its not.

Women self defense training #3 - Martial arts styles I recommend for women include: karate, jeetkunedo, mixed martial arts, boxing, and any type of self defense training you can get.

Womens self defense course #4 - I believe that all women should do cardio and weight training to become stronger. Men are bigger and stronger then women physically, so being better prepared physically will make you less of a victim.

Women self defense training#5 - Use any and all dirty fighting moves you can. Scratching and eye gouging your opponent, chopping him in his adam's apple, smashing his groin, head butting his face, screaming for help. When it comes to a violent encounter don't be a victim always fight back no matter what.

Self-Defense Programs

In these days, many self-defense programs are available on the Internet and in your community. After hearing about so many fatal attacks, you may consider taking a program to learn the basic self-defense skills. With these skills, you can protect yourself and your family from any terrible attacks.

Not all the self-defense programs are created equal. So you should be considerate enough to pick up the program which really works to teach you the proper skills for your protection.

There are many self defense programs on the Internet and in your community. If you are serious about taking your personal protection into your own hands, self defense training is the way to go. But not all self defense programs are created equal. You kneed to know which programs for self defense to use in order to get the proper skills for your protection.

Choosing the right self-defense program is essential, but it is by no means easy. When making a selection of self-defense program, there are some considerations you need to make to choose from the array of programs out there.

You should choose the program which offers the accurate content. That is to say the skills they teach are up-to-date and make sense.

Choosing a program that is positive is good for you for it is easier for you to stick with. In these programs, you feel encouraged and joyful when going to class and learning the skills that will keep you safe.

There are many kinds of self-defense programs. Some are for children, some other for the young adults, still others for the senior citizens. Therefore, you should choose the one according to your own situation.

Self-defense programs should include action based training videos, and talk based lectures and books. These programs are easier to follow and you can make great progress. But this is not all the case. If you are weak in how to physically handle an attacker, you should look for programs which focus on the action.

Are Mace Pepper Batons a Good Self Defense Weapon?

Mace Pepper Batons are a good self defense weapons choice for a few reasons.They are small and compact so they are easy to carry.

They are easy to hide from an attacker giving you an easy advantage.

They are solid self defense weapons that you can use to hit pressure points and break bones.
They have the added benefit of a refillable pepper spray container inside.
I have been around the self defense weapons industry for awhile and even though the mace pepper baton is small and looks like it couldn't do much damage to an attacker don't be fooled. If the user has even the smallest amount of self defense weapons techniques to use in an attack it is a very formidable self defense weapon.

What the mace pepper baton basically is is a kubaton that is made for striking bony surfaces, nerve points, and soft tissue. You don't necessarily have to know a lot of self defense or fighting techniques knowledge to use a mace pepper baton. You just start swinging and poking and it gets the job done. If it doesn't you can use the pepper spray that is in it and that will at least slow your attacker down long enough for you to get away.

There are several different ways you can use the mace pepper baton.

You can attach the mace pepper baton to your key chain and use both your keys and the kubaton as a self defense weapon.
You can swing it at the elbow or kneecap to give a very painful blow that can sometimes break bones.
Jab it just under the jaw line and it gives a cramping sensation in the mouth to the attacker...be careful doing this though. It can be a deadly blow only to be used in a life or death situation.
If you poke the attacker in the center of the chest just below where the ribcage joins together it will make them lose their breath for a short time and it could break some ribs if the blow is hard enough and your aim is slightly high.
Once again I want to talk to the ladies out there. Sorry guys if I seem one sided here but, I have seen too many women beaten and battered simply because they talked to another guy or they didn't get the dishes done or supper cooked or the many other idiotic reasons why women are beaten. And all because they don't have any self defense weapons or they don't know any fighting techniques to defend themselves.
Ladies, there are too many cases out there where women are living everyday of their lives thinking.."it's o.k. that he smacks me around a little. I deserve it. I didn't do this or that." I have just one thing to say to this...

STOP! No one deserves to be treated this way. This is one of the reasons I got into the self defense weapons industry. Not necessarily to make a profit but to use that profit to make a difference and spread domestic violence awareness and I want you ladies out there to realize there is a better life out there, not all men hit, and there is a solution to your situation if you are being abused. Buy yourself a self defense weapon or take a self defense course and teach these guys a lesson.

Self-Defense Sports For a Healthy Mind and Body

The art of self-defense can be considered a contact sport. It involves two or more people practicing defensive and offensive moves that may be used in real life in case of harmful attacks.

There are many self-defense schools. The schools vary in the type of self-defense they teach to students. There are many kinds of self-defense that originates from different countries. But it all has a common denominator of helping keep a healthy body and mind.

The more popular self-defense sports are kung fu, karate, taekwondo, martial arts, and kenjutsu. These contact sports not only keep you fit and healthy always, it instills in your character several admirable traits like having a sense of responsibility, discipline and hard work.

A student learns to be patient and persevering because training involves a long time. He needs to consistently practice if he wishes to excel in the sport and master the techniques.

Self-defense is mainly used to have an upper hand when being attacked in public. We live in a dangerous world surrounded by criminals. But in the process, self-defense also becomes an art. It involves learning several forms that when executed properly will bring effective results.

Kung Fu is known to be the best self defense in China. It has been part of the continuous tradition of martial arts in the country. There are lots of techniques and ideas about martial arts. The components are made out of the basics, applications forms, and weapons. Kung fu courses include a very unique training system that varies in the emphasis of every component.

Karate is a striking art that uses punching, kicking and strikes of knees and elbows. This also includes an open handed technique like ridge hands and knife hands. The practitioner of Karate is called the Karateka. Lesser extent of restraints, joint lock sand takedowns is likewise used. This is one self defense that also promotes good health. It promotes co-ordination, balance, strength, aerobic fitness and flexibility. It allows the brain to have the alertness needed to respond to the actions of the fighter.

Taekwondo originated in South Korea but is being learned now all over the world. Unlike karate, taekwondo focuses on legs and feet movement. Punching is very minimal. People who study taekwondo are called jins. Jins have shapy legs as a result of many years of training. Training involves a lot of sparring and practice kicks.

Self defense is a surviving situation that involves real risk that may causes physical harm. This requires first hand knowledge. This involves a multitude of techniques. A person can only fight for himself and can only take care of himself. Anyone can learn the basic of self defense. It is not limited to those who have the talent. The self defense has so many layers of component that it compasses. It includes awareness, communication, negotiation, body language and many more.

The Kenjutsu was created in 15th century in Japan. This was made for the use of military. This is a swordsman practice. This technique is a collection of combat technique of various weapons. The practitioner is called the kenjutsuka.

The art of self-defense develops the whole body, especially the arms and legs. It also develops one's stamina and endurance. And more than having a great body, self-defense promotes a better state of mind. People learn to concentrate and focus more, to filter unwanted thoughts and keep themselves optimistic always.

The 5 Rules of Street Self Defense Explained!

I want to prepare with you an arsenal of information that will explain a lot of street self defense topics covering combat, to verbal self defense and avoiding fighting situations all together.

Rule #1 - Always be alert and prepared at any time for a combat situation. This includes: being aware of your surroundings, wearing shoes you could fight in, not having your MP3 player blasting in your ears, staying alert and avoiding dangerous places and people.

Rule #2 - Another rule for being prepared for street self defense is active weight lifting and cardio training. You want to be in good enough physical condition that you could fight off a bad guy that is much larger then you. If you are out of shape how do you expect to survive an attack that lasts longer then 30 seconds?

Rule #3 - Carry a weapon at all times. Nearly 80% of attackers in street self defense situations carry a weapon intending to injure their victim. So why not be prepared ahead of time? Carrying pepper spray is a much less lethal weapon then a knife or tazer, so carry a weapon, just be sure it is legal in your area.

Rule #4 - Martial arts and street self defense training are essential for winning and managing to survive an assault or attack. You need to train in self defense and martial arts regularly to become more of an aggressive and smarter fighter. Being properly trained is essential to winning a battle on the streets.

Rule #5 - If you can cover all your bases in self defense like carrying a weapon, being aware and avoiding confrontations and problems you will be better prepared then most people. Continue training in martial arts and get the most from your training and knowledge of self defense.

Self Defense and Criminal Liability

The United States Constitution and New Jersey State laws permit us to protect ourselves. As homeowners, there are legal measures that can be used to keep out intruders. The Second Amendment to the US Constitution provides that we have the right to bear arms. Obviously, civilized society has certain restrictions on gun and weapon use.

The basic question many people have is, if I defend myself and the attacker claims they are hurt, can I be liable? There are two vastly different grounds for liability: criminal liability and civil liability.

Self-Defense and Avoiding Criminal Responsibility

A person may use force against another person if he reasonably believes that such force is immediately necessary for the purpose of protecting himself against the use of unlawful force by such other person. Such justifiable use of force is commonly call "self-defense." The provisions for self-defense to protect citizens from criminal charges are found in the criminal code at NJSA 2C-3-4(a), which states in part:

"... The use of force upon or toward another person is justifiable when the actor reasonably believes that such force is immediately necessary for the purpose of protecting himself against the unlawful force by such other person on the present occasion."

In other words, self-defense is the right of a person to defend against any unlawful force. Self defense is also the right of a person to defend against seriously threatened unlawful force that is actually pending or reasonably anticipated. When a person is in imminent danger of bodily harm, the person has the right to use force, or even deadly force, when that force is necessary to prevent the use of unlawful force against him. The force used by the defender must not be significantly greater than and must be proportionate to the unlawful force threatened or used against the defender.

Unlawful force is defined as force used against a person without the person's consent in such a way that the action would be a civil wrong or a criminal offense.

If the force used by the defender was not immediately necessary for the defender's protection or if the force used by the defender was disproportionate in its intensity, then the use of such force by the defendant was not justified and the self-defense claim in a criminal prosecution falls.

Deadly Force and Criminal Prosecution

The use of deadly force may be justified only to defend against force or the threat of force of nearly equally severity and is not justifiable unless the defendant reasonably believes that such force is necessary to protect (himself/herself) against death or serious bodily harm. By serious bodily harm, we mean an injury that creates substantial risk of death or which causes serious permanent disfigurement or which causes a protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.

One cannot respond with deadly force to a threat of or even an actual minor attack. For example, a slap or an imminent threat of being pushed in a crowd would not ordinarily justify the use of deadly force to defend against such unlawful conduct.

In addition, one can under limited instances use force in the protection of others (NJSA 2C:35-5). Limited force under certain instances is also afforded in the criminal code for the defense of personal property (NJSA 2C:3-6C).

Defense of Real Property (Your Home) and Criminal Liability

A section of the New Jersey criminal law provides that:

"The use of force upon or toward the person of another is justifiable when the actor is in possession or control of premises or is licensed or privileged to be thereon and he reasonably believes such force necessary to prevent or terminate what he reasonably believes to be the commission or attempted commission of a criminal trespass by such other person in or upon such premises."

A person commits a criminal trespass if, knowing that (he/she) is not licensed or privileged to do so, (he/she) enters or surreptitiously remains in any structure or separately secured or occupied portion thereof.

Our criminal law further provides that, in defense of your home:

"The use of force is justifiable...only if the actor first requests the person against whom such force is used to desist from his interference with the property, unless the actor reasonably believes that (a) such request would be useless; (b) it would be dangerous to himself or another person to make the request or (c) substantial harm will be done to the physical condition of the property which is sought to be protected before the request can effectively be made.

"The use of deadly force is not justifiable in the defense of premises unless the actor reasonably believes that:

            (a)       The person against whom the force is used is attempting to dispossess him of his dwelling otherwise than under a claim of right to its possession; or

            (b)       The person against whom the force is used is attempting to commit or consummate arson, burglary, robbery or other criminal theft or property destruction; except that

            (c)        Deadly force does not become justifiable under subsections (a) and (b) unless

                        (i)         The person against whom it is employed has employed or threatened deadly force against or in the presence of the actor; or

                        (ii)        The use of force other than deadly force to prevent the commission or the consummation of the crime would expose the actor or another in his presence to substantial danger of serious bodily harm."

These are taken from portions of the Model Jury Charges - Criminal, Third Edition, published by the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education. It should be noted that these are defenses to criminal charges that might be brought against you if you defended yourself. Even if the County Prosecutor or Police decide not to bring criminal charges against you or if you are successful in proving that you were protecting yourself as permitted under certain provisions of the criminal code, the attacker, if injured, still may attempt to bring a civil suit to recover for any medical expenses or injuries incurred.

Defenses to Civil Liability

Ordinarily, if someone is injured as a result of the intentional or negligent act of another, they can recover monetary damages to reimburse him or her for medical bills and injuries suffered. However, this is not always so when the person was injured while attacking someone else or attempting to steal from that person.

The judge in a civil case will instruct jurors in the following easy to read language: "No person has a lawful right to lay hostile and menacing hands on another. However, the law does not require anyone to submit meekly to the unlawful infliction of violence upon him. He may resist the use or threatened use of force upon him. He may meet force with force, but he may use only such force as reasonably appears to him to be necessary under all the circumstances for the purpose of self-protection. One is not ordinarily expected to exercise the same refined degree of judgment at times of great stress or excitement that he would under more placid circumstances.

Deadly Force and Civil Duty to Retreat

A deadly force is not justifiable when an opportunity to retreat with complete safety is known by the defender to be at hand. The use of such force is not justifiable if the defender knew that it could have been avoided with complete safety to him by retreating. Where these conditions are present, the defender has a duty to retreat, and his use of a deadly force under these circumstances cannot be justified as an act of self-defense.

Defense of Others

One may justifiably intervene in defense of any person who is in actual or apparent imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm, and in so doing he may use such force as he has reason to believe, and does believe, necessary under the circumstances. The defender must be reasonable in his belief that the third party is in dire peril of death or serious bodily harm. He must also have a reasonable basis to believe that the force he uses is necessary to protect the apparent victim from the threatened harm.

The defender has the burden of proving to the jurors that he inflicted the injuries complained of while acting in defense of the third party within the foregoing principles.

One is not permitted to set up traps to kill or maim individuals who attempt to trespass on their property. There is a responsibility to warn trespassers of dangerous conditions and an intenant risk of injuries. You cannot have a deep pit to catch trespassers or electric wire with one million volts of electricity to kill a trespasser.

Conclusion

Self-defense has been recognized in both the criminal code and civil liability cases. It is common sense under the circumstances that usually control liability. For more detailed information on self-defense, you should carefully read the New Jersey statutes dealing with criminal responsibility and self-defense. It is also important to note that in intentional acts usually your insurance company will not defend you or pay another person who is injured on your property as a result of intentional acts.  You should personally speak with your homeowners' insurance broker to ask them to show you specifically in your policy where you are covered for injuries to someone.

Kenneth A. Vercammen is a trial attorney in Edison, Middlesex County, New Jersey. He often lectures for the New Jersey State Bar Association, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education and Middlesex County College on personal injury, criminal / municipal court law, and drunk driving. He has published 125 articles in national and New Jersey publications on municipal court and litigation topics. He has served as a Special Acting Prosecutor in seven different cities and towns in New Jersey and also successfully defended hundreds of individuals facing Municipal Court and Criminal Court charges.

In his private practice, he has devoted a substantial portion of his professional time to the preparation and trial of litigated matters. He has appeared in Courts throughout New Jersey several times each week on many personal injury matters, Municipal Court trials, arbitration hearings, and contested administrative law hearings.

Since 1985, his primary concentration has been on litigation matters. Mr. Vercammen gained other legal experiences as the Confidential Law Clerk to the Court of Appeals of Maryland (Supreme Court), with the Delaware County, PA District Attorney Office handling Probable Cause Hearings, Middlesex County Probation Dept as a Probation Officer, and an Executive Assistant to Scranton District Magistrate, Thomas Hart, in Scranton, PA.