Self Defense: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

What you need to know to increase your personal safety through controlling what you can, and understanding the rest.

Created byWallace Smedley

Last updated 5/2014

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

This course fill in the information gap between what is taught in a standard self-defense course and what you need to know in order to increase your personal safety.

Course content

6 sections • 33 lectures • 1h 58m total length

How to take this course0:23
Introduction and Meet Wallace Smedley2:52
An introduction to the course and a few words from the instructor.
What is "Self-Defense"?3:19
In this lecture we look at the meaning of "self-defense" and where things get tricky for the average person using the term.
Dispelling the Myths5:19
In this lecture we look at some of the popular myths one encounters as they look into the subject of self-defense and personal safety.
Footnote 11:00
Section 1 Recap2:48
A quick recap of some of the important points from section 1.
Section 1 Quiz

Section 2 Intro2:58
An introduction to Section 2, where we will cover the most important aspects of personal safety that are under our control.
Your Lifestyle7:14
You are responsible for a large part of your personal safety through the choices you make both in healthy lifestyle and in the people and places you allow yourself to be around.
Your Attitude5:03
Your attitude plays a powerful role in your safety.
Your Awareness Pt. 1: Guest Speaker Alain Burrese2:05
A few words from Alain Burrese on awareness.
Your Awareness Pt. 25:30
Awareness is key in any personal safety plan.
Section 2 Recap2:11
The section recap emphasizes the big three factors: lifestyle, attitude, and awareness that shape personal safety more than fighting skill, including fitness, choices, and vigilance.
Section 2 Quiz

Section 3 Intro2:31
An introduction to the topics of week 3.
The Freeze Response3:41
Explore the freeze response as a survival reflex tied to fight or flight and tactical fixation. Learn to recognize freezing, apply observe orient decide act, and minimize freezes.
The Adrenal Response8:06
The Other Person's Response5:21
accept you have no control over others, and influence their response by managing the big three: attitude, confidence projection, and where you go with whom you hang out.
Section 3: Recap1:59
Learn to influence threats by calming your responses and conditioning adrenaline through reality-based drills, then offer a face-saving exit to de-escalate confrontations.
Section 3 Quiz

Section 4 Intro3:39
Social Violence4:22
Examine how social violence arises from dominance and automatic brain responses. Learn to stay in the cool centers and calmly disengage to prevent confrontation.
Asocial Violence4:16
Recognize social violence as a predator aiming to obtain a resource; stay calm, prioritize life over property, and comply quickly to exit danger, then reassess.
What Does This Mean For You?4:12
Section 4 Recap3:11
Section 4 Quiz

Section 5 Intro2:14
Pre-Fight3:28
Explore pre-fight indicators in social violence, including posturing, huckstering, and tipping the head down; learn to recognize escalating stages and exit before the physical push.
Physical Confrontation8:52
Maximize personal safety by avoiding fights and de-escalating. Defend yourself when cornered by using open palm strikes, avoid going to the ground, and stop early.
Hospitals, Jails, etc.4:30
Avoid fighting; it is illegal and can land you in hospitals, jails, or courts. Consider the legal and financial risks and weigh the cost-benefit when forming your personal safety plan.
Section 5 Recap2:28
Recaps pre-fight rituals and escalation leading to physical confrontation, emphasizes staying aware of surroundings and real consequences. Next week covers the Big Three and practical training strategies.
Section 5 Quiz

Section 6 Intro1:34
Explore practical training that strengthens the big three of personal safety—lifestyle habits, attitude and social intelligence, and heightened awareness. Practice drills to develop these factors and boost your safety.
Tips for increasing your Personal Safety: Lifestyle3:34
Apply a lifestyle risk assessment and cost benefit analysis to personal safety in self defense, choosing who you keep close and which places you visit to avoid violence.
Tips for Increasing Your Personal Safety: Attitude3:16
Train your attitude by starting small, identify when you react emotionally versus rationally, and use reason over emotion to reach a safer position.
Tips For Increasing Your Personal Safety: Awareness4:50
Boost personal safety by training daily awareness: scan rooms for ambush points and escape routes, observe surroundings and attire, and perform a morning body check to stay vigilant.
Section 6 Recap2:23
This recap announces office hours for questions via email or website form, offers anonymous submission, and previews the week’s focus on the big three, safety through lifestyle, attitude, and awareness.
Recommended Reading0:32

Requirements

None

Description

Through six sections, nearly two hours of instruction, this course will teach you the steps you can take to increase your personal safety. The real facts regarding personal safety are left out of the traditional self-defense courses, and we are here to fill in that gap.

The first section is a general look at the topic of self-defense. We look at some of the popular myths, and set up a framework for our further study.

In the second section we discuss The Big Three. These are three very important factors that impact your personal safety, but the good news is that all three are under your control!

In the third section we look at The Bad Three. These are three powerful factors in your personal safety that you might be able to influence, but you will not have any real control over.

In the fourth section we will take a look at the subject of violence as it applies to personal safety. The topic is huge, and there is a lot of distorted information out there, so we try to clarify some of the important points.

In the fifth section we will look at the fight and the aftermath. The truth is far removed from what is often taught as self-defense and here we present some very important information.

And in the sixth and final section we will look at some training designed to specifically address developing our personal safety strengths, The Big Three. Tips and ideas on increasing our skills in this area are given for those who wish to increase personal safety.

Who this course is for:

Anyone interested in personal safety

Self Defense: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

What you'll learn

Course content

Introduction to Self-Defense6 lectures • 16min

The Good: Personal Safety Aspects That YOU Control6 lectures • 25min

The Bad: Personal Safety Aspects You Do NOT Control5 lectures • 22min

The Ugly5 lectures • 20min

The Fight and the Aftermath5 lectures • 22min

Increasing Your Personal Safety6 lectures • 16min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: