H.I.T. Self Defense

We decided to switch this post up a bit and talk about workplace violence. This can pertain to the new college grad on your first job, or the seasoned veteran out there surviving the concrete jungle. Most people associate workplace violence with a co-worker “going postal”, but this is only a small percent of the assaults in the workplace. Workplace violence perpetrators can include customers, co-workers, domestic violence spillovers, and the predatory criminal with no affiliation to the workplace. Men often think they are immune, but they are actually twice as likely to be a victim of workplace violence. That … Continue Reading

We are at that time of year, again. Summer is over and the kids are on their way back to school. Here are a few safety tips to utilize while on or off campus. Remember, the college campus is a perfect environment for predators, so let’s go over some of the basics (for some of you out there - this is a refresher course):

A. Be aware of your environment: be especially careful in enclosed spaces (i.e. parking garages, etc.). Also, be extra careful at night. The more alert you appear the less attractive you are … Continue Reading

We held a class last Saturday for young women from the Toussaint Academy of the Arts and Sciences (TAAS). TAAS is a group home that serves homeless youth in San Diego County ages 14 to 17; and is a partner of Father Joe’s Village here in San Diego. TAAS is dedicated to strengthening … Continue Reading

Here are a few tips (and a clip from the DVD) with regards to safety for the upcoming 4th of July holiday.

A. If you plan to go out for a night on the town and fireworks, make sure you utilize the buddy system: each of your friends should watch out for one another. Even better if have one designated sober ‘party-goer’ who can watch out for any signs of trouble (she is the one who tells you that ‘this guy’ might not be the right one - or who comes in when you give her ‘that … Continue Reading

Summer is right around the corner. I thought this would be a good time to cover some basic safety tips. The daylight hours are getting longer and we tend to find ourselves out later and later enjoying summer activities: exercising, camping, parties, etc. Here are a couple of reminders:

A. Keep your guard up. Have fun, but remember, be aware of your surroundings. If you’re exercising outdoors, keep the headphones (music) off. Also, don’t over fatigue yourself - something that’s easy to do as the days get hotter.

B. Watch the drinking out in the sun. … Continue Reading

Millions of people use the internet every day; it’s a great way to connect to friends, family and people all over the world. It can also be the perfect environment for predators to target potential victims. Just like a predator in a parking garage or on a jogging path, the online predator is looking for a vulnerable target. But online, the attacker is truly transparent and anonymous - and may be posing as a “friend”. Although the media portrays online predators as older men posing as younger adults, the majority of online related sexual assaults are actually perpetrated … Continue Reading

Not all predators are strangers: 75% of all sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim. For high school and college age women those numbers are closer to 90%. Since we are in Spring Break time, I really want to focus on some common variables that are an impetus to Date Rape (or Acquaintance Rape). The #1 Date Rape drug on the scene? Alcohol. When individuals don’t drink responsibly they open themselves up to sexual assault. I think we’ve all seen enough Spring Break programs to understand that responsible drinking is not … Continue Reading

I actually meant to post this clip from the DVD a few weeks back when I posted: HIT Tips: 27% Increase in Rape. This clip really follows my suggestions on how to reduce your risk of ‘Date Rape’ (Acquaintance Rape). I saw a program a few weeks back about a young woman who was raped after being drugged on Spring Break. She found out about the rape after police showed up on her doorstep a few years later with a video and showed her the assault that apparently the perpetrator recorded. According to the program, the … Continue Reading

Recently, I caught a quick news clip on the radio about the decrease in overall crime rates in San Diego, CA - but an increase in rape (up 27%). Reported rapes went from 296 incidents in 2007 to 376 in 2008. NPR Radio News: SD Crime Statistics The SDPD attributed this increase to more victims who came forward to report the crime (specifically: Acquaintance/Date Rape). These increases are consistent with national trends that show a 25% increase in sexual assaults since 2005 - while overall violent crime is down slightly over the same period (Bureau of Justice Statistics … Continue Reading

Here is a story that Fox News ran about me a year or so back. I thought this was pertinent with the previous blog I posted on child abduction (re:HIT Tips: Children). The clip visually matches my suggestions for your children if someone tries to abduct them (you can see some of our training strategies in action). I believe the first part of the segment was shot HD (squished) - the actual story was shot standard definition and looks normal. Again, be prepared for potential Youtube artifacts and load delays. Enjoy the clip - I … Continue Reading