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I'd suggest that a week spent driving in Cairo traffic could have enough effect on one's attention to keep you safe forever. No weapons needed.

Maryanne

On Jan 10, 2008 7:20 PM, Sisu West Ranch < ranch@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

As Truman pointed out, awareness is a good part of the battle.  Most good instructors who are teaching self defense (as opposed to a sport related to armed or unarmed defense), spend much of their time teaching awareness of the situation and potential threats.

 

To my mind, one of the interesting psychological results of training and carrying a weapon (of any kind) is that it sometimes is easier to remember to scan continuously for potential threats (often called "condition orange").  In the last month I was reading an article by a professional instructor and bodyguard.  He related how during a recent trip to Mexico, when he could not carry a weapon, he was surprised two times by the development of potential threats, situations that he would not normally allowed to develop.  He concluded that for some reason his mind decided that he could completely let his guard down ("condition green") because he was not armed.  He related this story to emphasize the importance of awareness.

 

As far as depending upon the police and alarm companies, there is a motto:

"When seconds count, the police are only minutes away".  Calling 911 (I suspect that alarm calls are a low priority for the police because of the large number of false alarms.), and keeping them on the line (cell phone) while you attempt to get you and yours to a safe place or out of the invaded home is a great idea, as long as your plans recognize that in most cases the incident will be long over before the police arrive.

 

Response time for the police can vary greatly.  When I lived in Cleveland during the 60's (remember the riots?), a routine call at night would be answered in an hour or so.  Folk started to call in and falsely claim that there was an "officer in trouble" to get quicker response.  (At this time officers did not have radios when out of their squad like they do now.)  When I lived in St. Croix County WI during the 70-80's it was still rather rural.  At night there was one Sheriff car for the whole county.  I was at the E end of the county.  If that unit happened to be at the other end when I called I would have had to wait for 30 minutes.  Now even though in rural Ravalli County, MT, the response time might be better.  I am in the center of the county, and on the major N-S highway.  I probably could count on help in say 10-15 minutes. 

 

There are mental games that can be played to help you remain aware of your surroundings.  When in the woods, I continually look for game.  I am not as good as many, but getting better.  At least I am looking around, not zoning out on my horse with music from an IPod.  When in the city, I continuously look for folk who may be carrying a not completely concealed weapon.  Again, this "game" helps me be aware of who is around and what their dress, body language, sex, and general appearance are telling me.  In essence I play a "profiling" game.

 

Ed

Ed & Wendy Hauser
2994 Mittower Road
Victor, MT 59875

 

(406) 642-9640

 

ranch(at)sisuwest(dot)us

-- 
Maryanne Stroud Gabbani
msgabbani@xxxxxxxxx

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