3x Method

Archive for July, 2008

The Benefits of Drinking Green Tea and Weightloss

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

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4 Quick Tips to Improve Confidence

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

[hidepost=1]Self confidence is akin to a tool. It provides you with a sense of certainty, and helps you to manage your fears. Self confidence is usually built up through a history of positive experiences, and with an improved sense of self confidence you will find that your esteem and mental state will be greatly improved as well. If you find yourself unable to summon up courage to voice your own opinion, or to tell someone to back off when you need to, then it is probably a sign that you need to improve your self confidence. Here are 4 easy tips that will help you do just that. Tip #1: Set Goals The first step in gaining self confidence is to set realistic and achievable goals for yourself. These goals should not be unachievable nor out of reach, but should be a challenge for you so that you can improve. No goal is too small, as every little step counts and works towards achieving the next bigger goal. With set goals, you will be able to push yourself to exceed your comfort zone, and it will give you something concrete to work towards. Tip #2: Control your Feelings Feelings are strong emotions that can have a big impact on our self confidence. Emotions associated with fear, anxiety or distrust can undermine our self esteem, whilst others like happiness and excitement can increase our self confidence. By being able to control your emotions so that you do not fall prey to negative emotions, you will be able to project positive emotions. This makes it easier for you to act and appear more confident. Tip #3: Have a Mentor Pick someone that you trust who will be able to give you the type of guidance that you are looking for. Make sure that it is someone who will not be afraid to push you to achieve your goals, and hold you accountable if you are not reaching them. It can be a friend or a family member, or a professional even. Tip #4: Take Action Do not allow yourself to procrastinate as you need to take active steps in order to build confidence. It is often a vicious cycle if you insist on waiting for your confidence to improve first before taking action to help you grow your self-confidence. Based on the goals that you have set for yourself, set aside an hour or so everyday to work on doing activities that will help you to achieve those targets. Stop yourself from worrying about being unprepared, or not confident enough to approach new activities. Whilst it is normal to worry, it is important that you do not do so excessively. There are many possibilities open to you, and you need to be receptive to developing your own self-confidence. About the Author Greg Frost is an in the field of confidence building and has an informative website at http://www.ConfidenceBuildingCourses.com. They cover a whole range of self confidence topics for the average person. [/hidepost]

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Kg Calculator

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

This calculator is important for helping you determine how many grams of protein you will need per day for optimal muscle growth. Many experts say that you need to consume 1.5 – 2 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day. Not only this crazy, and inaccurate at best but it’s not the best things for your kidneys. Not too mention you just don’t need that much extra protein. What ends up happening is urinate some and your body will also convert it over to carbs for energy which creates metabolic wastes. So what I’m going to have you do is convert your weight over to kilograms and base protein consumption off of that since it’s more accurate. If you’re working out on a normal basis you’re going to want to consume roughly 1.5 – 1.7 grams of protein per kg. Also spread your protein consumption through out the day at about 25 grams every 1 – 2 hours for optimal consumption. To calculate you weight in kg go here

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Perfect Your Pistol Shooting Skills

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

[hidepost=1] Perfecting your pistol shooting skills and improving accuracy Many people, including lots of police officers, religiously practice pistol shooting to improve their marksmanship skills without the benefit of a shooting coach. Many become discouraged when their scores don’t improve or actually get worse over time. The problem is that incorrect shooting practices condition a person to continue to shoot poorly. Every time you practice shooting, it’s important that you do it correctly. You must constantly assess your level of performance and correct problems immediately before they become bad habits. When our accuracy is poor we commonly ask ourselves, “Is it me or is it the pistol?” Most common shooting errors are a result of the shooter failing to apply the two most important shooting fundamentals: sight alignment and trigger press. Other errors are caused by anticipating recoil, or incorrect grip, breath control, or sight picture. The classic method for evaluating errors is to use some form of target analysis. It makes no difference which type of target you use, simply define that area on the target that equates to center mass (chest area). For the purpose of this discussion, we will assume that you are a right handed shooter (left handed shooters will use the mirror image principle to fit their circumstances.) A loosely scattered group of hits is an indicator that you are not focusing on the front sight, but rather that you are looking over your sights to watch the target. To tighten your group, simply keep your eyes focused on the front sight (because the eye can only focus at one distance at any one time, the target will be a little fuzzy, as will the rear sight.) Shots that hit low and left are the result of anticipating recoil and jerking the trigger, which causes the front sight to dip low and left. Apply steady pressure to the trigger without disturbing the sight alignment until after the gun fires. Shots that hit high and left can be caused by improper follow-through, relaxing too soon after the shot is fired, or the trigger finger breaking contact with the trigger under recoil. Shots off to the left of center mass occur as a result of improper sight alignment, muscling the gun with the weak hand, or incorrect position of the finger on the trigger; finger not far enough through the trigger guard will push the sights off to the left. If the trigger lies across the center of the fingerprint, the trigger should press straight to the rear without disturbing the sights. Shots off to the right of center mass occur as a result of improper sight alignment or finger too far through the trigger guard so that it will pull the sights off to the right. Again, If the trigger lies across the center of the fingerprint, the trigger should press straight to the rear without disturbing the sights. Pushing the thumb against the pistol frame as the shot is fired will also cause hits to the right. If your shots are high and right, it indicates several possible problems including improper sight alignment and/or sight picture. But the most likely cause is what we call heeling the weapon (exerting excessive pressure on the bottom portion of the grip.) Another version of this problem is called milking the grip (tensing and loosening the grip.) You can test this yourself by pointing the pistol at the target and flexing the pinkie and ring fingers. See how the front sight moves up and down? Shots located just above center mass indicate that you are looking over the top of the rear sight. This problem can easily be corrected by refocusing your attention on the front sight. Make sure that you have the correct sight picture: a symmetrical image of the front sight, sitting squarely in the rear notch, top of the front sight level with the top of the rear sight. Now we have identified a number of potential problems: sight alignment, sight picture, front sight focus. These are the easy ones to correct. Heeling the gun, letting the wrist go limp, and anticipating the shot are the more difficult problems. So let’s talk about them. Heeling and jerking the trigger are both caused by the shooter anticipating either the shot or the recoil. Heeling the gun is a result of squeezing the grip too hard, especially with the two bottom fingers. It’s also aggravated by holding the gun too low on the grip (always get a high grip on the pistol.) Milking the gun is similar to heeling except here you are tightening the hand at the same time you are pressing the trigger. The solution is to hold the gun as high up on the grip as possible and then applying a steady pressure to the grip. Jerking the trigger tends to happen when you know the gun is about to fire and you react to the recoil before the shot is even fired. Here’s a useful exercise you may want to try. It’s called “Ball and Dummy”: Use a revolver. On a six shot gun, put three rounds into the cylinder. Let’s say two in a row, and then skip one or two chambers and place the third round. When you shoot, you will quickly observe what happens when the hammer drops on an empty chamber. If you are anticipating the recoil, you will see your front sight dip as the hammer falls. Concentrate on applying steady pressure to the trigger, and holding the sights on the target until after the gun fires (this is called follow-through). With a little bit of practice you will easily learn to eliminate the problem of anticipating either the shot or the recoil. And hopefully your performance will improve accordingly. Remember that sometimes there is no substitute for a good coach; someone who can observe you shooting and analyze and correct your problems. For More Information: United States Concealed Carry Association 4466 Hwy P – Suite 204 Jackson, WI 53037 (877) 677-1919 http://www.USConcealedCarry.com *** Plus *** => Get Your FREE Subscription to the Armed American Report! http://ArmedAndResponsible.com [/hidepost]

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Pressure Point Fighting Overview

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

[hidepost=1] Pressure Point Fighting Overview It makes no difference which expert you ask, all of them agree on one thing when it comes to violent street confrontations: there are no rules. Those who have experienced one are usually shocked by their misconceptions about street fights. Well choreographed movie and television fight scenes have conditioned most people into being unprepared for the harsh reality they encounter the first time an assailant attacks them. As with all confrontations, the best thing to do—and your first choice—should always be to avoid them. Should this fail and you find yourself facing an impending attack, your priority should be to distract, disable or disarm your assailant and then to get away as soon as possible. The key to your success and possibly your survival, will be your ability to do this quickly and effectively. In previous issues we’ve talked about a concept called Simple Force. Basically, Simple Force is a system for quickly disabling an attacker by attacking vital areas of his body. Simple Force relies upon striking areas of the body such as the eyes, neck and throat. Striking a vital area will cause severe pain and is likely to also cause serious, possibly permanent injury, maybe even death. In this article we will discuss the use of pressure points. We will discuss primary points that can be used to disrupt balance, cause acute pain, temporarily paralyze a limb, and even cause unconsciousness. What are Pressure Points? A good analogy is to think of the body as an electrical system. The arteries and nerves are the wires that connect it all together and keep it running. If there is an interruption in that system, if one of the “wires” is cut or damaged, a short-circuit results and the system sends off warning signals (pain) or shuts down all together. Pressure Points are those spots where such “wiring” is most vulnerable and easily accessed with strikes, grabs, thrusts, or kicks. Some experts tell us the body has over 350 pressure points. Attacking these points can cause extreme pain and/or loss of motor control. These are certainly the kind of results you are looking for if you want to be able to immobilize an attacker long enough for you to get away. Generally, pressure points work best when you want to gain compliance from someone, or you want to break free from a choke hold, or get someone to release a knife or weapon from their hand. For example, If you need to have a person stand up and they refuse, placing your index finger under their nose will easily lift them to their feet. A wrist hold or choke hold can easily be broken by applying pressure to the inside of the attacker’s wrist. Before listing some specific pressure points, first consider the body in terms of general areas: Head, Neck, Upper Body, Lower Body, Arms, and Legs. Pressure points can be found in each of these areas. The key in a fight is to have good access to the point you intend to target. Therefore, you need to be aware of when any of these general areas are open. The Head: Pressure points in the head area include the eyes, ears, nose, jaw and temple. Results of attacking these can be as follows: • Eyes – Striking the eyes with an object, a finger or knuckle, with sufficient force can cause a partial or total loss of vision. The vision loss can be temporary or permanent. Although the eyes can be considered as pressure points, we consider them as vital areas and, therefore, should only be used if the use of force is fully justified. • Ears – The eardrum is a sensitive thin-skin membrane. Using a cupped hand to slap the ear can cause extreme pain, but it can also affect the attacker’s balance via the inner ear. A word of caution, although it cannot cause death, a ruptured eardrum is permanent damage and, therefore, this point should only be used if force is fully justified. • Nose – The nose is actually cartilage and not bone. It is also rich with blood vessels. Striking it horizontally usually ruptures the nasal portion of the angular vein. This can interfere with breathing, not to mention the pain and shock of losing prodigious amounts of blood. The upper lip, just under the nose, is a pressure point. One finger is all you need to actually stop a man from advancing or, in turn, cause him to retreat. The same finger, applying upward pressure to the nose, is all you need to lift him right off his chair or the floor. Here you are using pain, but without the threat of serious or permanent damage. • Jaw – There are a couple of target areas on the jaw worth noting. One is on the jaw line just below the hinge. The other is the tip of the chin. A sufficiently hard “clean shot” to either area can interrupt nerve signals and send shock waves through the skull, rendering the attacker unconscious. • Temple – A high-impact blow to the temple could be lethal if the weapon’s striking surface is small and its impact is not dispersed by the tempa-fossil. The small skull bones in this area could break off into the brain causing death, or could rupture the meningeal artery. The Neck: Pressure points in the neck area include the larynx, trachea, cervical vertebrae, and carotid arteries. • Larynx and Trachea – Both of these are in a region known as the anterior neck. The best things about this region are that it is unprotected and extremely sensitive, even to low-impact blows. Damage to either the larynx or the trachea can interrupt breathing, send blood to the lungs, and create noticeable levels of pain, or even death. • Cervical vertebrae – These are the seven vertebrae that go from the base of the skull to the shoulders. Strikes to the mid-to-upper cervical spine can be lethal. Strikes to the lower cervical spine can cause paralysis and be permanently debilitating. • Carotid arteries – The carotid arteries run along either side of the neck. Sufficient impact to either of them can result in debilitating pain or loss of consciousness. Upper Body: Pressure points in this area include the Brachial Plexus, Suprasternal Notch, Sternum, Heart, Solar Plexus, and Thoracic Spine. • Brachial Plexus – This nerve bundle runs beneath the trapezius muscle, above the collar bone. A hard blow to, or pinching of this area can cause the nerves to short-circuit creating pain and loss of motor control of the arms. • Suprasternal Notch – This is the depression at the bottom of the neck where the clavicles and sternum meet. Find this area on yourself and press in on it. It will become apparent what a hard blow there could do in terms of debilitating you. • Sternum – Known more commonly as the breastbone, the sternum is extremely pain sensitive to hard blows. • Heart – Just to the left of the sternum (to the right on a facing attacker) is the area to aim for to send a blow to the heart. With sufficient impact, such blows can create a concussion effect on the heart, possibly causing a heart attack. • Solar Plexus – This is the piece of bone at the tip of the sternum, normally evidenced by a depression in the chest. It is where the sternum meets the abdomen. Impacting it with a small strike surface can render the attacker unconscious. • Thoracic Spine – The thoracic spine runs from the base of the neck (where the cervical spine ends), approximately three-fourths the way down the back. Blows to this area can produce partial or total paralysis which can be either temporary or permanent, depending on the force used. Lower Body: Pressure points on the lower body include the Coccyx or Tailbone, and the Testicles. • Tailbone – A hard blow to the tailbone can cause partial permanent paralysis to the lower extremities. • Testicles – This one should be self-explanatory. The one caveat is that it is the one target that most experienced street fighters will expect you to go for, so expect them to counter your move. Arms: Pressure points on the arms include the Median and Radial Nerve, and the Elbow. • Median and Radial Nerves – The median nerve runs under the bicep area of the upper arm. The radial nerve runs across the top of the forearm in the natural crease lined up with the elbow. Striking either one of these nerves can temporarily disable the attacker’s arm. • Elbow – The elbow can be a formidable weapon, but it is also a fragile target. When it is struck properly you can take an attacker’s arm out completely. Legs: Pressure points on the legs include the Knees, Ankles and Shins. • Knees, Ankles, Shins. Like the elbow, these areas can be used as weapons, but they are also extremely fragile in terms of their ability to take significant blows and keep on functioning. Striking them can produce extremely high levels of pain. Keep in mind that using pressure points to your advantage in a fight requires more than just knowing their location. You must also know how to strike the areas to get the desired results. This is where some kind of general fighting knowledge is needed: how to make a proper hand formation for a fist, a knuckle-punch, a chop, how to use your own legs, feet, elbows, and knees as weapons. Like any fighting system, pressure point fighting is not a sure thing. There are instances where striking certain pressure points may have little or no effect on the attacker. For example, if the attacker is wearing thick clothing, is heavily muscled, or is high on drugs or alcohol. This is why you need to be well-trained enough to know not only where to hit and how to hit, but also how to move. If a strike to one area doesn’t work, go for another area quickly and get out of the way. Most of the pressure points we’ve covered are not lethal. In unarmed combat we want you to be able to inflict temporary neurological damage serious enough to stop an assailant in his tracks. The most important thing to winning a street fight is to improvise, fight hard, fight dirty and keep going, no matter what. Because that’s what your attacker is going to be doing. For More Information: United States Concealed Carry Association 4466 Hwy P – Suite 204 Jackson, WI 53037 (877) 677-1919 http://www.USConcealedCarry.com *** Plus *** => Get Your FREE Subscription to the Armed American Report! http://ArmedAndResponsible.com [/hidepost]

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How A Crime Happens

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

[hidepost=1] Staying Alert: How a crime happens – The preparation stage Even the most violent criminals have to mentally work themselves up before they commit a crime. To the untrained eye, acts of violence happen suddenly. Often violence seems to explode right in front of you. But in reality, the suspect tends to send out signals of his intentions. Reading these behavior indicators is far from an exact science. Yet criminals who are prepared to commit a violent attack often consciously or unconsciously telegraph the plan. Early Warning Signals you should watch for include: The suspect deliberately ignores you. If you find yourself in circumstances where some level of interaction would be normal, but you are obviously being deliberately ignored, the suspect may be showing contempt for you. Let’s say you are in a restaurant and the people at the table next to you are making excessive noise. You ask them to lower the noise. They completely ignore you, and continue making loud noises. They may be testing your will, or they may be using this time to plan how they will attack you when the opportunity is right for them. The suspect shows excessive emotional attention towards you. Suddenly, he starts talking to you too loudly, argues belligerently, or stares angrily at you for an extended period of time. There is a high correlation between emotional distress and physical combat, especially when the antagonist identifies you as a problem to him or alleges that you want to use violence against him. If he starts shouting, “You want to kick my ass?” or, “Hey you, are you looking for a fight?” he may be projecting on to you what he’s getting ready to do to you. This kind of language helps put you on the defensive, and to innocent bystanders it may make you look like the bad guy. The suspect displays exaggerated movements. He begins to move closer to you while you’re distracted by his erratic movements. Through agitated motion, suspects gear up physically and mentally for their violent attack. Let’s say you’re in a bar and someone gives you an angry stare. You ignore it. So, the suspect accuses you of wanting to start an argument over something petty. Then, with wild, angry movements, the suspect begins to close the distance. If the stare didn’t cause you to suspect you might have a problem, you should have realized it with the verbal aggression. As he starts to close the gap, you had better be prepared for defensive action or even a counter-attack. Another dramatic signal you should be prepared for is when a wild, loud, or agitated suspect suddenly stops all movement. This may be the calm before the storm; the signal that violence is about to explode. Always be aware of these early warning signals. They will help you avoid a problem before it gets out of control. For More Information: United States Concealed Carry Association 4466 Hwy P – Suite 204 Jackson, WI 53037 (877) 677-1919 http://www.USConcealedCarry.com *** Plus *** => Get Your FREE Subscription to the Armed American Report! http://ArmedAndResponsible.com [/hidepost]

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What You Can Learn From The Bad Guys

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

[hidepost=1] Staying Alert: What can you learn from the bad guys? Avoiding trouble means being able to spot criminals and then anticipate their possible actions. To be able to spot thieves you’ve got to know as much about them and how they think as you can. Here’s an exercise you can use to develop your awareness: For the next ten days or so, pretend that you are a mugger. As you go about your daily business, imagine how you would bushwhack someone in whatever places you find yourself. If you live in an apartment, decide where in the building or parking facilities you would hide if you were going to attack someone. With a little practice, you’ll be amazed at how many spots you might find. Then think about where you work. Pay attention to areas where you would normally be alone: the parking lot, even the restroom. Most crimes occur outside of the home or place of business. Elevators, garages, building entrances and exits offer criminals opportunities to take you by surprise. Once you know how to spot the ideal physical settings for a crime, you need to spot potential criminals. This means you need to pay careful attention to the physical mannerisms of potential bad guys. As a person is approaching you, ask yourself: “Is he dressed appropriately for the circumstances?” “Is he wearing baggy clothing to hide a weapon? “Do his shoes match his clothing, or is he wearing running shoes with those smart slacks and shirt?” “Is he wearing a hat and sunglasses because he’s trying to hide his face?” Look people straight in the eye. You want to know if they’re checking you out as a possible victim. Does the potential bad guy have his hands in his pockets, perhaps holding a weapon? Does he appear nervous, sweating or breathing heavily? Most attacks come from behind. Most of us stare when we look at something. Here’s a way you can break this habit and increase your peripheral vision: Look at an object in the room you’re in. Without moving your eyes or head, how much can you see out of the sides of your eyes? How about top and bottom? It’s amazing how much you can see when you pay attention to your peripheral vision. Imagine a hose nozzle that can be adjusted back and forth from a wide spray to a concentrated stream. To focus on something, tighten the nozzle and then quickly adjust your vision back to a wide spray. As you develop your vision, with a little twist of your head you can scan almost 360 degrees around you. No one will ever be able to sneak up on you again. Try it and see for yourself. For More Information: United States Concealed Carry Association 4466 Hwy P – Suite 204 Jackson, WI 53037 (877) 677-1919 http://www.USConcealedCarry.com *** Plus *** => Get Your FREE Subscription to the Armed American Report! http://ArmedAndResponsible.com [/hidepost]

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The Expandable Baton

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

[hidepost=1] The Expandable Baton Police officers have used the baton for many years as a versatile tool to control or subdue criminals and unruly people. The expandable baton is fairly new in the arsenal of self-defense tools. Currently used by law enforcement, it also makes an excellent self-defense weapon for the average person. Currently, in all but a few states, it’s legal for citizens to possess. However, be sure to first check your state and local laws concerning possession and concealed carry of the expandable baton before you consider buying one. The expandable baton is a simple device which is easy to carry, conceal, and use. The best way to describe it is to visualize a telescoping radio antenna like those fitted to cars; except the baton is larger in diameter. It is made of steel and consists of tapered sections, approximately 1/2 inch in diameter at the widest point. At the tip, it has an antennae-like knob. In the carrying position, the sections are collapsed into the handle, giving an overall length of about 6 – 8 inches. In the extended position, the sections are friction-locked into place, creating a formidable impact weapon that may range from around 16 – 24 inches in length, depending on the model. The baton comes with a scabbard that can be used to carry it on the belt. It also fits easily into a purse, pocket or briefcase. As with any weapon, the key is to be able to access it quickly. The first thing to learn with the expandable baton is how to properly open and hold it. It opens with a simple flick of the wrist; upward, downward or sideways. This snapping movement must be fairly quick and sharp. It’s not hard to learn, but does require a feel for the motion involved. Once the baton is extended, there are two basic grips: For the standard one-handed grip, simply hold the baton at the butt of the handle in the same manner in which a hammer is grasped. The two-handed position consists of the same grip on the handle as the one-handed position while resting the tip of the baton in the open palm of the opposite hand. This is the proper position when the baton is used for blocking. The proper stance is to hold it in your strong hand (right hand if you are right handed), resting it back on your shoulder. When you strike with it, keep your rear foot anchored and step forward with your lead (right) leg as you strike. After you’ve delivered the strike, step back to your original position. The baton can be used to block an attack or to strike or otherwise control an attacker. If an attacker is advancing toward you, the baton can be used to strike his legs or arms. It can also be used to jab with—you can jab the tip of the baton into their chest, stomach, or other soft, sensitive area. Remember that a jab is a thrust that is quickly withdrawn before your attacker can grab the baton. The goal is to disable the attacker, then draw the baton back quickly and put distance between yourself and him. If the attacker has a weapon such as a bat or stick, you can also use the baton to block with. These blocks are performed using the two-handed grip. It is imperative that you know how to hold the baton properly. Remember to keep the hand that cradles the tip of the baton open. Don’t wrap your fingers around or they may be struck with the attacker’s weapon. To block an overhead attack, hold the baton with the two handed position and extend it up and forward. Keeping it above your head, step into the attack, blocking either the person’s weapon or arm. In blocking the blow of a weapon such as a bat, expect to absorb considerable shock. For this reason, you shouldn’t lock your elbows. Also, make sure the baton is above your head, not at eye level. Keep it level. If it is angled, the attacker’s weapon may slide down and off the baton, striking you in the hand. The baton can also be used to block a side blow. If the attack is to your strong side, hold the baton in a vertical position. Once again, cradle the tip in your open, non-grip hand and don’t wrap your fingers around the baton. The tip should be at the top and your strong arm or grip hand should be positioned underneath. It is important to keep the baton even so the attacker’s weapon doesn’t glance off and strike you. If the attack is to the weak side, reverse your vertical position with the baton. The tip should be at the bottom and the handle or strong side should be on top. If possible, step into the swing of the attacker. This will help you to lessen the impact if you can interrupt his swing before it reaches maximum momentum. The same technique as the overhead block is used for a low block from an attack such as a kick. Using the two-hand position, block with the baton down and in front of you. While closed, the baton can be used as a control device as opposed to an impact device. For example, in defending against a choke hold from behind, you can force the handle of the baton into the bones of the attacker’s hand or wrist, easily inflicting enough pain that they will release you. A baton can be a lethal weapon. Unless it’s a life-threatening situation, never strike the head, neck or throat with a baton, it could kill. An important thing to remember when using the baton to strike or block is to maintain control of it. There are moves which you can execute should your attacker grab your baton. Retention is a vital part of the effective and successful use of any weapon. The expandable baton can be an invaluable defensive weapon. But, just as with any weapon, the key to effective use is to practice with it. What’s been described here are the most basic of moves. There are many advanced levels of skill you can achieve with it; they’re all easily learned if you just spend the time. Some martial arts schools teach use of the baton, and some police departments have instructors who may also teach classes for civilians. Check your local listings for lessons in your area. A 3-cell metal flashlight, walking cane, even an umbrella, all can be used in a similar way as the baton. They work well for blocking, striking and thrusting. A word to the wise: Never bring a baton to a gun or knife fight unless it’s all you have. Batons work best for controlling unarmed assailants. For More Information: United States Concealed Carry Association 4466 Hwy P – Suite 204 Jackson, WI 53037 (877) 677-1919 http://www.USConcealedCarry.com *** Plus *** => Get Your FREE Subscription to the Armed American Report! http://ArmedAndResponsible.com [/hidepost]

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Chemical Agents for Self-Defense – What Can I expect if I use a Chemical Spray?

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

[hidepost=1] Chemical Agents for Self-Defense – What Can I expect if I use a Chemical Spray? Chemical agents for self-defense are in common use today. They are an important tool for law enforcement, but have their place for civilians as well. Unfortunately, too often those carrying these chemical agents know little about the effects of exposure and decontamination procedures. Many people believe their chemical agent will incapacitate, stop, and completely render helpless an attacker. Not only is this concept incorrect, it is potentially dangerous. For citizens who wish to carry a chemical spray, by far the most common chemical agent is Oleo Capsicum (OC) pepper spray. Others, such as Chloroacetophenone (CN), Orthochlorobenzalmalononitrile (CS) and hybrids (a mix of agents) are used by military and special law enforcement units. The primary target should be the face/chest area. As with all airborne sprays, the person using the spray should be aware of which way the wind is blowing in order to avoid receiving a face-full of their own defensive spray! How do these chemical agents affect people? That depends upon which chemical agent they are exposed to. CN affects the glands of the eye, causing irritation, tearing, and inflammation that can cause the eyes to close. The subject’s nose will become irritated causing the nasal passages to drain constantly. It’s also a skin irritant that can affect open wounds, and cause severe coughing. Subjects exposed to CN may panic. Effects of this agent occur in one to three seconds and may last up to 45 minutes. Chemical Mace is a highly refined form of CN suspended in a solution and delivered from a pressurized canister. Similar to CN but more powerful, CS irritates the eyes and skin causing involuntary closure and burning. OC, commonly called pepper spray, is an inflammatory agent. Just like eating very hot peppers and chilies, OC causes a burning sensation, inflammation, and tearing, to any exposed skin or mucus membrane such as the eyes, nose, and mouth. A feeling of constriction in the throat may occur. The strength of OC sprays varies, and is measured in Scoville Heat Units (SCU); the higher the number, the hotter the spray. It is generally accepted that a product with a value of two million SCU is adequate, although some companies do offer “hotter” products. Pain may also cause the subject to involuntarily close his eyes. These perceptions of blindness and suffocation may cause intense panic, and the loss of any will to fight. The primary targets are the face, eyes and forehead. The first effects may be felt in one to two seconds and may last up to 60 minutes. However, it may not cause him to stop moving; an attacker might still charge onto his target, even though he may not be able to see where he’s going. No chemical agent is 100% effective. What causes chemical agents to fail? An attacker may be mentally impaired; under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs such as amphetamines, hallucinogens, cocaine, or, may simply possess a natural tolerance to the agent. The agent may not have been delivered accurately (a bobbing/weaving or running attacker may be difficult to hit). The attacker may have experienced a chemical agent before and may practice counter measures such as holding his breath to avoid inhaling a substantial quantity of agent. He may move out of the contaminated area, cover his face with a hand or other object, close his eyes momentarily, or turn away from the agent. Clothing and eyeglasses may also render some protection from the effects of agents. In reality, the only benefit a defender may realize from chemical agent deployment is a brief diversion or hesitation of the attacker’s actions. This diversion may give the defender a chance to escape, deploy a more appropriate weapon, or even deploy more chemical agent. Thus, it must be understood that the use of chemical agents are not designed to be a substitute for good tactics. Chemical agents certainly have their place as tools to control the behavior of attackers or other subjects. However, you must remember that if you carry and/or use a chemical agent, you also risk exposure. Therefore, it’s important that you know how to treat anyone who has been exposed to one of these agents. Unintentional exposure may occur through chemical agent container malfunction, accidental discharge, blow-back and close proximity exposure. And don’t forget the possibility of someone taking control of your agent and using it against you. OC pepper spray, the most widely used chemical agent by both civilians and police officers, comes in a pressurized aerosol. There have been reports of those aerosols being left in a vehicle on a hot day, overheating, rupturing, and spraying the contents over the inside of the vehicle. Passive decontamination uses the methods of dilution, cleaning, and dispersal using copious amounts of water and fresh air. Face into the wind or a fresh air unit (air conditioner or fan) to remove the agent and provide a cooling effect. Remove contaminated clothing and replace with clean clothing. Flush affected areas with water and wash with a mild soap. The subject should blink his eyes rapidly to start the natural irrigation process and blow his nose to remove discharge. The subject should cough, spit, and gargle with water to remove the agent from the mouth and throat. Flush or blot off all visible agent. Continue these procedures until the subject has completely recovered. The problem with passive decontamination methods is they can take from 30 to 60 minutes to work. This is a long time to let yourself or your loved ones suffer from the painful effects of an agent. Active decontamination is the other option. This procedure uses a decontaminate that neutralizes the chemical agents effects. The recovery time can be reduced to between seven to twenty minutes for OC pepper spray and as little as three to four minutes for CN and CS. There are decontamination wipes on the market that work reasonably well. However, there is a commercially available product called Bio Shield: You shake the container, hold the can about 12 inches from the subject and spray on all contaminated areas. After five to ten seconds, blot the affected area with a clean cloth or paper towel. This procedure needs to be repeated four to eight times, or until the eyes open and the effects subside. A responsible person should monitor the person exposed to chemical agents for signs of a medical emergency. Signs include respiratory or cardiac distress, allergic reaction, confusion, nausea or vomiting. If these signs are observed, seek medical attention immediately. Chemical agents are serious weapons that can sometimes have unintended consequences. Use them with great caution. Active Decontaminates are available from: Fox Labs, Inc. 20752 Miles Street South Clinton Township MI 48036-1948 Phone: 1-800-FOX-LABS www.foxlabs.com Guardian 1-800-928-8343 www.guardian-self-defense.com Brigade Quartermasters, Ltd. PO BOX 100001 1025 Cobb International Drive NW Ste. 100 Kennesaw, GA 30156-9217 1-800-228-7344 www.actiongear.com For More Information: United States Concealed Carry Association 4466 Hwy P – Suite 204 Jackson, WI 53037 (877) 677-1919 http://www.USConcealedCarry.com *** Plus *** => Get Your FREE Subscription to the Armed American Report! http://ArmedAndResponsible.com [/hidepost]

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Confidence, Concentration, and Commitment: The Three Cs for staying calm and in control

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

[hidepost=1] Confidence, Concentration, and Commitment: The Three Cs for staying calm and in control When faced with an act of criminal violence, the first thing you must learn to control is yourself. Staying in control means overcoming fear; fear of being hurt, even fear of being killed. Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the ability to control it. If you lose your head when faced with violence, you weaken your chances of surviving an attack. You can’t think tactically. And you can’t stay focused on what you need to do. To overcome fear you need to develop a winning mind-set. And that begins with understanding that your chances of survival are excellent. Even in wartime, with weapons of war, only 10% of those people who get shot actually die. And most of those who die do so immediately. Fear tends to overwhelm us when we are caught off guard. Don’t let this happen. You must be ready to safeguard yourself, whether that means avoidance (always your first choice) taking defensive action, or even attacking first if that’s what you need to do to save your life. Be alert. Have a planned response in mind. Be decisive. You’re walking down the street and four men start following you. You cross the street and change your direction and they continue to follow you. Do you think you might have a problem? You can bet on it. If you lose your cool head, you’ll likely forget your plan of action which makes you even more vulnerable. During the next 60 or 90 seconds, you must remain in control of your emotions—including fear. Control requires practice. You must train your mind. You must have confidence, concentration and commitment. Confidence If you carry a weapon you must have complete confidence in your equipment. If you choose a weaponless defense strategy you must believe in your ability to execute the tactics for which you’ve been trained. If you chose to avoid or evade a problem you must trust in your ability to pick the correct escape route. Concentration When you see a problem developing, you immediately focus your mind on your alternatives. You identify the threat and chose the appropriate action. By keeping your mind focused on positive and productive thoughts, you are preventing fear from entering into your mind. Plus, you are giving yourself the edge because you are ready to take action before the problem gets out of control. Commitment You must believe you are a winner. Everyday, tell yourself that no matter what, you will survive. You will never give up. You will keep fighting, even if in pain. You can even turn fear into anger. If someone wants to hurt you, and your first reaction is fear, tell yourself this: “How dare this dirtbag think he can do this to me.” Get angry. Tell yourself, “I’m going home tonight in one piece, this dirtbag isn’t.” For More Information: United States Concealed Carry Association 4466 Hwy P – Suite 204 Jackson, WI 53037 (877) 677-1919 http://www.USConcealedCarry.com *** Plus *** => Get Your FREE Subscription to the Armed American Report! http://ArmedAndResponsible.com [/hidepost]

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