Mike Hayashi - Take Control Self-Defense . . .

Special Report . . .

8 Personal Power Tips

To Be Safer This Year (An excerpt from Mike's future book, A Woman's Place Is In Control . . . ! ")

Tip #1: Refine or Reaffirm Your Own Value -- Are you worth fighting for?

This is the key to the Bottom Line Questions I've been asking everyone from police officers and corporate execs to children and abused women or rape survivors. How can this list of suggestions, videos or any training make a difference in your life unless you have a solid answer to this question first? Make it a point or renew your spirit in the sheer significance of who you are and how much of a difference your presence makes on the people in your life and the world around you.

The gift that George Bailey received from his Angel in the movie "It's A Wonderful Life" was the ability to actually experience the world as if he never existed. I guarantee you that more people would be affected by your absence than you can imagine. Remind yourself daily, hourly if need be, that: YOU MATTER and nobody on this planet has the right to make you eliminate your agenda or your powerful image of yourself without having a verbal or physical fight on their hands... from you.

Nothing is more important than you, especially in a confrontation -- even your most valuable possessions should not be given up without you having strong emotions, but they are not worth your life! Only when you or a loved one is threatened should the rules of society and etiquette change without hesitation. My strategy for your thought process is simple: "Get Home for Supper!"

Tip #2: Review Your Daily & Weekly Routines -- How predictable are you?

If someone wanted to kidnap you (if you were richer than Queen of England), how easy would it be to have a list of 10 places he could find you alone, distracted, tired or caught off-guard? Not including the money to make you that wealthy, could you have someone "come out of nowhere" because you lack the belief that evil people exist in the USA to do nothing except wake up every morning planning to make someone else's life miserable today?

Most of these criminals are not Mensa material and it doesn't take a lot on their end to know exactly when would be a good time to position themselves to make their move for your property, or you or a loved one. The beauty of living in the USA is the freedom to change our plans, routes, routines, schedules and timetables at the drop of a hat. Do you think the President, celebrities, corporate execs, and the Pope change their plans, even with all the security in the world at their disposal, once in awhile with their safety first on their mind?

Aren't you just as precious as they are, at least to your family, friends, and associates, and deserve the same precautions? Aren't you? Well, you are!

Tip #3: Get Real About Your Own Arsenal -- Could you really defend yourself?

We all have had our uncle from the Special Forces or the Police Department teach us some Kung-Fu death grip or Karate chop when we were younger, and think that we are well prepared for any attack because of this 5-minute lesson and once a year review after walking out of a Jackie Chan movie. Some of the techniques taught to you really work; some are as effective as a fly swatter on a bee hive; and some could be good if you could only remember it. And that's wherein the problem lies...

Without repetition, some kind of traumatic experience, or muscle memory, the best escape, strike, kick or counterattack will not be available to you. I have cut the number of techniques down over the years, and traded the quantity for quality. All the techniques I teach now have been tested, either by myself or students who have used them in real life situations, and are all easy to remember.

Find 3 to 4 that fit your body size, height, personality, mobility and comfort level, and then practice those until it goes from interesting to mastery.

Tip #4: Evaluate Options -- What am I capable and confident enough to do?
Your best defense is to know what your offense is, or at least what choices you have to use as your offense. What strategies and self protection techniques have you really learned, rehearsed, and mastered? If the need arose for you to take out an attacker, be it a stranger, a relative or even your partner/spouse. I know for some readers, the thought of this type of training and education is either unpleasant or very low on your list of immediate concerns. Let's think for a moment about 2 facts:

Several women and young girls are being *slapped, mugged, abducted, *raped, strangled, *beaten, terrorized, snatched from their front yards (or) bedrooms, or murdered as you read through this article.
(*Every few seconds, and has no age or socio-economic boundaries)

Most scenarios are either avoidable, preventable, or can be stopped before or even during the assault.
The questions rings out loudly: Am I truly prepared? And if not, can I learn? And if I take the time to learn, could I, would I do something to effectively fight back & "Get Home for Supper?"

Tip #5: Look at Everyone -- Are you afraid to see people or just too busy?

One of the oldest and most difficult habits to break is one that could help you avoid, prevent or prepare for an assault every single time you are alone. Look at people around you. Sounds too simplistic to work, doesn't it?

Think about the last time you were shopping at the mall or walking across the parking lot to a grocery store. Did you notice and purposely look at every single person in the area? How about the 2 teenagers shoving each other in the next aisle? What about the couple moving quickly behind you? Did you give the man walking with a cane even a second thought?

Every one of these scenarios could spell purse snatch, mugging, abduction, or rape. We have natural instincts that guide us and protect us, yet we all choose when and where we allow these instincts to work for us.

We let: work, daily "have to get done" items, cell phones, kids' soccer games, deadlines, and palm pilots dictate our very own personal security. We've become a lazy nation of 2 common, sometimes deadly mindsets:

"It can't happen to me!"

"I'm too busy to worry about it"

Open your eyes and see the people. Don't stare people down (Just makes the 99% of all civilians nervous about you). Break the habitual thinking: "If I don't look at him, he doesn't see me. Be different than most with a cell phone, a to-do list, or "problems waiting for them somewhere" clouding their minds, attention span or ability to see an attacker before it's too late.

Why do you think most police statements usually start with: "I just didn't see him coming! He came out of nowhere"? They never come out of nowhere! We are just too busy, self absorbed, and totally in denial about this happening to us. Many have already decided that their skill level to successfully defend ourselves is too low to even contemplate fighting back. In essence, the majority of people choose not to look, look in the other direction, or look only for help to come to the rescue. So, is it any wonder that the bad guys have a huge advantage before an assault ever takes place?

Be the one who controls the environment every time you go out. The short eye contact you make should convey the silent message: "I saw you. You can't sneak up on me. You can't get behind me. You can't catch me off guard." This one simple, but consistent habit can reduce the odds of any violent crimes ruining your year.

Tip #6: Learn the Basics -- Even a little knowledge can save a life... yours!

You don't need a thousand techniques. Even if you knew that many, in the heat of conflict (be it mental, verbal, psychological or physical) most couldn't remember a long list, let alone attempt to perform them under extreme conditions. Many trained soldiers and police officers can (and do) panic under real life, life-threatening scenarios.

What you need is to study (seminars, martial arts classes, videos, CD-ROMs, books, personal trainers) and discover for yourself which techniques feel right for you. Take notes, ask questions, practice and perfect as much as you can. How many times did you try riding a bike or driving a car before you could do it without thinking about it? You didn't have to become a professional dirt bike racer or Formula One driver, did you?

Be patient with yourself, as your parents were when they taught you how to ride a bike.

Tip #7: Mastery is the Key -- Practice techniques that really work!

My personal favorite techniques) might turn out to be yours, but if not, find 1 or 2 to call your own and hang onto them. The key to successfully stopping an assault is part attitude, part persistence and tenacity, part focused anger/rage, and part technique. Allow me to share one of my all-time favorites with you right now....

The V-Strike is easy to learn, but also quick, effective, and versatile.

First, take your hands up and stretch them between the thumb and forefinger, making a big web with your palm. (Like you're taking the top off a pickle jar)

Now angle the hands down (45 degrees) waiting for the aggressor to get closer.

When ready, the hand snaps out & back towards the attacker's throat area.

Good strike would be the top of his throat, with the hand at a 45 degree angle.

Power from this strike is the result of the speed your hand goes out and back, not how hard someone shoves their hand out.

Keep your hand in a tight position, the web area between the thumb and forefinger.

Think of your arm as a long rubber hose and you're snapping it out like a whip.

Breathe quickly, keep your eyes open, and yell something out loud when you make contact with the attacker.

Tip #8: Refresh, Rehearse, and Reaffirm -- Forever training?

Refresh your memory daily about the habits to avoid conflict and the techniques to stop an assault, if necessary. What dangers are there? How do I sidestep them or counterattack without hurting myself?

Rehearse: Pick the techniques) you feel best about and practice, practice, practice! Your muscles will slowly start to remember the drilling sequences & store it away. Good is OK for games, but you need to be a Master. There's too much at stake.

Reaffirm: It's always back to: Attitude, Self Concept, Personal Empowerment and reaffirming how truly worthy and valuable you are! You are so unique and special to the world. If you believe that, really believe it, then any man would have a battle on their hands trying to take anything or anyone from you or hurt you physically.