By following a few simple tips and using your common sense, you can drastically lower your odds of falling victim to attack.

• Never wear your earphones in both ears. It makes it far too easy for some criminal to sneak up and attack you before you know it. Criminals love people who make easy victims and not being able to hear them coming up from behind would make you a much easier target.
• Carry some type of self defense weapon. It could give you the edge you need to get away from or outright repel an attacker. You could use a device like the Mace Hot Walkers. They are 1 pound walking weights that contain a hidden pepper spray. Not only will they help you get a better workout, they provide you that extra edge should the need arise.
• There really is safety in numbers. It is not a guarantee but it sure does not hurt. So if at all possible, try to find a workout partner that enjoys the same type of outside activities that you do.
• Stay aware of your surroundings. Your goal should always be to look like a bad victim. You want the criminal to simply move on to an easier target. You can do this by being aware of anyone near you and what is going on around you at all times.
• Avoid being out during dusk or dawn hours. Many criminals prefer the cover of darkness to hunt for victims and this includes the dusk and dawn hours where light is fading quickly.
• Make sure someone knows exactly where you are going and when you plan on returning just in case something happens to you while you are out enjoying your day.

As you can plainly see, there is nothing on this list that is expensive or overly complicated to accomplish. With that said you have to decide what your safety is worth to you and then act accordingly.

Stay Safe!

The Judge

Thanks to the fine folks over at Mace, we have yet another option in the form of the Mace Pepper Gun. This handy little device has quite a few features that are not available with the other delivery methods.

The Mace Pepper Gun uses their patented Bag-in-a-Can Technology. This allows the device to maintain a constant stream even when turned on the side or upside down! Not only that, it shoots up to twenty five feet away which is about twice what the other delivery methods will do.

As for ease of use, it does not get much easier to operate than the Mace Pepper Gun. Once loaded with a pepper canister, you simply aim and shoot. To simplify the process they even included a LED light for the weapon.

This LED light affords three main benefits:
1. Wherever you shine the light is where the pepper spray will land. This makes aiming for the face very simple. Shine the light directly in their eyes and blast away and continue to do so until he is screaming out in agony from the burn!
2. The other added benefit of the LED light is that when you do shine the light it his eyes it will help to disorient him for the second or so it will take the pepper spray from the Mace Pepper Gun to make him wish he was elsewhere. After it starts to kick in the fight is over and he will not be able to see you so you can escape to safety.
3. The fear factor. At night when you pull this out it will be tough to tell exactly what you have in your hand and could potentially scare off the attacker or at least distract him long enough for you to take a deep breath and use the device.

So I am sure you can see that there is not much to absorb when it comes to learning how to use the Mace Pepper Gun. You load it, point the light and squeeze the trigger. That really is all there is to it!

One more benefit that Mace provided with their Pepper Gun is that they sell practice canisters. They are filled with water and allow you the chance to test out the device without wasting your precious pepper spray.

Stay Safe!

The Judge

The good is news is that you can learn martial arts from home which allows you to include your family and friends. You will find that it is a great way for you to spend some quality time with your loved ones as well as allow them to enjoy the health benefits.

So how do you do it? It is easy if you are rich and famous or at least rich because you can simply pay for a Sensei to come out to your home and train you one on one. Now for the rest of us we have to go a different route.

The most cost effective way to learn martial arts at home is by the use of instructional videos. There are many great videos you can choose from covering various martial arts disciplines and hand to hand combat styles. This allows you to pick what you think will suit you and your family the best.

So if your interest in learning martial arts from home is strictly for defense and not actually embracing the lifestyle you may want to choose a training video that just teaches you defense. In fact there are a few that have only a few moves total but those few moves are devastating to your opponent.

Just remember that all of the moves taught in these videos are for self defense purposes only and should not be used to initiate a fight. The moves taught are meant to cause bodily harm to your opponent and you better have a good reason why you went to this level.

Of course, defending yourself or someone else can qualify as a good reason. To steal a line from the Spiderman movies “with great power comes great responsibility” so be sure to use common sense and good judgment when unleashing your new found skills.

Stay safe!

The Judge

The more popular of the two main types of Phone Recorders would be the small Digital Recorders. They simply plug right into the headphone jack of your home or even cell phones and then you hit the record button and it will record until you stop it or it runs out of space.

They also can be used to record sound from within a room either using the built-in or an external microphone and some of the better models even have a voice activated feature so it will only record when it “hears” voices.

The less popular type of Phone Recorder can only record phone conversation that come through itself which means that you could not use it to record your cell phone or even a phone from another room. They also do not generally have the ability to record sounds from within a room either which would account for the lack of popularity.

So as you can see recording a phone conversation is quite easy these days and the person on the other line would never know unless you tell them but that is another issue you must consider.

You see many states have what they call a “two party consent” law which requires both parties be aware that they are being recorded. You need to know what the law is for your state should you decide to start recording phone conversations so you do not wind up getting yourself into hot water with the law enforcement community of your area.

To see whether your state has a “two party consent” law or not you can look here at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_recording_laws.

If you live in a “two party” consent state then you may want to reconsider the use of a phone recorder or at the very least consult an attorney to know exactly what you can do without breaking the laws of your state.

Stay safe!

The Judge

Hidden Camera Detector technology has improved over time just like cameras so you can easily protect yourself from having your privacy invaded. This should be something you think about whenever you use a public restroom, changing or locker room since a video of that event could wind up on the internet being viewed by thousands of perverts for years to come.

Hidden cameras can be wired, wireless or even self recording. This means that whichever Hidden Camera Detector you choose needs to be able to detect all three if you want maximum protection.

Wireless cameras are the easiest to detect because of their RF or Radio Frequency. This is a signal that the wireless camera gives off the entire time it is powered on. Your Hidden Camera Detector should easily alert you to the presence of the RF signals and then you just need to either leave or if you want proof, narrow down the location. This can be done by the use of the signal strength meter on your Hidden Camera Detector. The closer you get to the source, the stronger the signal.

Wired and self recording hidden cameras do not give off RF signals like the wireless cameras so they are a bit tougher to locate. This is where the eyepiece of your Hidden Camera Detector comes into play.

You simply look through the specially made eyepiece and any video camera lenses within a few feet will flash red so you will know exactly where they are located. At that point you can contact the authorities and put a stop to their bad behavior.

Out of the 3 types of hidden cameras, the wired and self recording models are most likely the types of camera you will run into in public settings. Wireless cameras are best suited for situations where you are not able to run a wire and are usually used in private homes.

This is the reason you would be best served by purchasing a Hidden Camera Detector that can handle all 3 types of cameras so you are ensured the maximum protection when out in public.

Stay safe!

The Judge
Alarm Clock Camera
Hidden Clock Camera

I think we all understand which situations I’m speaking; the one where you’re simply minding your own business on a street corner when somebody approaches you with demeaning words and unwarranted anger – this is where learning how to defend yourself physically can come in quite handy, because it’s almost certain that this person advanced with the intention to fight.

In short, MMA or mixed martial arts is defined as a full contact combat sport, and it permits a large variety of fighting methods, including those of tradition and non-tradition. This means that grappling, as well as striking, is allowed. Most fights actually end in a grapple, followed by a submission move (i.e. arm bar). Congruently, this is why learning mixed martial arts for self defense is so beneficial. It’s true that most physical altercations, whether they are during after hours at a town bar or in the parking lot outside of a gym, almost always end up on the ground in a furious jostle for position.

But if you truly want to subdue your attacker, you must learn the various styles and techniques of handling your opponent while you’re both on the ground. A take-down is typically followed by the most common hybrid of “ground and pound,” where you have your foe on his back while sitting on top of him throwing devastating punches. But MMA ground fighting isn’t always defined by clinching mixed with knees, elbows and punches to the face. In fact, it’s what’s known as “submission grappling” that gives note to a well rounded MMA fighter.

When I say submission grappling, I mean putting your adversary in a choke-hold and/or any of the following:
• Joint locks
• Arm-locks
• Leg-locks
• Clinch holds
• Compression locks
• Pain compliance
• Pinning

There are a few intricate others, including the “Grapevine”, but these are the top categories that define submission holds. These are a part of many different disciplines including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Catch Wrestling, Judo, Sambo, Shootwrestling, Pankration and more.

Let’s not forget one of the most important elements and differentiators to boxing; kickboxing/Muay Thai. Certain MMA fighters specialize in areas like kickboxing provided they’re strongest in that area. The same goes for clinching and ground and pound – fighters will determine their strong areas during practice and routine, effectively mastering their most powerful kick and/or submission move. This is evident while viewing any MMA fight. You’ll notice that some MMA fighters almost always strike at the hips, venturing into a takedown and eventually ending the fight in submission while others enjoy staying on their feet and throwing lots of punches.

Nevertheless, all of these traditional styles and disciplines mixed with a combination of modern or non-tradition styles envelope what we commonly refer to as Mixed Martial Arts today. The sport is growing in popularity. Congruently, more people are taking an interest into learning some of these self defense techniques. Not only does engaging in such activity come with the ability to defend, but it naturally enhances fitness.

___________________________________________________________
By: Brent Jacobs of MMA Industries, distributor of extreme MMA Gear and MMA T-shirts.
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It can get so bad that you have to drive to a different area just to be able to walk your dog or yourself without fear of attack from some crazed dog that should be secured so it can not get out. As such, you may find yourself in need of some way to protect yourself from dog attacks.

Thankfully there are some inexpensive products that you can purchase that will help to protect you from dog attacks. Here are just a few of these products:

• Mace Muzzle Canine Repellent – In simple terms, this is pepper spray that is specifically designed to be the most effective on canine breeds of all types. Much like pepper sprays for people, Canine Pepper Spray is meant to cause a lot of pain and disable the aggressive animal from being able to attack you. It shoots up to 10 feet away so you can spray before the dog gets close enough to bite you.
• Telescopic Stun baton – This option also uses pain to persuade an aggressive dog to go away but it also has the added effects of sight and sound. When you discharge the Telescopic Stun Baton, even just in the air, it is very loud and disturbing. Dogs can sense trouble and they know to run from electricity which is why most dogs go nuts during electrical storms.
• Expandable Steel Baton – Obviously with this you just want to start swinging and aim for the nose or mouth area of the dog. This should be a last ditch option as you can either cause serious damage to the dog if not outright kill it. This option should only be exercised when a human life is truly in mortal danger.
• Ultrasonic Dog Repellent – This is by far the most humane option of all the items on this list and would be the one I would recommend the most. It is a hand-held device about the size of a cell phone that emits a 130 decibel ultrasonic frequency that hurts the dog’s ears. It also uses bright flashing LED lights to help drive off an aggressive dog. It works up to 40 feet away so you can have plenty of time to act. The Ultrasonic Dog Repellent does not do any permanent damage but will convince a dog to head the other way. If you are a dog lover than this will definitely be your best option for protection from dog attacks.

No normal person wants to hurt a dog but there are situations where there is no other choice than to defend your own life from an attack by using some type of force. All of the options on this list with the exception of the Steel Baton are meant to simply scare off the animal without permanent damage.

Stay safe!

The Judge
Alarm Clock Camera
Hidden Clock Camera

Besides the basic safety talk about avoiding drugs and alcohol as well as driving with idiots, you need to be sure he is thinking about his personal safety while he is out and about.

Here are just a few of the best self defense products for male college students that he can use to increase his level of safety while away at college:

• Diversion Safe – He can use one in his car and one in his dorm room to help hide his valuables from theft. Diversion safes come in all types of everyday products that people will not give a second look. They are very inexpensive and quite effective in hiding your items in plain sight.
• Door Brace – This can be used to secure his dorm room door without the need to permanently install anything you just extend it and brace it up against the door. Best of all the Door Brace is portable so he can take it with him as he travels to help provide safety in hotel rooms, apartments or any place he wants to make sure he can sleep without fear of attack.
• Pepper Spray – This is a great self defense device for both men and women. Even if he never needs to defend himself he made need to defend someone else and Pepper Spray can give him the edge he needs to do so safely.
• Expandable Baton – If you get the flashlight option he can keep it in his car to help with an emergency like a breakdown, an attempted car jacking or even a submerged vehicle. An Expandable Baton has many uses and for the price it is more than worth the money.
• Kubotan – This little device is very inexpensive as it is usually around five dollars. It can serve many purposes and does not really require any kind of training. A Kubotan is more of a use however you need it type of item since it can defend you from attack by using it as a stabbing device or flail. It too can be used in a car emergency kit as well since it can be used to break out a window if needed.

With the items on this list you can help to ensure your son has at least a fighting chance to defend himself or someone else should the need arise whether it be in his home or his vehicle.

Stay safe!

The Judge

The entire time I was reading the news story I just couldn’t believe it was true since it was just so unthinkable.

The car the bank robber happen to carjack at a nearby Wendy’s was occupied by a woman and her two small children.

For some reason that is unfathomable, the police decided to shoot at the criminal while he was doing the carjacking in the middle of the day on a Saturday. This is in a Wendy’s parking lot!

Evidently they were unable to hit their “intended target” at this point so some other officers down the street came out shooting at the car as it passed by on the street. It sounds like they were on both sides shooting at the guy.

Now when I say they kept shooting I mean they kept shooting some reported 42 rounds! They fired at a car containing an innocent woman, her 7 year old step daughter and 2 year old son!

In all they shot they poor 2 year old boy 2 times. Once in the arm and the other time in the upper torso. The mother of the boy, 35 year old Joann Cooper, was hit in the foot during this nightmare.

The poor little boy is still listed in critical condition by last reports. Now I don’t know about you but I find this situation unacceptable.

This wasn’t a heavily armored man wielding automatic weapons, shooting everyone in sight. No, this was some idiot 357 pistol wielding moron.

I can’t imagine any reasoning on these officers part that can justify firing 42 times at a car containing 3 innocent victims. The police should not be the cause of harm to innocent citizens.

This isn’t the old west and we don’t go around having absolute crazy, unnecessary shoot outs in our heavily populated streets! Furthermore, 42 shots? 42? Really?

It sounds like the Jacksonville police department needs to learn HOW to shoot a gun properly and all of those officers involved in this mayhem should be brought up on charges and fired from their jobs.

I can only hope and pray that poor little boy is able to make it through and that his entire family can somehow put this behind them as much as possible.

You can read the entire new story here.

It is too bad Joann didn’t have a pepper spray or stun gun to repel this idiot before he could get into her car to begin with before they were shot at.

Stay safe!

The Judge

Now, more than ever, senior citizens need to worry about their personal safety and do what they need to in order to remain safe.

1. Auto Dialer alarm system for your home. Criminals enjoy preying on the elderly and this can keep you from coming home to an intruder. It will call you if it detects motion in your home and you can then call the police instead of walking in on the criminal.
2. Electronic Dog Chaser. This will help keep you safe as you walk around your neighborhood or local parks. It emits a 130db ultrasonic frequency as well as utilizing pulsing lights to scare off aggressive dogs. This is perfect for you as you walk your dog or simply walk by yourself out in public where there is a risk of an off leash dog attacking you.
3. Runt Mini Stun gun. It is a very small, light and easy to use stun gun. It fits nicely in your hand or pocket and can be used on the attacker even if he is touching you since the electricity will not pass through to you.
4. A small, lightweight Pepper Spray for your key chain. If you happen to use any type of wheel chair or walker, you can hide one in the pocket of the chair so you always have it on hand. Be sure to aim for the eyes and get to safety as quick as you possibly can.
5. Personal alarms. They are a must have addition to your safety tool chest. When you need assistance, having the 110db alarm can mean the difference between life or death. This is true for security as well as medical situations. Should you need help for any reason, a Personal alarm can help get you the attention you need.

All of the items on this list are lightweight and very easy to use which is something you should be sure any self defense weapon you may choose has for a feature.

The last thing you need is more stress when trying to protect yourself from an attack.

Stay safe!

The Judge