Learn to protect your loved ones, yourself and your property. Alertness, self-confidence, and verbal defense are excellent for avoiding violence. They are the corner stones of your safety and security. Sometimes, no matter what you do, trouble will come to you.

Alarms and barriers can be used to protect your home and business. Whatever you choose to use you must be prepared to defend yourself when the barriers are breeched.

Unarmed self-defense is often the only thing to do because there is no time to draw a weapon. The physical ability you develop with unarmed self-defense training will stand you in good stead with whatever weapon you use.

Select weapons based on the laws in your state and what you are comfortable in using. And whatever you choose, train in using it. Police and military personnel train over and over again. They know the rule. "Under stress you will regress to the level of your training." So if you buy the handgun, stun gun, pepper spray, knife, or whatever and don't train in the use of it then when it's time to use it for real you won't be able to, and it may be used on you.

We suspect that one reason that people do not like to think about self-defense, let alone practice it, is because to do so acknowledges that it is a dangerous world. Another possible reason is self-consciousness, some fear of looking inept while they are learning. And third it takes time and most likely some money.

The world is a violent place. Yes, we all look clumsy when we learn something new. If you are substantially middle class there is a good likelihood that you will never to use self-defense. But if you ever do need it you will be happy to be trained to use it.