DID YOU WORKOUT TODAY? (Part 2)

Please indulge me in a little experiment. If you have an injury or health problem that would prohibit you from doing this, then don't. If it's not convenient right here, right now, then do it at your earliest opportunity... Here's what I want you to do: DROP DOWN AND GIVE ME TEN!

That's right, get out of your chair, step away from your computer screen and do 10 pushups. If you can't do 10, do 5. If you can't do 5, do 1. If you can't do that, just lie on your face and push on the floor. Just do something!

I just did it. I stopped typing, dropped to the floor and pumped out 10 reps. How about you? Did you sit there in disbelief and say to yourself, "I'm not going to do that!" or "Maybe I'll do it later!" or "This guy's nuts!" Or... did you do it?

I'm hoping that it's the latter because that... my friend, was a test of your "coachability!" It was a test of your willingness to incorporate something that you read into your life; to convert theory into practice; thought into action. If you didn't do the exercise, ask yourself, "WHY?"

I hope I haven't lost you on this!

The Seven Components of Self-Defense describe the categories of a comprehensive self-defense strategy. So we're on the same page, I'll list and explain them for you:

*** Component #1 - Survival Psychology ***

Survival psychology refers to personality-based aspects of your ability and willingness to protect yourself and prepare to protect yourself. It encompasses your fears, your level of self-esteem, and your willingness to accept full and unconditional responsibility for yourself and your safety.

---- quote ----
"When self-esteem is low, our resilience in the face of life's adversities is diminished. We crumble before the vicissitudes that a healthier sense of self could vanquish. We are far more likely to succumb to a tragic sense of our existence and to feelings of impotence. We tend to be more influenced by the desire to avoid pain than to experience joy. Negatives have more power over us than positives. If we do not believe in ourselves - neither in our efficacy nor in our goodness - the universe - is a frightening place."
Nathaniel Branden
The Six Pillars Of Self-Esteem
----end quote ---

*** Component #2 - Survival Intelligence ***

Survival Intelligence is the "20%" that I wrote about in the last newsletter. It is your knowledge about the dynamics of self-defense and your ability to influence them. Keep in mind that there are different kinds of intelligence and they are developed in different ways.

*** Component #3 - Victim Selection ***

This component deals with the fact that, contrary to what many think, people are not attacked, harassed or victimized at random. There is a predator/prey selection process. Victims are assessed by a potential attacker, either consciously or unconsciously, on the basis of their behavior and body language. Understanding this is the first step in establishing a "non-victim" profile yourself.

*** Component #4 - Predatory Recognition *** People who victimize others (mentally, physically or emotionally) are predators. Understand this and explore the behavior and signals that they display. Predatory recognition can go a long way in helping you avoid and prepare for a confrontation.

*** Component #5 - Response Option Theory ***

All situations are different and therefore require varying degrees of response. Response option theory deals with the ability to read a situation and select the most appropriate way to handle it. Your response options fall into five categories: compliance, de-escalation, assertiveness, escape and fighting. Doing the right thing at the right time is the essence of successful self-defense.

*** Component #6 - Prevention Tips ***

Prevention tips are things you can do to reduce predatory situations and opportunities. They involve reducing circumstances that favor the criminal and enhancing those that protect you.

*** Component #7 - Training methods ***

The final component is the most important because it overlaps with the other components and represents the "80%" part of the 80/20 Rule. Training is the action needed to convert information into knowledge and knowledge into skill. Training IS the "secret ingredient;" the "critical success factor" of a self-defense strategy. Training must be incorporated on a physical, mental and emotional level.

O.K. We've covered the 20% by dusting off our recollection of the Seven Components. Now it's time to "buy and pay for" some tangible benefits. It's time to activate the 80%; to incorporate something doable from all of this. It's entirely up to you. No one can do it for you.

Here's the process. Over the next seven days, set time aside to think about each of the seven components; one of them per day. This shouldn't take you more than 10 or 15 minutes. You can do them in any order you want as long as you do them.

Your task is to do at least one "doable" activity to enhance your understanding or ability to apply each of the seven components. Write them down. What you get out of this exercise is proportional to what you put into it.

I will give you some sample exercises but don't limit yourself to them. Come up with better ones of your own.

*** Component #1 - Survival Psychology: ***

• List 7 things in your life you are prepared to fight for.
• Write down a single, concise statement of why you are interested in learning self-defense. What is it that you want or don't want to happen as a result of your efforts?
• List your most significant fear associated to self-defense.

*** Component #2 - Survival Intelligence ***

• Read one self-defense book or article and write down a significant action you can take to apply the advice you've extracted. Read the resource and ask yourself, "So What? How can I use this?" Are you willing to apply this advice yourself? If not, why not?
• Make a list of 7 pieces of advice to tell a loved one (a child, spouse, friend or relative) that would improve their personal safety.
• Find a story about a violent crime in your local newspaper. Analyze it. Ask yourself who, what, when, where, why and how questions in an attempt to isolate the dynamics involved. What went wrong? How could the situation have been avoided?

*** Component #3 - Victim Selection ***

• If you are not an assertive person, look for opportunities to exercise you "assertiveness muscles." They can be small and insignificant but can have a major, positive impact on you. Complain about a bad meal (if you get one), request a discount on your next major purchase, or express an opinion when you normally wouldn't. I'm not talking about being rude loud or confrontational. Practice standing up for yourself.
• Next time you are out in public, look at the behavior and body language of other people. Put yourself in the shoes of a mugger. Who are the people you think would be "good victims?" Who are the people you would steer clear of? What did you base your decisions on?

*** Component #4 - Predatory Recognition ***

• Identify one person in your life, past or present, who you consider a bully. Explain why?
• Work on your awareness skills. Next time you are out in public, look for a 6 ft. 1 in. male, 40-ish, skinny, unshaven, wearing a gray and black jacket. (it might be me!) Actively scan your environment for anyone matching that description.

*** Component #5 - Response Option Theory ***

• Examine each of the response categories (compliance, de-escalation, assertiveness, escape and fighting) and identify circumstances associated to each one.
• Use a newspaper story. After analyzing a violent crime, ask yourself, "What would I do in that situation?"
• Create your own "what if" scenarios and identify what to do if certain things happen.
• Make a list of things you are NOT willing to fight over.

*** Component #6 - Prevention Tips ***

• Make a list of 7 prevention tips you would be comfortable incorporating in your life. Ask yourself if you do them now. If you don't, ask yourself, "WHY?"
• Imagine you locked yourself outside of your home and ask yourself how you would be able to break in without being seen? Did you learn something?
• Imagine a typical day. What are the times or activities when you are most susceptible to being assaulted? What can you do about it?

*** Component #7 - Training Methods ***

• What are your training goals: to defend yourself, to lose weight, to feel better about yourself, to relieve stress, to tone up, to stand up to a bully? They are different for everyone. Write down exactly what you would like to achieve as a result of your training.
• Make a list of activities that, if you did them on a regular basis, would produce those desired results. You might change your eating habits, begin weight lifting, buy a heavy bag and learn how to hit it, attend a self-defense seminar, etc. If you are not already doing some of these things, ask yourself, "WHY?"

There you have it; examples of doable activates to enhance your knowledge and skill in each of the Seven Components. Just do the exercises. Don't even worry at this point about incorporating them into your life. There will be time for that. The first step is awareness. If you are clear on "WHY's," you will find the "HOW's."

Don't limit yourself to the exercises I've listed. Create your own. You can come up with dozens that are a lot better and more meaningful to you than the ones I've used. But here's the BIG question, "WILL YOU?"

If you passively read this Newsletter, you didn't maximize the benefits it has to offer. Most of what you read will be forgotten unless you do something with it or about it. Enhance your learning by reflecting back on the content of this article. Click on this link to bring up an email window, add your email address to the CC line, and jot down your thoughts. What did you like about the article? What didn't you like about it? How can you use this information? What else do you want to learn about? Email it to yourself and keep a copy for later review. randy@protectivestrategies.com

Your feedback, opinions, questions and comments will impact the content and direction of this newsletter. Let me know what you're concerned about and looking for.

I've just given you seven days worth of "homework" to do. You Are off the hook for any further activities for this issue! However, if you didn't give me ten pushups earlier in this Newsletter, perhaps you might want to get them out of the way now!;-)

Randy LaHaie is the president of Protective Strategies and has been teaching reality-based self-defense for over 30 years. He is the author of several "Toughen Up Combative Training Guides" (www.ToughenUp.com) Subscribe to his Free Self-Defense Newsletter at www.ProtectiveStrategies.com

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Copyright © 2006 by Randy LaHaie. All rights reserved.