DEFEND YOURSELF

Desperate times need desperate measures. Countless crimes happen each day and it would be best to try to learn some ways on how to defend yourself. Various training centers offer classes on self-defense and different forms of martial arts. but all these take a lot of time and practice. So unless you want to go pro, you may want to check out some must-learn pointers from Sensei Aries, coach of the UP Aikido Society on how to best defend yourself from attackers.

1. FIGHT COVERT OPERATION WITH COVERT ATTENTION
The bad guys like working in the shadows - without making much noise or catching much attention. and the best way to combat them is to work like they do. try not to make too much noise or attract too much attention. be vigilant and watchful. Be sensitive about the people around you and always keep your presence of mind (meaning don't daydream in the streets or sleep in a public vehicle).

2. DON'T BE A POTENTIAL VICTIM
How many people have fallen prey to snatchers', thieves, and the rest of evildom because they flaunted their best assets? If you plan to go to crowded areas like Divisoria or Baclaran, try not to advertiser your jeweler or cellphone manufacturer and instead, be more discreet. The bad guys won't targte you if you don't have the makings of a potential gold mine. Sensei Aries also points out that the key word is PREVENTION. you don't have to fight if you don't catch their attention. Believe me. it can spare you a lot of trouble.

3.BE COOL Panic is always paralyzing. It would be definitely hard to act logically when someone attacks you or tries to snatch your bag. Yet, you can still channel that rush of adrenalin to your advantage by being quick to move and react.

4.LIVE IN THE PRESENT Still have loads to accomplish and planning to make your long walk to class more productive by thinking over the things you need to do? Bad decision. The absent-minded person is one of the best targets. You can't defend yourself well if your mind is still in your communication class while the thief already has your bag three meters away.

5."SOCIA" Snatchers, terrorists and the rest of evildom often follow this five-point rule: Selection, Observation, Confirmation, Isolation, and Assault (SOCIA). Selection happens when the bad guys decide you're a pretty good victim. After this, they follow you around, check the time you go out of your house or pass by a certain place. To confirm their assumptions, they may try bumping into you on purpose to see if you're a weakling, absent-minded, or if you have what they want. Then comes isolation. A group of accomplices will surround you so that other persons who may be able to help you would be too faraway to do so. Finally, the assault. Here, they operationalize their assumptions and plans and go for the kill. The best way to combat this rule is to avoid being selected so that their operation ends where it began.

6.RUN FOREST, RUN!
Yup, you read it right. Sensei Aries says that 60% of self-defense is about running away. Why? He explains that self-defense is not self-offense. You don't have to disable an assaulter to protect yourself. Besides, all those Steven Seagal type of fighting usually happen only in the movies. Don't try to be brave b y staying in the same place, waiting for a suspicious -looking person to hurt you. Go and run away. If you have to fight, hurt the person hard enough to have enough time to run away from him.

Always remember that it is a jungle out there. Sometimes, we may unfortuantely fall victim to thosoe hungry predators. But still we have to try to be prepared in some way because in the real world, superman won't always be around to save the day.