When you first consider your self defense, you may have reviewed the crime statistics, and you may be a bit shaken by the possibilities.

• You may be scared about what ‘could’ happen.
• You may be wondering if you’re capable of responding appropriately if a situation ever occurred.

Perhaps, you consider yourself a pacifist and didn’t see violence against another as an option until now.

Regardless of whether you’re reluctant to enhance your self defense abilities, or if you’re gung-ho and ready to enroll in a program and kick some butt.  You need to consider two more elements to increase your effectiveness:

Creative Visualization:

This is the process of using your imagination to visualize certain situations and your desired responses to them.

• you might imagine walking out to your car and a stranger approaches you.  What does he say and do –  and how do you respond?
• you might imagine someone robbing you with a knife, how do you respond?

Practice:

It’s been said that “practice makes perfect.” While not exactly accurate (perfect practice makes perfect), effective practice tends to make permanent.  It increases your likelihood of responding effectively under duress

• you might imagine walking out to your car and a stranger approaches you.  What does he say, do –  and how do you respond?
• you might imagine someone robbing you with a knife, how do you respond?

When considering the self defense strategies available to you, you don’t want your initial preparation to atrophy with lack of use.  Because if the time comes, you won’t get a lot of time to think, you’ll need to react quickly.  Use creative visualization and mentally rehearse responses to various scenarios.