Newsletter for August 2004

Inside this issue:

Punching and Blood-Borne Pathogens
Death from Purse Snatching Reveals Self-Defense Lessons

Speaking of License Plates

Air Marshals Cover Few Flights

New DVD "Restraint & Control" Now Available

Rape Escape Instructor Certification Oct. 2 & 3 in Ireland

"Aside from the obvious, when you're confronted by multiple people who indicate they mean you harm, select the biggest/most aggressive/closest and take him out decisively, emphatically, and without warning.  In most cases, the fight will be over at that point... If you fail to take out the biggest one, first and fast, your situation will deteriorate rapidly.  If there must be a fight, the best kind is the short kind!"

John Farnam

Punching and Blood-Borne Pathogens
 

For those of you in the public safety sector, the threat of exposure to blood-borne pathogens is a constant worry.  Most agencies require that you pass an annual OSHA class on the subject and often, the county health department will provide vaccines for public safety personnel.

What the rest of you might not have considered is the real problems that can arise from punching and the resulting transfer of bodily fluids.  HIV and AIDS are top-of-mind examples of blood-borne pathogens that humans can carry -- and transfer to others through the transfer of blood, saliva and semen.   Surprisingly,  you are probably more at risk to contract hepatitis than HIV.  Hepatitis B is more prevalent than HIV and is approaching epidemic proportions.  Hepatitis C is also not uncommon anymore.

This means security guards, loss prevention officers, bouncers, cops, and any other citizen can be unwittingly endangering  themselves if they are primarily defending themselves with punches.

Punching, palm heels and edge-of-hand strikes are considered by most law enforcement agencies to be a rather high level of force (they are in the same category as elbows, knees, kicks and baton strikes).  For mostly liability reasons, many agencies discourage their use.  However, most empty hand defense training (and sport training like boxing, Muay Thai, and kickboxing) revolves around using precisely these strikes.  Indeed, most streetfights are composed entirely of punching.

The natural proclivity we encounter is our innate desire to punch the other guy's face in.  And that's where the trouble lies.  During the empty hand encounter you are making a lot of bone on bone contact with your knuckles against his chin, his cheek, his skull, and his teeth!

And, most of you know what happens in these kinds of fights -- there's lots of blood.   Skin over hard bone and teeth split, teeth break, delicate skin on the face tears.  Cuts on the face, mouth and scalp bleed like crazy.  You might have seen yourself or someone else in the aftermath of this...there's blood all over the place, even on the people who are not injured.

Punching people in or near the mouth, around the eyes, and anywhere on the skull is a sure-fire way to open a pathway for the transfer of blood and saliva -- and the associated blood-borne pathogens like HIV and hepatitis.

Even a standard palm heel to the nose can be a problem.  Considering that most people naturally flinch when protecting their face, I've seen palm heels (and punches) that were directed to the guy's nose end up catching teeth.  It's hard to tell exactly what happened since most fistfights are incredibly fluid and chaotic.  What seems to happen is that when you start to punch or palm heel to the face, he naturally blinks his eyes and starts to jerk his head backwards.  As you pull your head back your mouth naturally opens.    Try looking at the ceiling right now and feel your lower jaw tighten and start to part your mouth open.  So the palm heal that was once heading towards the guy's nose slams into the points of his front teeth since he has moved his head back.

Or, alternatively, you start to punch the guy in the face and he reflexively blinks his eyes and ducks his chin down to avoid your blow.  Now you punched the guy right on top of the head and clang your knuckles on his hard skull.  Think about all the professional boxers who have broken their hands in out-of-the-ring brawls or fistfights and you'll realize how differently people on the street react to the punch than in the ring.

Obvious answers to this problem:

1. Use open-handed strikes to the hard, bony parts of the body and reserve closed-fist punches to the soft parts of the body.

2. Stay away from strikes to and around his mouth!

3. Develop a self-defense or fight strategy that does not rely primarily on punches or strikes to someone's face or head to work.

Death from Purse Snatching Reveals Self-Defense Lessons

Elvis Johnson, 84, and his wife of 61 years, Vivienne, were loading plants into their car when a man called to them from across the parking lot and asked to borrow jumper cables. The nicely dressed man approached Vivienne and grabbed her purse. She and Elvis struggled with the man, who broke free with her bag and ran to his car. The Johnsons followed him and latched onto the open driver's side window, yelling at the man to stop. He started the engine and began to drive, swerving to release their grips. Vivienne, struck by the back end of the vehicle, was pushed to the ground while Elvis slipped facedown beneath the car and was dragged as much as 100 feet. Vivienne said she followed a bloodied trail of her husband's belongings to where he was. He died at the scene after suffering numerous broken bones and internal injuries.

Witnesses said the killer is about 30 years old, 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 8 inches, with a medium build. He was wearing a light-colored polo shirt and light pants.

A number of lessons, concepts and principals are evident from this tragic, senseless crime:

• First of all, I am completely outraged that anyone, ANYONE would stoop so low as to steal an elderly woman's purse.   But, remember, that's what predators do.  They look for the weakest, most vulnerable people to attack.  If you are not a big fish, you need to be especially vigilant.  You need to swim within the protection of the school...ask store personnel to help you with your purchases.  Yes, Elvis and Vivienne were together so at least they were not alone, but, obviously, the 84-year-old Elvis did not pose enough of a threat to make the predator look elsewhere.  You might want to try and make yourself look like a bigger, tougher fish.  Lift weights, get in shape, get a military-style haircut.  Wear boots.  Put a tough look on your face.  (In the Rape Escape program we use the statistic that half of all attackers will break off an attack if you even indicate that you are willing to resist).  You need to project to other people that you will be a handful if you are picked out by a predator. 

• If you can't naturally pull off the bigger fish act, then you can artificially become a more dangerous fish by learning a weapon system.  Hock Hochheim uses the statistic that 67% of attackers break off an attack if they know you are armed.  And don't think I'm just talking about a firearm here.  Consider pepper spray, batons, flashlights, and knives as well.  (Check your local laws regarding these tools before carrying them).

• Even "normal" looking, nicely dressed people can be criminals.  Drug habits and gambling addictions all require money to feed.  And when the desperation becomes too great -- they look for an easy way to take someone else's money.  I'm not going to say "don't trust anybody", but, sad to say, I'm not shocked anymore at what criminals will do and who they will attack.

• Keep your guard up when being approached by people.  Most of the time, of course, people have completely innocent intentions in their encounters with you.  However, it is not uncommon to be "interviewed" by predators to see if you present a good target.  This is especially true for women.  Think of all the times men have approached you and asked questions which make no sense when you think about it later.  And men, don't think it can't happen to you.  A fellow DT instructor said he was approached by a woman outside of a auto parts store with a story about not being able to put on a radiator cap.  When this guy told her he had no mechanical inclination at all, she lambasted him for being a racist.  However, when he drove out of the parking lot, he noticed that the woman had returned to a car off a ways from the others...and she had three male companions with her.  And don't be surprised at how innocent or innocuous the "question" can be that is used to get close to you.  In Elvis' case, it was a request to borrow jumper cables -- not something that is uncommon to hear in a parking lot.

• Generally, it is not advisable to risk your life for property.  I think it was a heroic effort by Elvis and Vivienne to resist the criminal -- I think we are morally obligated to fight back.  However, playing arm-chair quarterback, it does look like a futile attempt by both of them to retrieve property.  No matter how valuable a piece of property seems at the time, it usually is replaceable.  A human life is irreplaceable.  The time to fight back would have been right at the time of the initially purse snatching.  If you are not strong enough to resist the attacker, I doubt that you will be strong enough to resist an automobile.  In fact, I would propose that -- after firearms and knives -- I've heard of more cops and security personnel hurt and killed after they have been hit and/or dragged by cars in an attempt to apprehend a bad guy.  Plus at 84, any fall on a hard surface has the potential to be fatal or permanently disabling.  A better move would have been for them to get the license plate number of the car.

Don't let Elvis Johnson's death be in vain.  Learn from it and keep the lessons close to you should you need them in future encounters.

Speaking of License Plates

It HAS to be a cop thing -- looking at vehicle license numbers all the time.

Every citizen that I know rarely or never looks at the license plate of a suspicious car or a vehicle that has been in some sort of altercation.  They are too busy looking at the driver. 

Yes, being able to identify the driver is important -- because cars cannot be prosecuted.  However, if you don't get a license plate you'll never be able to really help your law enforcement personnel catch the bad guys...there's just too many cars out there.

Cars are very, very important in our society and being able to provide a good description of a vehicle is invaluable.   One way is to have a system.  Try the acronym CYMBL (like "cymbal")

C = color of the vehicle

Y =  year of the vehicle

M = make (Chevy, Ford, Toyota, etc.)

B = body (coupe, sedan, 2 door, 4 door, pickup truck, station wagon)

L = license (state and number)

This is one system that has worked for me in the past because it is easy to remember.  However, to be more practical, this system is a little backwards.

First and foremost, you need to get the license plate.  Almost everything else falls into place.  The department of motor vehicles will have all of the other vehicle information on file (year, make, model, etc.).  There is a chance that the plate could be stolen and it doesn't correlate to the correct vehicle, but that information should also become apparent after 12 to 24 hours.

I will say that there is a very good chance that you won't know the year of the vehicle.  Don't worry.  I would rather have the license plate, the color and a basic description of the car.  You'll do fine with the plate and something  like "it was an old dark blue Camaro with really loud pipes".

“No one is born a gunfighter or combat shooter.  Yes, some people are naturally better shooters than others, but straight shooting is only part of the equation.  Good tactics can be learned and are definitely reinforced by dynamic training.

“Don’t delude yourself by thinking you’re combat ready with one or two practice sessions a year.  Defending your life or that of others with a firearm is serious business.  Train with the tools you plan to use.  Train today and survive tomorrow.”

Paul Markel

Air Marshals Cover Few Flights

Federal air marshals protect less than 5 percent of daily U.S. flights, and it appears that the numbers are declining.
 

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, marshals and pilots say there are fewer than 3,500 air marshals to protect 35,000 daily flights. Taking into consideration time off for sick leave, vacation and training, the sources say only 500 to 1,000 flights per day are protected.

Daily flights average 35,000 in the summer and 25,000 in the winter. Some pilots and flight attendants say they rarely see marshals on board.
 

So, if you have a problem in the air, chances are overwhelmingly against you being able to rely on an Air Marshal.  Passengers might have to take matters into their own hands.   For some suggestions, try the article on what you can do if there is a case of air rage on your flight.

New DVD "Restraint & Control" Now Available

Just out, the new "Restraint & Control" instructional DVD with Detective Jon Pickett.

Designed for cops, security guards, military peacekeepers and those who want to learn how to control a resistive subject, Det. Pickett's system allows you to keep a margin of safety at all times and be able to disengage at any time.

The DVD covers standing control techniques, weapon retention, strikes, and handcuffing.

Detective Jon Pickett is a homicide detective with a western municipal police department and has done it all in his 14 years as a police officer.  He's been a defensive tactics instructor for 13 years,  a SWAT team member for 11 years and an undercover operative for six years.   I've trained with him and I've even been on a drug bust with him.  He's an entertaining guy with a very straightforward system.

You can see more on the DVD and purchase it at Defend Gear, www.defendgear.com.

Rape Escape Instructor Certification Oct. 2 & 3 in Ireland

The next instructor certification course for Rape Escape instructors is Oct. 2 and 3 in Dublin, Ireland.

For those of you who are currently instructing -- or wish to begin instructing -- women's self-defense courses and want to learn a truly efficient and effective method, look into the Rape Escape certification.

Currently certified instructors include professional martial artists, women's issues advocates, high school physical education teachers, domestic violence counselors, police officers and others who wanted a method and a support system to help girls and women in their communities.

For more information, go to the Women's Self-Defense Institute page at www.rapeescape.com.

Go here if you want to access the newsletter archives.

Train like your life depends on it.  Someday it might.
 

Brad Parker