Our Responsibility
Self-Defense

We are taught safety throughout our live for many situations like the fire drill we learned in elementary school, about crossing the street safely, driving safely and many others. It is interesting to me that we are taught little or nothing about crime and how to avoid it in our education system since it is so prevalent in the world. Most of have more of a chance of facing a violent criminal than having our home, school or business catch on fire, yet we think little or nothing about educating ourselves in how crime happens, where it happens and how to better avoid being a victim of a crime.

Most of us are basically taught to leave worrying about the crime and learning about crime to the police, FBI and Government. Therefore we have a pass the buck mentality on who has all or most of the responsibility to keep us safe. This is not a realistic or healthy outlook. Just look at the basics stats in that theory; how many police and FBI agents are there comparative to current population in your area and in the world, as well as the mass of geography there is to cover. Looking this one has to realize that even if the police, FBI and government had the best training possible and were working as hard as they possibly could to protect us, there is just no way they can do it. The sooner we look at the reality of the situation and understand that we all have to take a part in our own safety as well as the safety of those we love and our neighbors the safer we will all be. We can no longer sit by and pass the buck to leave it all in the hands of the authorities. That has not and will not work. My hope and prayer is that it does not take someone that is close to you or you being raped, assaulted or murdered to wake you and those around you up to take some action.

As a self-defense/protection expert and teacher many times people come to me to learn self-defense after an attack has happened to them or someone they know. It takes something hitting close to home and literally scaring them or waking them up into the reality that they need to do something. This is sad to me. At the same time we have made great leaps in this field in the last 20 years and that is exciting. 20 years ago and more young girls were being told by police officers, teachers and family members that if they ever got attacked just to lay there and take it and even to try and be quiet and if they did they would most likely not be seriously injured. That is and was a lie most of the time. We also did not understand the criminal mind or have DNA testing, crime scene analysis, communication among departments and many investigation techniques we do now. Nor did we have the psychological understanding of the ramifications victims face after a violent crime.

It is our responsibility as spouses, parents, sisters, brothers, friends, children and grandchildren to protect each other and ourselves.

We can do this in many simple ways;

• By being more aware of our surroundings and letting others around us know when something is different or out of place
• When we go out watching each others backs
• not letting those you care about go off with someone they just meet at a club,
• By taking a self-defense class together
• We can looking on the national sex offender website to see who is living in your area and letting your neighbors know what you find as well
• educating ourselves and our kids about what to do in an emergency or if they are separated from us
• Everyone should making a plan for disaster
• Read the book “The Gift of Fear” by Gavin DeBecker
• Talkto those you love about self-defense and safety

Sherry McGregor,
Shihan~Teacher of Teachers,
Master Martial Artist
Self-Protection Specialist
Self-Esteem Coach

Author's Bio: 

Sherry McGregor is a renowned martial artist who provides seminars for people of all ages and experience levels. She is the highest ranking female martial artist in the world. She has been seen on "The Discovery Channel, Ripley's Believe it or Not, The Learning Channel and featured in "People Magazine" to mention a few. Her workshops provide a holistic approach to empower people seeking to achieve optimum health and wellness.

Sherry says: "I believe self-defense is for everyone NO ONE should live in FEAR. Empowerment comes through knowledge."