Idiots Guide to Self Defense

Cover......Page 1
Contents At a Glance......Page 2
Contents......Page 4
Part 1: The Scoop on Safety......Page 7
1 What's All the Fuss About?......Page 9
Homicide......Page 11
Robbery......Page 13
Burglary......Page 15
Larceny-Theft......Page 17
Guns......Page 19
Types of Guns......Page 21
Long on Crime, Short on Police......Page 23
An Overview......Page 25
The Importance of a Punch......Page 27
Sharing the Credit......Page 29
The Big Five......Page 31
Hard......Page 33
Soft......Page 35
Kicking and Punching......Page 37
Grappling and Throwing......Page 39
Weapons......Page 41
What Are Your Goals?......Page 43
What to Look for When Choosing a School......Page 45
3 The Golden Rules of Survival......Page 47
So What Does Confidence Have to Do with Safety?......Page 49
Golden Rule 2: Fear Not......Page 51
Education: Fear's Enemy......Page 53
The Root of Offense......Page 55
Golden Rule 5: Follow Your Instincts......Page 57
Golden Rule 6: Awareness Always Wins......Page 60
Communicating with Body Language......Page 62
Putting It All Together......Page 64
Destroying Denial......Page 66
4 Knowing the Enemy's Mindset......Page 68
Money Criminals......Page 70
Discipline Criminals......Page 73
Deprivation Criminals......Page 75
Social Criminals......Page 77
Gangs......Page 80
What Do They Want?......Page 82
Why Don't They Care?......Page 84
Don't Go by Appearance......Page 86
5 Defending Yourself and the Law......Page 88
The Need for Boundaries......Page 90
Deadly Force......Page 92
The Importance of Character......Page 94
Fault......Page 96
Physical Threats......Page 98
Knowing When to Quit......Page 100
The Opportunity to Retreat......Page 102
Simplify to Survive......Page 104
Challenged to Fight......Page 106
Special Circumstances......Page 108
A Police Officer Uses Excessive Force Without Cause......Page 110
Part 2: Staying Safe While Out and About......Page 112
6 Dangerous Places......Page 113
The Difference Between Night and Day......Page 115
Dangerous Outdoor Locations......Page 117
Large Cities......Page 119
Parking Garages......Page 121
Automatic Teller Machines......Page 123
Truck Stops......Page 126
The 12 Most Dangerous Cities......Page 128
The 12 Safest Cities......Page 130
Rock Concerts......Page 132
Public Sporting Events......Page 134
An Overview of Stalkers......Page 136
The Characteristics of a Stalker......Page 138
Obsession and Retribution......Page 140
Taking Action......Page 142
Con Men: Career Liars......Page 144
Popular Cons......Page 146
Classified Ads......Page 148
Models Wanted......Page 150
Staying Out of Sight......Page 152
8 Playing It Safe When Out of the House......Page 154
Outdoor Exercise......Page 156
Setting Boundaries......Page 158
Beaches and Boardwalks......Page 160
Boardwalks......Page 162
Nightclubs and Bars......Page 164
Shopping......Page 166
Parking Lot Safety......Page 168
Pickpockets and Purse Snatchers......Page 170
Wallets......Page 172
Bags and Purses......Page 174
9 Making All Trips Round Trips......Page 177
Before You Leave......Page 179
Hotels and Motels......Page 181
Hotel Safety......Page 183
Theft in the Terminal......Page 185
The Laptop Scam......Page 187
Airport Safety Tips......Page 189
Blending In......Page 190
Methods of Payment......Page 192
Dangerous Countries......Page 194
Be a Local or Just Look like One......Page 196
Cruises......Page 198
10 Staying Safe While Single......Page 199
Be Careful What You Say......Page 201
During the Date......Page 203
Before Getting Serious......Page 205
How to Legally Check Him Out......Page 207
Get the Facts......Page 209
Date Rape......Page 211
Physically Defending Yourself......Page 213
After an Attack......Page 215
11 Staying Safe On the College Campus......Page 218
Why College Crime Is on the Rise......Page 220
Everyday Stuff......Page 222
Securing Your Dorm......Page 224
Getting Around Campus......Page 226
Alcohol and Drugs......Page 228
Students to Avoid......Page 230
Theft......Page 232
Date Rape......Page 234
12 Dealing with Violence in the Workplace......Page 236
What You Can Do?......Page 238
Being Aware......Page 240
If You Spot a Problem......Page 242
Disciplinary Action and Employee Assistance......Page 244
Putting It All Together......Page 246
Hiring Practices......Page 248
Evaluations......Page 250
Following Through......Page 252
Dangerous Occupations......Page 254
Part 3: Home Sweet Home......Page 256
13 Fortifying Your Castle......Page 257
Making It Look Occupied......Page 259
Outdoor Lighting......Page 261
Shrubbery and Bushes......Page 262
Doors......Page 264
Garages......Page 266
One Step Further......Page 268
Alarms......Page 270
Safes......Page 272
Insurance......Page 274
Apartment Living......Page 276
14 Telephones: Thinking Before You Speak......Page 278
Hang-Ups......Page 280
Calls from a Stalker......Page 282
Telemarketers......Page 284
Setting Up for Safety......Page 286
To Be Listed or Not to Be Listed......Page 288
Special Call Features......Page 290
Dialing 911......Page 292
Recording Conversations......Page 294
Cellular Phones......Page 296
15 Not Getting Burned on the Internet......Page 297
What About Privacy?......Page 299
Want a Cookie?......Page 301
Shopping and Banking Online......Page 303
Children and the Internet......Page 305
Passwords......Page 307
EMail Security......Page 309
Those Ugly Viruses......Page 311
Protecting Yourself from Viruses......Page 313
Types of Viruses......Page 315
Harassers......Page 317
Cyberstalkers......Page 319
Online Authorities......Page 321
16 When Home Is No Longer Safe......Page 323
A Few Numbers......Page 325
Partner Abuse......Page 327
Warning Signs......Page 329
If You Have Been Victimized in the Past......Page 331
If You Throw Someone Out......Page 333
The Restraining Order......Page 335
When Battery Affects the Workplace......Page 337
Items to Take with You......Page 339
Getting Help......Page 341
Part 4: Safe Drivers Wanted......Page 343
17 Protecting Your Pride and Joy......Page 344
Your Finances......Page 346
Your Safety......Page 348
Entering and Exiting Your Vehicle......Page 351
Sitting Duck......Page 353
Keep a Safe Distance......Page 355
A Flat Tire......Page 356
Protecting Your Vehicle from Theft......Page 358
Steering Wheel Locks......Page 360
VIN Glass Etching......Page 362
Decals and Blinking Lights......Page 364
18 Roadside Assistance for the Stranded Driver......Page 365
Violent Crimes......Page 367
Getting Hit......Page 369
Things to Consider......Page 371
Walking to Safety......Page 373
Strangers......Page 375
Flat Tire......Page 377
Cell Phones and CB Radios......Page 379
Roadside Assistance Programs......Page 380
Hitchhikers......Page 382
19 Safely Getting Across Town......Page 384
Choosing a Taxi......Page 386
Baggage......Page 388
Giving Out Information......Page 390
Bad Drivers......Page 392
Dangerous Passengers......Page 394
Subways......Page 396
Guarding Your Stuff......Page 398
Entering and Exiting the Train......Page 400
Part 5: Face to Face with the Enemy......Page 401
20 When You're Confronted by a Criminal......Page 402
Prepare Your Mind......Page 404
Know Your Options......Page 406
The Location......Page 408
The Number of Attackers......Page 410
Children......Page 412
Playing the Odds......Page 414
Criminals Are Liars......Page 417
Get in the Car......Page 419
Be Quiet or Else......Page 421
21 The Basics of Fighting Back......Page 423
Stances......Page 425
Shuffling......Page 427
Keeping It Simple......Page 429
Outward......Page 431
Downward......Page 433
Elbow Blocks......Page 435
Front Kick......Page 437
Handstrikes......Page 439
Hammer Fist......Page 441
Face Plant......Page 443
Choking......Page 445
Biting......Page 447
Hair Pulling......Page 449
22 Weapons and Gadgets: What Really Works?......Page 450
Handguns......Page 452
Peashooters......Page 454
The Downside of Pepper Spray......Page 456
Streams......Page 458
Dyes......Page 460
Stun Guns......Page 461
Kubotans......Page 463
Products for Children......Page 465
Personal Monitors......Page 467
Part 6: Defense for Special Situations......Page 470
23 Home Alone......Page 472
Unexpected Visitors......Page 474
Special Delivery......Page 476
Common Tricks......Page 478
Service and Repair......Page 480
If You Think You Hear an Intruder......Page 482
If You Come Home to an Intruder......Page 483
The Safety Room......Page 486
The Phone......Page 488
The Mailbox......Page 490
24 Children: The World's Most Valuable Resource......Page 491
The Safety-Conscious Parent......Page 493
Let the Training Begin......Page 495
What Is a Stranger?......Page 497
Creating Passwords and Commands......Page 499
The You Are Nevers......Page 501
Fighting Back......Page 503
Home Safety for Kids......Page 505
Tips Worth Remembering......Page 506
25 Good-Old-Fashioned Safety for Seniors......Page 508
Investments......Page 510
Home Inspections and Repairs......Page 512
Donations Accepted......Page 514
Safety in Numbers......Page 515
Getting Some Exercise......Page 517
Shopping......Page 519
Banking......Page 521
Who to Contact......Page 522
26 Self-Defense for the Physically Challenged......Page 524
The X Block......Page 526
The Inward Block......Page 528
Handstrikes......Page 530
The Sword Hand......Page 532
The Heel Palm......Page 534
The Snap Strike......Page 536
The Wristlock......Page 538
The Arm Bar......Page 540
The Hair Sweep......Page 542
Protecting Your Belongings......Page 544
For Extra Protection......Page 546
A Glossary......Page 548
B Books......Page 550
C Videos......Page 552
D Web Site Addresses......Page 553
E References......Page 554
F Legal Forms......Page 555
Index......Page 556