Imagine this- your awaken by a shuffling noise outside your bedroom.  You think to yourself, ” What’s that?  Who’s outside? Did I lock the door?”

You hear unrecognizable voices saying, “Hurry up, man” and “Keep you voices down!”

You see reflections of flashlights beneath your bedroom door.

What should you do at this moment?  Should you fight or flee?

As someone who has been studying self-defense for nearly seven years,  I can tell you that if you are like most Americans you are not prepared.  Because self-defense does not start at the moment you are being attacked, rob, assaulted… Self-Defense begins with preparation for situations like the scenario above.

The first line of self defense is your financial security.  What happens during traumatic event is tough enough and to add financial stress can muliply the stress.

My first advice is to get life insurance!  Husbands, Wives, and Parents- If you are like most Americans, you do not have enough life insurance to protect your spouse and families! According to Dave Ramsey, you must have your annual income multiplied by 10 in order to satisfy the needs of your spouse in case something traumatic happens to you.

Suppose the scenario above happens to you and you confront the trespassers to buy enough time for your spouse and children to escape.  However, while doing this brave act you were severely injured or killed.  Not having enough life insurance can hurt your family in two ways.  The lack of a parental figure and the financial strain imposed on the surviving spouse.  Be responsible- Get some life insurance.

The next step is to have both medical and home insurance (or rental insurance).  If you decide to take on an attacker in order to protect your family.  You will get injured…remember that we are dealing with cowards who will violate your property and family.  Criminals come prepared for the worst! So should you!

Medical insurance will cover any cost for any trauma and home insurance will cover any property stolen on broken in the incident.  Remember that there are cost and caps which will differ from insurance company.  It always my recommendation to keep at least $1000 dollars to six months of expenditures in the bank at all times.

After the finances has been established – the next step is to train the family how to respond to such instances.  What are the escape routes?  Where is the final meeting area?  Who calls emergency services?  This is also helpful in instances for fire and earthquakes… having an escape route plan is critical for such instances.

Finally, after everything has been established, the next step is to physical and mentally prepare.  Take self-defense classes.  Excercise so that your body is able to respond in emergency situations.

The human body is great weapon when it is conditioned.  However, it can work against you in times of crisis if you don’t take care of it.  Having a heart attack while trying to save your family can happen!!  Keep your body in shape!  It’s the best thing you can do for your family and your health.

Self-Defense training is not something you learn in one session.  I suggest looking for a martial arts or self-defense school that teaches class regularly and make sure the school has a diversified system comprise of different martial arts that tackles weapons, close quarter combatics, and ground fighting.  It’s a fun way to mentally prepare yourself for self-defense.

As you can see, self defense requires more than just techniques and movements.  You have to be prepared financially, physically, and mentally for the scenario explained above and prepare for the consequences that arise from defending yourself.

You have to responsible for yourself and your family.  I know that you can do it!  Self-Defense is not a game, a sport, or just martial arts training.  It’s about being prepared for horrible moments and having the peace to respond in those moments.

I wish you luck in your endeavors in keeping your family safe!

Signing Out,

Elmer Querubin