Ten Little Known Facts About Self-Defense Products

There's no secret about products that are designed to provide personal safety and personal security. Self-defense products in one form or another have been around for thousands of years. Think about the first time you picked up a stick or stone to throw at somebody in self-defense, then move that back thousands of years. Those were the first self-defense products.

Modern-day self-defense items such as include pepper sprays and stun guns are especially popular for female self-defense and for personal safety and personal security of anyone. They are nonlethal products that have one goal in mind: disable an assailant long enough for you to get away and seek help removing you from harm's way.

Here are ten little-known facts about self-defense products that you should know before you buy one and especially after you get one.

1. Pepper sprays are legal in all jurisdictions but some cities and states have limitations on the amount of certain ingredients. Your local police department or an online website can fill you in on the legality in your area.

2. Stun guns are not legal everywhere. Again your local police department or an online website can inform you of legality in your area. You certainly don't want to use an illegal product even if it is to defend yourself.

3. Stun guns and pepper sprays are on average only 90% effective. They are less effective against assailants who are drunk or are on drugs.

4. Pepper sprays are extremely vulnerable to windy or rainy conditions not to mention that they have range restrictions. Most pepper sprays do not shoot any farther than 10 or 12 feet.

5. Stun guns need to be applied physically to an assailant's body. Many people find that objectionable.

6. They are most effective when applied to certain areas of the body such as "the upper hip, below the rib cage or the upper shoulders. This is due to there being nerve centers at those points."

7. "Even if the assailant is touching you, the current will not pass to you. There is no shock-back."

8. Even though pepper sprays and stun guns are nonlethal in nature, they are still considered weapons. Misuse of them is illegal and punishable by a fine and possible jail term.

9. A license is not required to carry them.

10. Tasers cannot be activated without passing a background check.

If you are aware of these little-known facts about self-defense products and the shortcomings they have, you can better be prepared to overcome them and compensate for them.

This 130 db Loud Personal Alarm is on a keychain so it is with you all the time.

The Fox brands Hardcase Pepper Spray is on of the most effective you can carry.

Since 2005 Guardian Self-Defense & Security Products LLC has provided personal security to over 45,000 consumers. We offer a full-line of premium self-defense weapons such as pepper spray, stun guns, tasers, pepper mace, personal alarms and other self-defense items.

The Ten Basic Principles of Women’s Self-Defense

Often times women hear about self-defense and they might have mixed reactions.  Many    
think it is a great idea to learn how to defend herself but might not have the resources to
find the correct forum or instructor.  For some, it is something they “just cannot get to
right now”. Then there are those of us ladies who either think, “oh, nothing ever happens
where I live” or “I don’t need to learn because I can handle myself”.
There are Ten Basic Principles of Women’s Self-Defense that can help save your life
when confronted with a threatening situation:
1. Increase Reaction Time- When you increase the distance between you and an
attacker you increase the time it will take for them to reach you.  This will give
you more time to evaluate the situation and react to it appropriately.
2. Obtain Good Balance- It is very important for you to have good balance during
these stressful times.  You need to set your body up with a good foundation for
the self-defense techniques you might need to use.
3. Develop a Plan of Action- At The Women’s Self-Defense and Empowerment
Group we say, “The body is only as strong as the mind allows”.  If you have
thought of a stressful situation a few times and saw yourself taking action, with
success, your body can actually respond better when confronted in real life.
4. Use Distraction Techniques- Most aggressors do not expect their intended target
to take a defensive stance and yell back at them.  This can cause them to realize
you are not the “easy” target the originally thought.
5. Identify the Attacker’s Vulnerable Location- The vulnerable locations on an
attacker are: eyes, nose, throat, clavicle notch, forearm, groin, shin, knee, and
foot.
6. Use Your Personal Weapons- A woman’s personal weapons are: head (front/
back), elbow, fist, knee, and foot.
7. Avoid Force on Force- Pound for pound a male will overpower a female.  We
need to use the element of surprise, deliver quick/ strong self-defense techniques
and have the “Survival Mindset”.
8. Avoid Panic- It is a natural reaction to freeze for a split second when confronted
with a dangerous situation.  Take that time to evaluate what is happening and
choose to react accordingly.
9. Disengage and RUN- This is the primary goal of self-defense and survival.  As
soon as the attacker releases his grasp you need to RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!
10. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!!!- We have always been told to
‘practice hard” if we wanted to learn something.
At the Women's Self-Defense and Empowerment Group we use these principles to
educate and empower our students.  The self-defense techniques are designed for
women and taught by a female with fifteen years of Law Enforcement experience.
She uses her own story of surviving a fight for her life to stress the importance of the
“SURVIVAL MINSET” and “PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT”

Mystery Of Self Defense Solved - Top Tips

If you knew where the most common places for assaults to occur were, you would avoid them. If you knew how to defend yourself in an assault situation, you would take action to learn that skill. If you knew the weaknesses of assailants, you would want to know that too.

Here we're going to take some of the mystery out of self-defense by giving you some tips that will go a long way towards ensuring your personal safety and personal security. When it comes to female self-defense women need all the help they can get.

Through years of research and observation as verified by law enforcement agencies, the top places for assaults on women are: at home in a domestic violence situation; in parking lots; and at work.

You may not be able to avoid a domestic violence attack at home. But what you can do is be prepared. If you are in an abusive relationship and have not had an assault from your significant other, husband or boyfriend it is probably just a matter of time before that occurs. You should take some preparatory steps to learn how to defend yourself just in case a situation is not remedied.

Some women think that part of their responsibility is to just be a victim-that they are helpless and can't resist or do anything. Society until now has fostered that thinking. That has got to change! Self-defense courses and products such as stun guns and pepper sprays can help women defend themselves against a domestic violence attack-a.k.a. an assault.

Parking lots at commercial establishments, especially malls, provide great sources of targets for predators. Women come out of stores pushing carts, tending to their children, talking on cell phones or are otherwise distracted. A distracted woman is an easy target for a predator who wants to commit robbery, assault or rape.

Women should arm themselves with self-defense products and keep their hands free at all times when walking from the store to their car. They should be especially wary at night and not become distracted by anything or anyone until they get into their car and lock the doors. Even workplace parking lots and parking garages provide hiding places for predators to attack women.

The workplace may seem like an unlikely place for women to be attacked. Predators hide in stairwells of office complexes or in parking garages as noted above. Ask any hospital administrator why they have so many armed guards on the premises. Workplaces that employ large numbers of women are particularly vulnerable-call service centers, real estate offices, secretarial pools and to some extent schools.

Be alert to your surroundings.

Keep your hands free as much as possible.

Carry a self-defense product with you at all times.

If you know these ins and outs self-defense is not much of a mystery at all. Follow these tips and you'll be way ahead of the game of defending yourself.

This 130 db Loud Personal Alarm is on a keychain so it is with you all the time.

The Fox brands Hardcase Pepper Spray is one of the most effective sprays available.

Since 2005 Guardian Self-Defense & Security Products LLC has provided personal security to over 45,000 consumers. We offer a full-line of premium self-defense weapons such as pepper spray, stun devices, tasers, pepper mace, personal alarms and other self-defense items.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7419323

Quick Steps On How To Use Pepper Spray To Protect Yourself

Using pepper spray to fight off an attacker isn't simply a matter of pointing and shooting. There are many variables that need to be thought about, in advance, in order to use pepper spray effectively and efficiently to fight off an attack. The four most important things to consider are; how to carry pepper spray, when to use it, how to shoot, and how to retreat.

How To Carry It

There are three basic ways to carry a defensive spray, and choosing which one is best for you will be determined by the type of spray, size of the spray and whether you are male or female.

• Purse Carry - Many women prefer this method, especially if they carry a large canister like 4 oz or larger. The downside is that most women tend to throw it into their purse and forget about it, making it difficult to find on a moments notice when they need it. If you choose this option, keep your spray canister in its own pouch in your purse where it is quickly and easily accessible. Many canisters come with a clip so that it can be attached to an inside pocket or flap of the purse for easy access. It should be in a spot where you can reach in and grab it without looking.

• Key-Chain Carry - This method is the most common and popular way to carry pepper spray. Most people already have their keys in their hands when approaching or leaving their vehicle so it is easily deployed at a moments notice. The downside is, at ½ oz in size, most key-chain pepper sprays are smaller than the purse carry models. One way that women rectify this is to carry a key-chain spray for quick deployment and an additional 4 oz or larger model in their purse in the event they empty the key-chain canister.

• Belt Carry - This is how police carry their department issue pepper spray. It's also the preferred method for men who use defensive sprays. Larger model sprays usually come with some type of leather belt strap. It's within reach quickly and easily. Many people attach the belt clip so that it faces down toward the ground. You'll find that it's easier to draw the spray quickly this way, rather than having to draw upward, which is an un-natural motion. Also, make sure to arrange it so that when it's retrieved, the trigger is already in the proper position in your hand. This way you don't have to waste valuable time rearranging it in your hand.

Don't ever carry pepper spray in your pocket, you won't be able to retrieve it fast enough to be deployed. Most assaults occur quickly and without warning, so a quick deployment is vital to achieve the desired result. Carrying pepper spray in your pocket is akin to giving an attacker a one to two second head start. Remember, for a defensive spray to be effective it should be readily available.

When To Use It

Your timing, deciding exactly when to use your spray, is essential to effectively stop an attacker in his tracks. The objective is to surprise the attacker. Pull out your pepper spray only when you are prepared to use it. Don't show it and threaten him with it, hoping you can frighten him off.

Don't give the attacker any time to think and react to it. This makes it more difficult to achieve a direct hit if he can duck or avoid the spray. Also, many attackers carry a weapon but don't often show it. They often feel they can overpower someone without a weapon but carry one just in case they need it. Raising your pepper spray prematurely without shooting it just gives him time retrieve his weapon and use it against you.

Shooting

Most women who carry pepper spray are completely unprepared to use it because they have never been trained on how to use it. They mistakenly believe that all they have to do is point and shoot. They underestimate how quickly things happen and don't realize how difficult it can be to shoot and aim accurately under stressful conditions.

Once you've pulled out your spray and are ready to shoot, it's important to get into a good athletic position in preparation to shoot. Go into a slight crouch with your feet about shoulder width apart, evenly balanced, shoulders squared and facing directly toward the assailant.

Hold your non-shooting hand out and yell "stop", as you shoot. This will focus your energy on the task at hand and may draw the attacker's attention toward your hand and away from the pepper spray. It also gives you time to raise and aim the spray before you shoot. However, be aware that many people under the stress of the situation, may not be able to keep their shooting hand steady enough to achieve accurate aim.

If you feel this might be the case with you, then use your non-shooting hand to steady the shooting hand.

As you shoot, never thrust your hand forward as it will affect your aim. Instead, raise your arm gently but in a quick and smooth motion. Don't turn your back on the attacker! As you fire, step backward slightly in a slow, steady and deliberate manner. Try to limit upper body movement as much as possible. Limiting upper body, and hip movement, will keep your aim steady and prevent you from having to constantly readjust your aim.

Stepping back will give you more time, create more distance between you and the attacker and draws the attacker into the spray. Don't shut your eyes while spraying and don't wave the spray like a fire hose, this does nothing but waste the spray. Remember to aim, shoot and look where you are hitting and correct if necessary.

Aim for the head and shoulders. Shooting for about 1 - 2 seconds is usually adequate. At this point, an attacker will normally pause for a moment while he tries to gather himself as the pain and uncontrollable coughing spasms set in. Once he's disabled, stop spraying, and escape.

Retreat

The whole point of having pepper spray is to use it to escape! So once, he's been neutralized, get out of there. Don't wait around for police or try to detain him for the cops. Don't move toward the attacker or you may be affected by the spray. While making your escape, back away but don't turn your back on him! Obviously, you need to see were you're going but don't turn your back on him until you are a good distance away. He may get up and attempt to follow you, so you may need to spray him again. Once you are a safe distance away (about 100 feet or so), and you see that he isn't getting up, turn around, run and make your escape as quickly as possible.

So, remember to stay calm, aim, spray, adjust and continue spraying, while backing up. Also if you want to be able to use the spray effectively it's important to practice all the steps. If you don't practice, when you find yourself in a threatening situation, you'll probably panic and freeze up. Practice until you feel confidant and then when something happens, you won't panic because you'll be prepared. If you don't want to practice with real pepper spray, you can purchase a water-based inert or practice spray.