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Cobra Self-Defense Mesquite Newsletter
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Greetings!
If you are receiving this newsletter, it is because you (or your child) is a member of our Martial Arts School (Texas Kenpo Karate), a former member, or have previously contacted us to inquire about our Martial Arts / Self Defense programs. I think you will find our COBRA newsletters very informative.
I have been a martial arts instructor for almost 30 years and I must tell you, the C.O.B.R.A. Self-Defense Program offers the best and most realistic training for practical and effective self-defense. Unlike the martial arts, it does not take years to become effective with COBRA. Anyone can learn the defense and combat tactics of COBRA, which can be applied immediately. The 10-Week Reality Self-Defense Academy is the heart of the program which is the best way to learn, practice and train with these tactics. We also offer 1-Day Mini-Academies for adults, which is a condensed version of the full academy, and a COBRA for Kids Mini-Academy for young children.
I urge you to become more aware of the things that go on around us. Every day personal assaults take place. If it hasn't happened to you, you likely know someone who has been a victim. If you are a martial artist, the COBRA program offers valuable tactics and training practices that will bring your martial arts skills to the front line of defense if you are ever involved in a personal assault.
Take a moment to read the articles below. If nothing else, become more aware of the dangers that exist. Awareness itself can discourage a criminal from picking you as his target, but not always. Sometimes trouble will just fall upon you when you least expect it.
Sincerely,
Keith Gorham
972-222-2880 |
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FEEL SAFE???
I recall watching an educational program some time back, regarding the dangers of driving. The host talked of a particularly sharp curve on a particular road, on which many people have crashed due to the severity of the curve. So, the county finally fixed this problem by stretching out the curve, making it not so sharp. What happened? An "increase" in the number of crashes! It seems that as drivers felt "safer" with the more gentle curve, they attempted to take it at a great speed, resulting in more crashes.
In this episode, the host also discussed how our automobiles are made much safer now with front and side airbags, crumple zones, stronger framework around the passenger area, etc. This makes the driver feel safer: He hits a tree and an "air bag" pops out to cushion him. The host made reference to how this feeling of safety decreases the driver's sense of obligation to drive safely. Then he said, "Imagine if instead of an airbag, a steel spike popped out of the steering wheel." Now this would make for more dangerous automobiles, but much safer drivers!
How does this relate to the topic of self defense? When we feel safe, our guards come down. Wal-Mart has some pretty good security measures in place; A security officer that is constantly driving around the parking lot, security cameras everywhere and lots of people coming and going. Even if you aren't conscious of it, you feel a little safer here, than you would in a dark alley. The criminal knows this which is why many crimes happen in open, public places. He figures that with the added comfort of security cameras, guards, etc,, you feel safe and are not expecting to be assaulted or robbed.
In my early adulthood I worked at 7-11, the midnight shift in a pretty rough area of Lubbock, Texas. I encountered altercations quite a few times, but was actually robbed 3 times. Two times at gunpoint and one with a knife to my back. In each of these cases, the robber did NOT attempt to hide his face or disguise himself. Rather, in fact, they made me feel comfortable by chatting with me, laughing and talking about little nothings. Then all of a sudden I have a gun in my face, or the point of a knife at my back. They brought my guards down. These were 3 different men in three different incidences, yet they each knew to make me feel "safe" before they struck.
When you become reliant on the safety of your environment, you become vulnerable in that environment. Don't let your guards down, ever! Don't be paranoid, just be aware of your surroundings. Anyone that begins to approach you that you don't know, be on high alert, ready to take evasive actions and/or deliver a severe strike should that situation turn bad, and it will happen in a heartbeat.
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 The First Line of Defense
In the situation of an aggressive or violent attack, "YOU" are your first line of defense. Everybody else is just the clean-up crew. The police, ambulance, etc, will only be contacted "after" you have detected a threat, and more often than not, after the act has already been committed. But even if you are aware enough to contact the authorities, such as 911, the bad guy will do what he came to do and be long gone by the time the authorities arrive.
Yes, knowledge of self-defense is a necessity even if you do not feel that it is. Most people turn a blind eye to the subject of personal violence until it is too late. You can't stop bad guys from doing what they do, but you can stop them from doing it to you. Ignoring the issue does't make it go away, and in fact, it is that mental thought, that it can't happen to you, that makes you that much more vulnerable.
Have a Plan of Action. Don't wait until an aggressor is in your face and then start trying to formulate a defense. It will be too late. Make the decision ahead of time by planning, and training with that plan. Be mentally, psychologically and physically prepared to engage in a physical altercation, should the need every occur. |
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Save $50.00
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10-Week Self-Defense Academy for Adults & Teens
Register before the day of the event and get $50.00 Off. This offer is good for the 10-Week Self Defense Academy that begins on Monday, June 6th. This offer is transferable so you may forward this email offer to any of your friends.
CALL TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT: 972-222-2880 | | Offer Expires: June 6th, 2011 |
Child Safety
This is a big topic. The safety of our children is undoubtedly a top priority for all of us. Yet, few people do much to ensure their child's safety when they are out of their direct supervision. Using the thought from the article above, your child is absolutely the first line of their own defense. Not many predators abduct a child when they are standing next to their parents. It is when the child is alone, or even with another 'helpless' child, that the predator will strike.
A few days ago, on my way back to work after lunch, there were dozens of children walking home from school. Out of the many children, I quickly spotted at least 30 children who were "Easy Prey" for a predator. It was not the fact that they were walking, but what they were doing and wearing that made them extremely vulnerable for abduction.
In the COBRA for Kids program, we teach children of the hidden dangers and how to prevent them. The best way to fight an abduction is to not be vulnerable to it in the first place. But let's face it. Our children do not walk around being extremely aware of impending dangers. That's why we are constantly on them, saying "Don't jump off of that. Don't eat that. Don't climb on that. Don't stick that in your eye!"
Yes, we must guide our children almost every step of the way. But then there are those times when they are out of our immediate control and they themselves become their first line in their own protection. So then you have to ask yourself, "What would my child do if a predator attempted to coax them into their car?"
Your answer may be, "My child would not go, they have been taught not to talk to/go with strangers." Let's say that your child is somehow wise enough to sort through the double talking, safe-sounding babble that the predator may be telling them, and they just run away, which is absolutely the right thing to do. But little Amber Hagerman did not have the opportunity to run away. She was grabbed right off of her bicycle, taken into a pick-up truck and never seen again.
Just about all of us would stand in front of a Mack truck to save our children. We would willingly die, fighting off a predator who was attempting to take them. Yet most are unwilling to give that same child the knowledge of how to defend themselves in that same situation. And what are the excuses?
- Not enough time (1-day / 5 hours.)
- Too expensive (about the cost of 2 WII games, not to mention the console)
- Think it is silly (good for predator)
- Child doesn't want to do it (also doesn't want take a bath, do their homework, eat their vegetables, etc)
We will spend a small fortune on things like video games and our children can spend hours per day playing them. Yet we draw the line at something that could save their life. This is generally because video games & bouncy houses give immediate gratification. However, having an increased sense of security because you have given your child some tools and training that could keep that predator from taking them into that vehicle should be instant gratification.
And you might just be surprise, they may just like it!
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Save $30.00
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1-Day COBRA for Kids Mini-Academy
Register before the day of the event and get $30.00 Off. This offer is good until Saturday, Friday, June 24th for the COBRA for Kids Survival Camp that will be held on Saturday, June 25th. This offer is transferable so you may forward this email offer to any of your friends.
RESERVE A SPOT FOR YOUR CHILD: 972-222-2880 | | Offer Expires: June 24th, 2011 |
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