When you are shopping do you take a long hard look at the parking lot to see what is in it and who and what is near your cAR oR between you and your car?

When you are in a building do you memorise the exsists and what doors are open and closed?

Do you carry anything in your hand for protection and/or defense?

Shadow:asian:

Originally posted by tshadowchaser

When you are shopping do you take a long hard look at the parking lot to see what is in it and who and what is near your cAR oR between you and your car?

When you are in a building do you memorise the exsists and what doors are open and closed?

Do you carry anything in your hand for protection and/or defense?

Shadow:asian:

Well, not a long hard look perhaps. But I usually check my car environment for cars and objects that could damage it while I'm out. I also usually park away from the door near or under a lightpost when I park at night.

I don't really memorize the exits. I do notice how mass traffic is handled though. I guess I usually survey the crowds when at the Mall. I usually avoid crowds and walk around them whenever I can even if I have to cut up the stairs or through another store. Good exercise.

And I now carry a Self-Defense Keychain as well.

Good question. I'm not paranoid, some of my habits just lend themselves to this. Safeguarding the car, avoiding crowds, etc.
:)

I definitely check around cars, move out when turning corners so I'm not very near the wall, etc. I don't usually think about exits though. Nothing in my hands as a rule--I've thought about getting a Kubotan.

Since starting Kenpo, I've become more aware of things/people/animals in parking lots, buildings, and just things around me in my environment in general. I do tend to carry my keys on a key chain rope, that can be thrown or used to hit someone (my brother can vouch for their effectiveness). I now make it a general rule to be aware of my surroundings. We do drills such as being blind folded and having to walk down the dojo, you know you're going to be attacked but you have to listen to everything. This comes in handy especially if you are in a not so well lite area and can't actually see the person/people coming at you. I think Seig and a few others have made me so paranoid that people can go to put their arm around me or something now and I think they are up to something and my guard turns on. Oh, well, better safe than sorry. He he!!!! :asian:

Originally posted by FUZZYJ692000

Since starting Kenpo, I've become more aware of things/people/animals in parking lots, buildings, and just things around me in my environment in general. I do tend to carry my keys on a key chain rope, that can be thrown or used to hit someone (my brother can vouch for their effectiveness). I now make it a general rule to be aware of my surroundings. We do drills such as being blind folded and having to walk down the dojo, you know you're going to be attacked but you have to listen to everything. This comes in handy especially if you are in a not so well lite area and can't actually see the person/people coming at you. I think Seig and a few others have made me so paranoid that people can go to put their arm around me or something now and I think they are up to something and my guard turns on. Oh, well, better safe than sorry. He he!!!! :asian:

Yeppers.. better safe than sorry.. though we do have to focus on our surroundings.. using white dot/ black dot focus around our every day lives is a good practice.. *hint hint*.. People that are so lax in what's going around them will be the first to be attacked.. They are the perfect 'victim' ones that are 'zoned' or too busy thinking about their days agenda... Gotta keep your guard up.. when I get into a car by myself .. I check the back seat, floor.. not to be paranoid.. I've been known to peek under the car .. and even when I'm home alone for say a week at a time.. and have gone out for awhile.. I come back and check my surroundings.. only safe practices.. :) now with 2 dogs here. .That's not so much an issue :)

I moved to a VERY small town for a short time, and I noticed
that a LOT of people, females especially would walk in such a
trusting manner. Didn't look behind them, left their purse in
their car, etc. I couldn't help but think .. what if this person moved
to my old home town (city)? They'd be toast in a week!

Originally posted by tshadowchaser


Do you carry anything in your hand for protection and/or defense?

Shadow:asian:
I know what Tess has in her hand for protection......my hand!

Originally posted by FUZZYJ692000

Since starting Kenpo, I've become more aware of things/people/animals in parking lots, buildings, and just things around me in my environment in general. I do tend to carry my keys on a key chain rope, that can be thrown or used to hit someone (my brother can vouch for their effectiveness). I now make it a general rule to be aware of my surroundings. We do drills such as being blind folded and having to walk down the dojo, you know you're going to be attacked but you have to listen to everything. This comes in handy especially if you are in a not so well lite area and can't actually see the person/people coming at you. I think Seig and a few others have made me so paranoid that people can go to put their arm around me or something now and I think they are up to something and my guard turns on. Oh, well, better safe than sorry. He he!!!! :asian:
Just because you are being paranoid does notmeant that they are not out to get you!

Mr. White has a student named Ron Sanchez who is a Police Captain that does a very realistic and interesting seminar on the "Survival Mindset." It addresses many of these issues. I'll post about it in the ProShop but you can find it here.
http://www.bwkenpo.com/products.htm
:asian:

Oops. Had to edit to add the URL. :eek:

Originally posted by Seig

I know what Tess has in her hand for protection......my hand!

I know you're being somewhat playful with this post and I suspect you don't intend it to be taken too seriously, but it goes exactly to the point, I think--no matter how good you are, if they stab or shoot you from behind because you didn't see them hiding then it's all for naught! Environmental awareness is very important.

(As an aside, when I am holding hands with my wife in public she'll often say to me "You're thinking about the martial arts, right?" as she detects my hand twitching while I'm imagining what I'd do if a person attacked me from there, or there, or what-have-you.)

Lets take this a little bit more into situations.
You have parked you car in the mall lot , went shoping, and are returning to your car. AS you survay the lot you see a van parked next to /beside or in the direct path between you and your car.
You can see someone moving on the side of it ,Possible examining a tire or the side of your car (like they just hit it).
What do you do: approch, go get security, wait ?????
Why?


LADIES FIRST on this one