Newsletter for November 2004

Inside this issue:

How the Rape Escape Class Affects Students
White Light is Best for Security Lighting
Why You Forget When Under Stress
Top 10 Most Dangerous Countries
Cars, Rage & Weapons
Look  & You Shall Find

"Poor tactics or lack of skill can contribute to your demise, regardless of what you have in your holster.  If you are not keenly aware that violence can visit you at any moment and you're prepared to respond in-kind, your goose could be cooked."

Mike Boyle

How the Rape Escape Class Affects Students

Many of the certified instructors who teach the Rape Escape class to women around the world report positive comments and responses from students.   But, sometimes it's nice to hear what students are saying "behind your back" when the instructors are not around.

The e-mail below is an example of what kind of effect the class has on students.  It was passed on to us by our contact at a major corporation that has begun offering the courses.  She wanted us to know what students really thought of the class:

Hello Ladies,

I am writing to you about something I did yesterday, even though I was scared to do it because it was something different and it is a scary subject. I think of all you as my sisters and as there isn't any thing I wouldn't do for my blood sister, the same goes for all of you.

I took a class yesterday afternoon, I wasn't sure how the class was going to be, you know : Is this just a take notes kind of thing or a show you how to do it kind of thing. ( I even took a note pad with me just in case it was the take note kind of thing ). Any way the class is called Fight Like a Girl! The instructors were Brad and Wendy. And they were totally awesome, patient, understanding, caring that we all understood and felt comfortable, and still had the "urgency" to teach us that was needed.

Brad & Wendy showed us how even though we are not the "stronger sex" we can still survive if attacked by any one. All this was with Wendy (who is this petite, slip of a woman) and Brad (over 6' and muscles like crazy). Not using brut strength, which no matter what we could never out hit a man if he was attacking us and probably trying to kill us, but using the parts of our bodies that are our strongest and "moves " that will be easy to remember if the time comes. By the end of the class when Brad was in his "You can kick or hit me in the vital areas of a man's body suit" I thought that I would forget the stuff he was telling me to do because I was nervous but I did OK. I was still scared cause it reminded me of when I was attacked and that brings me to my point. I must admit I was disappointed that I was the only one from [my division] there but they were saying that there will be more classes and I STRONGLY advise you to take it. Cause attacks happen too often and you never know if you will be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I personally wish that the company would make it mandatory for all women in the company to attend this class plus the 2nd and 3rd session that will be scheduled. And my last wish is that the High Schools all across the nation would teach our girls these moves. So just maybe there would be less loss of life whether by death or of the mind to the horror of the attack.

I just wanted to share with you and I probably didn't make myself as clear as I would like but if you want to ask me anything feel free.

Your friend and "sister",

(Name deleted for privacy)

And people wonder why we have a passion for teaching this course...

White Light is Best for Security Lighting

According to lighting expert Nick Wiggins of Newey & Eyre, metal halide lamps are better than high-pressure sodium sources for security lighting: 

• Metal halide lamps have 100% more effective lumen output
• Metal halide provides a six time higher detection and reaction to visual stimuli
• CCTV is far more effective and has improved color identification with metal halide or fluorescent lamps vs. high-pressure sodium.
   

Why You Forget When Under Stress

Stressful situations over which an individual has no control (like an attack, a robbery, an assault) activate an enzyme in the brain called protein kinase C.

According to Dr. Amy F.T. Arnsten of the Yale Medical School, the PKC enzyme impairs memory and other functions in the pre-frontal cortex.  PKC shuts down the part of the brain that allows abstract reasoning and working memory, clearing the way for direct action that is not hindered by the critical thinking process.

Scientists believe this release of PKC evolved as a protective mechanism in dangerous situations that demanded quick reactions.

This further supports the concept that your self-defense and personal protection plans must not rely on complicated techniques or choices that need to be selected or remembered during an attack.

If you have to "remember" which technique to use, you're not going to reliably be able to access your memory to select the correct response.  You have to "know" concepts and principles that can be applied to multiple stressful situations.

Top 10 Most Dangerous Countries

The ten countries with the highest murder rate per capita:

1.  Colombia (.63 per 1000 people);
2.  South Africa (.51 per 1000);
3.  Jamaica (.32 per 1000);
4.  Venezuela (.32 per 1000);
5.  Russia (.19 per 1000);
6.  Mexico (.13 per 1000);
7.  Lithuania (.10 per 1000);
8.  Estonia (.10 per 1000);
9.  Latvia (.10 per 1000);
10.  Belarus (.09 per 1000).

In comparison, the U.S. has a rate of .04, and Canada, the UK, France, Australia, Italy have a rate of .01.  Ireland, Japan and Switzerland have a murder rate so low that the statistical rate is .00.

Cars, Rage & Weapons
 

Okay, we can all admit it, finding a parking spot in a crowded lot only to have it taken by someone else can be very, very frustrating.  It's no wonder that fights and assaults can happen here.

Recently in Minnesota a man in just this situation, reacted in a fit of rage.  When another driver pulled into a spot that he was eyeing, he approached the other driver, got into an argument and pulled out a knife, slashing and stabbing the other guy several times.

I actually witnessed a similar incident in the parking lot of a well-known home improvement store.   Two old guys -- I'm not kidding, these guys were grandfathers for sure -- got into an argument over a parking spot.  One of the men produced a night stick -- one of those old military style ones you get at that Army-Navy surplus store.  He's holding it over his head in the classic "I'm gonna crack your head" posture with this really, really angry look on his face.  And the other guy, believe it or not, is belligerently striding up to Mr. Nightstick with chest puffed out, arms straight down along his sides with his fists clenched. 

I'm looking at this scenario and I'm seeing the body postures and non-verbal positioning of two guys destined for a train wreck.  Fortunately for these two old birds, some other shoppers intervened and kept the two separated.  Otherwise, I'm sure they would be looking at both hospital and jail time.

Some points that strike me in these situations:

1.  Cars seem to make people stupid.  Road rage, parking lot rage, aggressive driving... why is it when vehicles are involved, people (and I've seen plenty of women who are in this category as well) get all hostile and puffed up?

2.  Don't take anyone -- anyone -- for granted.  Don't underestimate someone's ability or desire to hurt you because of their looks, age, or gender.  They are upset, they are off their medication, they are out of control and they are transferring their rage at their ex (their boss, their mother, etc.) towards you.

3.  Car = weapon.  When someone is in or around a car the situation should automatically flash a red light to you.  People carry weapons in their cars.  The cops in El Paso surmise that one of every three cars on the road in that city has a handgun in it.  People keep things in their cars like baseball bats, tire irons, screwdrivers, and steering wheel locks...  Heck, the car itself is a weapon that can exert tons of force.

To protect yourself, lighten up.  Take a deep breath and relax when you are driving.  Be courteous.  Come on, how much time are you really going to save by cutting off that other driver?  If you encounter a complete moron in the parking lot or on the road, you might as well forget trying to track him down and tell him off.  Do you really think that he cares what you think?  Or that your witty retort is going to shame him into becoming a more considerate driver?  Of course not.  Chances are he has a lot of other problems in his life and you trying to tell him off is just setting up a situation which can degenerate into a fight with dire tactical and legal problems for you.

Look  & You Shall Find

The great Yogi Berra once said, "It's amazing what you can see when you keep your eyes open."

One time on patrol we had a call of a possible abduction and the suspect vehicle was a light blue Ford F-150 pickup truck. I remember at the time that the call was extremely timely, we were in the right area and the vehicle description should make it easy to spot.

The radio began crackling almost immediately with other units starting to make stops and within 10 minutes there must have been a dozen units who had pulled over light blue Ford F-150 pickup trucks. I had no idea there were that many trucks that could fit that description -- until we started looking for them.

Similarly, I had guy contact me following a workshop on recognizing furtive movements and weapon defense. He commented to me that he had not noticed that so many men carried knives until he started looking at their belts. One example of note was one man in a home improvement store who was actually carrying three knives; one in a belt scabbard and two fighting-style knives tucked symmetrically in the back of his belt for easy access by both hands. He credits the class session for raising his awareness level.

Learn how to recognize carry methods for weapons. Then, start looking for people who are carrying them. It's no surprise that cops are particularly adept at spotting people carrying weapons. When you wear a firearm for most of your waking hours, you have the inside knowledge which provides the advantage of spotting others who are carrying them as well. For those of you who are "knife people", no doubt that you can ID the guys also carrying.

In the Minnesota parking lot rage incident above, the victim would have been a lot better prepared if he had the knowledge of how to spot someone with a weapon and how to recognize when the attacker is starting to draw that weapon.

Of course, the whole situation could have been avoided if these two knuckleheads could have shown some consideration and some etiquette in the first place...

 

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

Brad Parker