Blogs, Books, Articles, etc

Blogs/Websites

Toughenup.com

Making Sense of Self-Defense

Impact Personal Safety

Model Mugging


Online Courses
SEP's Women's Self-Defense Program


Books
Self Protection: The Art of Preventative Self-Defense

The Best Defense: A Complete Guide to Personal and Home Defense (Michael Janich)

Hiding in Plain Sight

Articles/Papers
Articles and Books About the Potential Effectiveness of Women’s Self-Defense Programs

LACAAW: Self-Defense Information

Fightwize: Basic Self-Defense Training: Module 1 Escape

Literature review of research into the effectiveness of self defence programmes for girls as a sexual violence and family violence prevention strategy

Self-Defense Training as Clinical Intervention for Survivors of Trauma

Rape Prevention and Risk Reduction: Review of the Research Literature for Practitioners 

REFINING SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTION WITH VISITING PROFESSIONALS

Self-Secure System: A Framework for Confident Living

Walking To And From Your Vehicle

 

http://modelmugging.org/vehicle-safety/walking-to-your-vehicle/

Assertiveness

 

http://modelmugging.org/safe-dating-communication/

Self-Defense Professionals

Gavin de Becker

Gavin de Becker (born October 26, 1954)[1] is an American author and security specialist, primarily for governments, large corporations, and public figures.[2] He is the founder and chairman of Gavin de Becker and Associates.

Writings

The Gift of Fear (1997)

Protecting the Gift (1999)

Fear Less: Real Truth about Risk, Safety, and Security in a Time of Terrorism (2002)

Just 2 Seconds: Using Time and Space to Defeat Assassins (2008)

Dr. George Thompson, Ph.D

The late George J. Thompson PH.D. (1941-2011) created the internationally recognized training program in Tactical Communication known as “Verbal Judo.” He authored the bestselling book, “Verbal Judo The Gentle Art of Persuasion.”

Writings

Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion (1993)

Geoff Thompson

Geoff Thompson (born 26 January 1960 in Coventry, England) is a BAFTA-winning writer,[1] filmmaker, teacher, and self-defence instructor. He has written several books on self-help, self-defence and martial arts, and has written many screenplays for short and feature films.[

Writings

The Fence – The Art of Protection

Jeff Cooper

John Dean "Jeff" Cooper (May 10, 1920 – September 25, 2006) was a United States Marine, the creator of the "modern technique" of handgun shooting, and an expert on the use and history of small arms. In 1976, Cooper founded the American Pistol Institute (API) in Paulden, Arizona (later the Gunsite Academy).

Writings

Principles of Personal Defense

Craig Douglas

Chuck Haggard

Chuck Haggard Tells Us How To Suck Less! (Suck Less Saturday)

Dr. William April

Gun Culture 2.0: Resources By and About William Aprill of Aprill Risk Consulting

Bill Rapier
https://www.amtacshooting.com/amtac-shooting-instructors/


Lee Aldridge

USADojo Listing

Home Security

Home Security Checklist: National Crime Prevention Council 

Residential Security Assessment: NSW Police

Security Design Consulting: The Business of Security System Design

Home Security Systems: Consumer Reports

Best Home Security Systems of 2020: US News

Report Says Decrease in Residential Crime Scientifically Linked to Home Security Systems

https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Home-Security-Laymans-Guide/dp/1453732039/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=home+security&qid=1605899211&s=books&sr=1-4

Beginners Guide On Things to Know BEFORE Buying A Security Camera

Viewing Range vs Detection Range

-"Camera has a viewing range of 200 ft but a detection range of 20 ft meaning it won't start recording unless something comes within 20ft. 

-Can add motion sensor for more detection range

-Can get cameras with 24/7 recording but that cost more since it is recording to cloud but you could get around this by using camera's that have memory cards.

Recording Length and Retrigger Time

-recording length is the length of video recorded. Some may record up to 30 seconds, 2 minutes, etc. 

-Retriggering time. Time it takes before camera will record the next video. Some maybe from 10 seconds, others 60 seconds. Maybe customizable. 

Live View vs Saved Footage

Victim Selection/Criminal Psychology

Essential to avoiding, deterring and recognizing criminal advances is an understanding of criminal psychology and the victim selection process. There are many models and studies from professional criminologist which provide insight or seek to explain criminality. Understanding can also be gained from those less scholarly but perhaps more directly experienced individuals. 

Even when a criminal's motivation appears to be illogical, their planning and execution may be rational. Once understood, potential targets can choose to take steps to better protect themselves and avoid certain situations. It's important to recognize that criminals prefer targets who offer maximum gain, control, and access. They favor locations that minimize the risk of detection and situations that reduce contact with possible guardians.

Routine Activity Theory

http://www.crimeprevention.nsw.gov.au/Documents/routine_activity_factsheet_nov2014.pdf

https://crimesciencejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40163-015-0036-3


See: Hiding in Plain Sight ch 4

Routine activity theory  

An application of CRAVED to the choice of victim in sexual homicide: a routine activity approach

https://www.womensselfdefense-seps.com/womensselfdefense-course-module1.html

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0362331994900337

https://www.randylahaie.com/blog/victim-selection-and-what-to-do-about-it/

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/a3f5/6b4ea837ac5fa8cbae206cf8de3c4cb62965.pdf

https://jaydixit.com/files/PDFs/PT103_victim.pdf

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.837.3740&rep=rep1&type=pdf

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200901/marked-mayhem

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/why-bad-looks-good/202008/how-criminals-choose-their-victims

https://www.workplacebullying.org/gait/

https://www.asgmag.com/survival-skills/survival-self-defense/avoid-being-a-statistic-how-muggers-pick-their-victims/

https://books.google.com/books?id=7pXJDgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=how+criminals+choose+victims&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj-3sys9fbmAhXwmOAKHRauBVcQ6AEwA3oECAMQAg#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://www.wimbernasco.nl/Manuscripts/English/BernascoBlock2009.pdf

https://www.skillshare.com/classes/Introduction-to-Criminology-Explaining-Crime/2006514416

Intuition

 

Intuition is nothing more than a person’s sense about a situation influenced by experience and knowledge. Intuition is the way the mind picks up on patterns and uses experiential and learned knowledge to guide a person during a given situation. However, intuition is often driven by the subconscious. It’s rightly called a “gut feeling,” since people can literally have a physical response when their intuition tries to make them aware of something they do not consciously know. 

Some of the more significant studies regarding intuition have been conducted by Gary Klein, who developed the idea of recognition-primed decision-making (RPD). RPD describes how people with expertise intuitively identify a pattern in a situation and quickly determine a course of responses, without any analysis or comparing different courses of action. These intuitive decisions are very often right-but they are "good enough" solutions, not perfect solutions. Klein and his fellow researchers conducted studies with pilots, nurses, military leaders, chess masters, firefighters, etc and determined that in most cases, these experts did not deliberate when reacting to a situation—they just acted. The type of intuitive decision-making that Klein describes is best done in the types of situations that are time constrained, high stakes, uncertain, and constantly changing.

One of the key aspects of RPD is pattern recognition: “The basic aspect of recognitional decision-making is that people with experience can size up a situation and judge it as familiar or typical.

The goal of Combat Hunter is to to teach Marines how to separate the “sheep” (the unarmed civilians that populate the battlefield) from the “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (the enemy).

Left of Bang

Slain Baltimore CEO died of strangulation and blunt force trauma, court documents say
The video shows the suspect following LaPere from a distance, but LaPere does not appear to be aware of his presence, according to the sources.

After LaPere entered the lobby where her company offices are located, she appeared to see Billingsley at the front door looking as though he had difficulty getting into the building – as if he had forgotten his keys, the sources said.

LaPere then opened the door for him, and security cameras in the lobby recorded them in conversation, according to the sources.

As LaPere walked toward the elevator, those security cameras show Billingsley following her.

The statement of charges said LaPere and Billingsley were seen on surveillance video getting into the elevator together.

LaPere was killed on the roof, the sources said, and Billingsley is recorded leaving the building about 40 minutes after following her into the elevator.

Color Codes

 Color Codes

Condition White - Unaware and unprepared. 

In Condition White one is unaware, not alert, oblivious. This state can be characterized as "daydreaming" or "preoccupied". This person believes his or her personal safety is not in jeopardy and has chosen not to actively assess the surroundings for potential threats. Should a threat arise because of a lack of awareness, that person would be completely unprepared, forcing them to be reactive. Should generally be reserved for when in your home, with the doors locked, the alarm system on, and your dog at your feet.

Condition Yellow - Relaxed alert. 

This is a relaxed state of general alertness, with no specific focal point. You are not looking for anything or anyone in particular; you simply have your head up and your eyes open. You are alert and aware of your surroundings. You are difficult to surprise, therefore, you are difficult to harm. You do not expect to be attacked today. You simply recognize the possibility. Condition yellow is the mindset of those who are aware that the world is full of hazards, and some of which may be prevented by our own defensive action. Once a person has recognized a threat, they have escalated to Condition Orange.

Condition Orange - Specific alert. 

The mindset in which a person is focused on a specific potential threat and is prepared to take action. This person is actually in a lower state of psychological awareness than in Condition Yellow but in a higher state of physiological arousal. Whereas a persons mindset in Yellow is "I may have to fihgt today." In Orange it is "I may have to fight him today." This person has begun creating a plan for how to deal with the threat. The degree of awareness a person has here is less than that of Condition Yellow because the person's attention is now focused on a specific threat.

Condition Red - Fight

Is labeled the “lethal mode”—it is the psychological willingness to ruthlessly fight. Condition Red includes being “in the fight” and executing the plans created in Condition Orange. This person is in a much lower state of awareness due to being focused on one specific threat and has a very high degree of physiological arousal. Because of the inherent risk of engagement in a fight, the person’s awareness of the surroundings is further reduced as his or her mental capacity is focused on personal challenges to survival.

The normal psychological state of anyone concerned about personal safety must be Condition Yellow. It's important to realize that condition orange is a benefit for those that decide to live in condition yellow. 

Note: 

Retired Marine Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper developed a system of awareness he called his Color Codes that described the psychological conditions a person could have during any given situation. Cooper’s Color Code possesses four levels of awareness: White, Yellow, Orange, and Red. 

USCCA: Cooper's Color Codes and Living in Condition Yellow

Col. Jeff Cooper: Mental condition, Color codes

http://www.shielddefensetraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/States-of-Awareness.pdf

https://www.opsgear.com/blogs/opsgear%C2%AE-blog/color-code-of-mental-awareness-combat-mindset

https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2014/11/jeff-coopers-4-levels-situational-awareness/

https://tacticalprofessor.wordpress.com/tag/principles-of-personal-defense/

http://dvc.org.uk/jeff/jeff13_1.html

See: 

Left of Bang

De-escalation

 

behavior that is intended to prevent escalation of conflicts

https://www.usacarry.com/de-escalation-essential-skill-self-defense/#:~:text=Avoidance%20is%20most%20often%20the,be%20part%20of%20your%20arsenal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De-escalation

Situational Awareness

 

Situational awareness refers to the state of being mentally aware of ones surroundings and the ability to recognize potential threats.

Situational awareness is the ability to identify and process environmental cues to accurately predict the actions of others. (Spotting Danger Before It Spots You)

Must Know For Self Defense -Paul Sharp MDOC

Awareness - Where am I? What am I doing? Who's around me? (credited Tom Givens)

To increase awareness:

1) Stop entering spaces you don't look into first. 

Honing Your Situational Awareness To A Razor’s Edge - Tom Givens

Situational awareness are not innate behavior traits. This is a learned behavior pattern best learned through repetition. 

When you walk into a room, scan around and see who is in it besides you. Don’t be surprised by someone you did not see. 

Real Life Situational Awareness

Most carjackings happen at intersections. Be in condition yellow. If you see someone staring at you, move to condition orange. Have a plan to drive off if they approach you. 

Another common crime is the practice of following people to their homes in the suburbs and robbing them in their driveways as they exit their vehicles. I don’t care where you have been: bank, grocery store, ATM, theater; when you turn off the main drag into your neighborhood, look in the rearview mirror. If you make a turn into your neighborhood, again, look in the mirror. If you turn onto your street, again, look in the mirror. If you have made three turns inside your neighborhood and the same ragged, old car you’ve never seen before is right behind you, you might have a problem. 

Honing Situational Awareness 

______

example of forced teaming in non self-defense context 

______

Left of Greg: Situational Awareness

A Practical Guide to Situational Awareness

CONTACT AVOIDANCE VS CONTACT MANAGEMENT

The Biggest Security Threat - Target Focus Training - Tim Larkin - Self Defense

Massad Ayoob Finding Danger Signs

http://modelmugging.org/self-defense-principles/awareness-in-self-defense-training/

http://www.functionalselfdefense.org/awareness-prevention

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Situation_awareness

https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2018/02/situational-awareness-guide/