Security around the home can be universally overlooked by the average person (including myself) at times. Yes, even Security Experts can get distracted or complacent! Even so, those moving to a new area can have even tougher obstacles. In my case it was distraction and work overload that played havoc with my security. Having just moved my family across the state to a totally new area was difficult and presented many challenges. Not only did my home need to be moved, but also my shop and business. The stress of moving, fatigue, and unfamiliar places can add up to spell disaster.

Some of the things I came up with during this move really assisted me; security disasters were averted, prevented and avoided. I thought it best to share some of the tips used in my move and couple them with some tried and true home security measures. Many of these things I’m sure aren’t new to the average homeowner. Whether you are constantly on the go or are new to an area these tips can be helpful. Are they being implemented? That is the question and my challenge to you.

Image courtesy of healingdream / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Vary your schedule and routes to home and work.

Neighbors notice when you leave and when you come home. If you are as predictable as the palace guard you are increasing your chances of being burglarized by a person near your home. Using different routes and varying times can also educate you on the area around your home. Which routes are most efficient at different times of day? Is there more than one way to get to work during construction or traffic problems? You can even learn what your neighbors and teenagers are doing during your time away by surprising them when showing up unexpectedly.

In my case learning the roads in my new neck of the woods has proven very valuable to me and my wife. My unpredictable schedule also kept potential crooks jumping as I could show up literally at any time of day. Moving vans and boxes are a dead giveaway that someone new is moving in… but counter balancing that with unpredictability helps immensely. Leave to the corner store and come right back, or even go around the block then home. This may seem like paranoia but it isn’t when you are in a new or unfamiliar place. I often did this without even meaning to as I habitually leave my coffee or briefcase wherever I go!

Lights and sound equals ACTION!

Give the impression of activity when you aren’t at home or work. Leave a radio turned on and couple that by leaving a light on as well. Many times people think you are still “there” when they get the impression of activity.

The reverse is of course, inactivity. Piled up phone books on the steps, items left in the same spot for weeks on end, no lights or sound; these things create a safe atmosphere for the crook. Ever walk into a place like a campground and just feel like “man, no one has been here for a LONG TIME.” Your home can also give that impression. You want the people around to believe that you are home or that you could be home at any time.

Light timers can be used on both lights, radios, and even televisions. No need for fancy home integration systems when a $15 timer will suffice. You can also have friends, relatives or trusted co-workers visit your place to create an impression of activity. Be careful handing out keys and alarm system codes however. Keys can be copied, and alarm codes can be mistakenly left for others to see. Lend out keys stamped “Do Not Duplicate” available at your local locksmith shop, or have your locks construction keyed. This makes a key temporary until the owner removes it from the construction key system. Then the temporary key no longer works and the lock does not need to be rekeyed.

If you are moving into a previously occupied place, have it rekeyed.

Image courtesy of Michelle Meiklejolin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In the last tip it was suggested to have a place construction keyed for friends to create an atmosphere of activity when you are away or on vacation. But when you first buy or move in you must determine if the locks there are new, have been rekeyed, or even if they are already construction keyed or master keyed. You don’t want a stranger to just walk in during the middle of the night, do you? Nope and me either! Have a locksmith service your locks first thing when moving or renting a new place.

This isn’t going to break the bank if you do research and find a good local locksmith. If you are a DIY type of a person you can even replace the locks yourself by ordering them keyed alike from a hardware store or lock shop. Just make sure that when you move in all keys are accounted for and that locks are unique and in good working order. You also don’t want to get locked out by a malfunctioning lock or worn key.

The first thing I did upon getting our new home was have the locks replaced and rekeyed as needed. I was handed a pile of keys when I arrived by the previous occupant. Some of these keys did not work, some did, and a few I think were just pawned off on me. The lock to the shed didn’t work or have a key, the passage locks in the bathroom and basement didn’t work, and the exterior door locks had worn over-copied keys that worked intermittently. I spent some money, replace those that needed it, lubricated locks, rekeyed locks and fixed the ones that were easily repaired or adjusted.

Not only did this help my overall security. It gave my Wife and me peace of mind and lessened sources of possible stress. Yes it costs money to do it but it would have been more stressful if we were locked out and more expensive to have a locksmith come after hours to let us in. Also, no one has let themselves in with an unaccounted key as the locks are brand new! Seems like a no brainer to me!

Make eye contact and introduce yourself.

Another idea that can really help you and its obvious but overlooked. Be friendly to your new neighbors and introduce yourself! Make eye contact, smile, and stand up straight.

Yes I am a Dad, but that isn’t the reason I’m lecturing you. Crimes happen less frequently to confident people who create boundaries and to those who don’t act like a victim.

By making eye contact you are displaying confidence. When you smile and introduce yourself you are asserting yourself, and setting a social boundary. You are saying “I’m here and I’m not afraid to talk to you and let you know I’m here.” If you are a nice person your new neighbors might even look out for you and help you out with local problem people or situations. Most people are good and want to help you out. The people who aren’t nice will show their colors in this situation and ignore you or display behavior that tells you “go away”. This is good to know and is actual a good way to gather intelligence on your new neighbors. If they frown, avert their eyes, ignore you or refuse to shake hands you can bet that they might be someone to watch or avoid.

Two sets of eyes are better than one.

When you are busy it is difficult to notice the little things. If you are stressed out, tired, or overwhelmed it can be worse. Is that a snake or a garden hose? Try to buddy up with someone during your move or travels to make it safer.

My sixteen year old daughter is often texting away obliviously, but she noticed that I left my front door unlocked. My wife can’t move heavy things, but she was good at pointing out strategies and missed items during the move. Even my cat helped by finding things dropped under the appliances! Another set of eyes is vital when you are on the go or are moving. At one point I had a moving truck hit my work van… but it was under the watchful eye of my friend helping me move and we spotted the moving truck before it could leave the scene unnoticed by me. Another disaster averted!

Final Thoughts

Be sure to vary your schedule and routes. Create an atmosphere of action by using lights and sound to give the impression you are home or nearby. Replace or rekey locks and make sure you can secure your property and loved ones at night. Make eye contact, smile and introduce yourself to learn about the new people that surround you and to display confidence. Being friendly with new people can help you and your family. Lastly, travel with a buddy. Get a second set of eyes to increase your awareness and point out the things you miss.

True security is not simply knowing about security tips, it is in the implementation. Security measures must be part of your daily routine, so much so that when you are stressed out or tired, they practically implement themselves. Added stress like moving or hectic schedules should not derail your security program.

To my amazement and to my families’ amusement, I made many errors during this strenuous move. I left my work truck unlocked overnight with tools and products inside. I simply forgot to lock the deadbolt on the old place with our belongings still inside. I even lost important paperwork and misplaced many vital business documents! But in the end nothing was stolen, we weren’t burglarized, and we were always safe. By implementing these security tips regularly I was able to have a safe move, and in the end my family’s safety is more important than financial or business concerns. Make sure to implement these security tips when you travel, are on the go or are in the middle of a project or move. They made my difficult move safe, and hopefully they help you, too.

Copyright 2009 by duracles. Reprint permission granted if article remains completely intact.

Modern arena matches exhibit the current perception of the “Warrior Class”.  But there is a dramatic difference between this and the Soldier in Afghanistan.  There is a difference in the Mindset and to an extent the Attitude, not so much in the training.  This can be easily viewed by watching the UFC or Ultimate Fighting Championship, or other exhibition fights.

Warrior:  a man engaged or experienced in warfare; broadly: a person engaged in some struggle or conflict.

Soldier: one engaged in military service and especially in the armyb: an enlisted man or womanc: a skilled warrior.

Merriam Webster’s’ Dictionary is little help in understanding the difference between a warrior and a soldier.  Society and pop culture interpretation also is of little assistance.  It takes a deeper understanding and some analysis.

The modern Mixed Martial Arts practitioner goes into the ring to fight his opponent based on rules set by a governing body.  They assign a referee to interact in the bout, and enforce the rulings of the judges.  So called “fighting fair”.

The soldier is trained to kill, then sent away from judges and referee’s to enforce the dictum of his national leader.  On the battlefield he must engage and defeat the enemy, as well as do his best to stay alive and keep his team mates alive.

Although both could be classified as warriors, one is trying to win an organized match: while the other is trying to defeat an enemy, and also stay alive.  He is putting his life on the line, while the other is putting his health at risk.

The MMA practitioner receives excellent training in hand-to-hand combat, and receives some of the best physical conditioning from top notch trainers and medical people.  He can indeed stop an attack, incapacitate an opponent, and even take a life.  BUT he is trained not to.

He knows that he can “tap out” or surrender with only momentary shame.  His team can throw in the towel, ending the match.  A ringside Doctor can also call the fight if there is the threat of injury beyond the confines of the match.  An unethical fighter could even feign a knockout and throw the fight for money or other reason.

The soldier can fight to the death or surrender.  No other choice exists. Surrender does not guarantee fair treatment, medical help, or life.  It could be a shortcut to torture and death.  There is no referee or team to throw in the towel when things get hairy.

Although both the soldier and the MMA “warrior” strive to win, they strive for different things entirely.  One fights for life, the other for glory.

Image courtesy of Toa55 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What does this have to do with Self-Defense and Survival?

We must adapt the mindset and attitude to win like a soldier when confronted on the street.  There is no referee, no judges, no doctor, and no team to throw in the towel.  A ring match and a fight for your wallet, family member, or even your life is going to be on the same playing field as the soldier.  This means the victor will have his life, not a trophy and bragging rights.

Although many of the MMA fighters receive excellent training, I have watched many “Tap out” when the going gets tough.  We don’t have that choice when we are fighting to survive… regardless of the situation.  You never give up for any reason.

MMA matches are a good motivator for the preparedness minded individual.  You get to see fighters slugging it out, their top conditioning, strategies, and excellent fighting technique.  It’s very good to watch, and heck, great entertainment.  But it stops there.

Many MMA fighters go on to join the Armed Forces or Law Enforcement and advance their mindset.  Some are even former soldiers who can participate in the match for the athletic competition.  We just must be careful to not confuse the Soldier and the MMA “Warrior”.  They are two completely different creatures with different mindsets. They both may have winning attitudes, but in reality only the living survivor truly has won.

Copyright 2009 by duracles.  Reprint permission granted if article remains completely intact.

Survival fitness: this is by far the most overlooked and undervalued area in survival training and preparedness… not to mention plain self-defense. Basically, we need to be in relatively good shape to be better able to handle situations life may throw at us.

• Can you roll a jack under your car and put the spare tire on?
• Can you climb a fence to avoid an attacking vicious dog?
• Can you run a half block to catch a wayward toddler about to cross the street?
• Can you carry a 40 lb. backpack all day, walking across town?

These are a few examples of everyday occurrences that can happen to anyone at anytime. Notice that none of these examples are extreme unlikely instances. Every one of these things has happened to me, and I don”t live in an action movie type of lifestyle!

Therefore the question remains…… what if? What if I have to chase a man abducting my child? Can I do it? What if I have to run ten blocks to avoid a dangerous chemical spill? What if I have to live out of my backpack for 3 days? These things are more extreme; but as a person interested in survival we should be prepared physically to meet the challenge. Training, attitude, and survival gear aren”t the only things keeping us alive out there. It is also the ability to run, jump, crawl, swim, and get back up that could determine the outcome of an extreme situation.

Fitness Basics

There are some basics we all learned in gym class that still apply today. Here they are in random order:

• Strength
• Flexibility
• Endurance
• Speed

Remember we are talking basics! I am not saying you have to out lunge an Olympic Fencer, or outrun a Grizzly Bear. Fitness basics are designed to be easy to improve, attainable by your average person, and show results quickly.

Strength training may include push-ups, weight lifting, resistance training or even dynamic tension. Flexibility is obviously stretching, toning and full normal range of motion. Pilates or Yoga can greatly improve your flexibility, but also may improve your strength and balance.

Endurance is a general term but refers here to the ability to perform sustained exercise like running, swimming, jogging and fast walking. This can be improved in a number of ways from stationary bicycling, walking, and jogging to rollerblading and dancing. Exercise can and should be fun otherwise you will not do it. Speed can also be improved by the above exercises; but also by playing tennis, racquetball, and other sports. Speed is the most difficult attribute to measure, but is the easiest to see improvements in.

Please consult your family physician before attempting ANY exercise program. Start gradually, and be sure to note the details in a training notebook or journal. The simplest exercise program is walking. You can do it in a large indoor mall, in the park, or just in your neighborhood. It is free and you don”t need any fancy equipment besides comfortable shoes. Swimming is considered by many to be the best single exercise program to improve all of your basic fitness attributes. Swimming is easy to do, inexpensive, and can be learned quickly.

http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/pdf/fs_prof.pdf Basic fitness guidelines from health.gov website.

http://www.fitness.gov/resources/organizations/index.html Fitness resources, websites, and organizations.

Advanced Physical Fitness and Training

Once you have started a fitness program, you may want to focus on more specific areas of improvement. This can be the most rewarding and fun area in your fitness program. You may want to join a competitive shooting organization, or go on an extended hike in the wilderness. You might decide to join a martial arts program, join a weekly fitness class, or advance your current regimen to the next level.

Whatever you decide it will be an expression of you and your interests. You might be surprised at how beneficial and empowering this can actually be! Your survival fitness program could spill over into other areas of your life and improve the overall quality of living in general. It is worth the risk…. You can feel better and be prepared for what life throws your way.

Motivation

At the end of the day, we all need to monitor our health and get some exercise. To stay motivated we need to think beyond “what is best for us”. Personally my family is a reason for me to stay in shape. I want to be able to protect my family, and also be able to work hard to support them.

Friends are good motivators. They may give an encouraging work, chide or shame us when needed, or even present a friendly competitive aspect to working out. If they want to jump in and start an exercise program with you go for it!

An exercise journal can also motivate. Once you see the results on paper, it can really encourage one to continue the program. Also, you may feel the need to fill up the volume with achievements and measurements. Usually it can take up to 3 months to see dramatic changes, but you will notice results after your first week!

Lastly, avoid being derailed completely. Don”t allow set backs to make you feel like giving up. Some of these could be minor illnesses, busy work schedules, holidays, or even short breaks. Allow yourself room to be flexible with set backs, and realize they are common for all people. Friends not showing up to work out? Flu symptoms playing havoc with you? Sleep poorly or too much work? Make note of the break in your diary and begin anew without self-recriminations.

Staying motivated can be difficult, but in time you will figure out what works best for you. Compliments from friends and family (or jealousy!) can be very motivating. Fitting into old clothes or having to buy new ones is also motivating. Even just feeling better can be a huge boost in your motivational battery.

Conclusion

Your level of survival fitness is not determined by outside factors or environment. Your level of fitness is determined by you. If you allow yourself to watch television or eat candy all day; who is to blame? Get off the couch and go for a walk or park far away from the grocery store and carry the groceries rather than use a cart. Ride a bike or walk to events close by. Make exercise dates for yourself where you do something fun, unusual or exciting.

Things like river rafting, rock climbing, or horseback riding aren’t out of the realm of possibilities for most and these types of things can be fun! Reward yourself for exercising by buying a nice gift for yourself, or going to a favorite restaurant or event. In the end, the ability to run, jump, swim and climb will be a reward unto itself. You will feel more confident, and definitely be able to meet life”s challenges whether they are mundane or extraordinary.

Fitness is definitely an important part of survival, preparedness and self-defense training. Like a survival kit, or a concealed carry permit it can mean the difference in walking away from an emergency…. Or being carried away.

Copyright 2010 by duracles. Reprint permission granted if article remains completely intact.

Very well done video teaches what to do if stuck during an active shooter event.  Best video we have seen so far on this topic.