August 14, 2005
From the Denison (Texas) Herald Democrat

Defend yourself

Denison self-defense instructor Sam Perez offers advice to prevent becoming a victim

By Lynette George

Once upon a time, the world was simpler ... and safer. Doors were left unlocked. A stranger offering to help change a flat or just stopping to ask a question wasn't cause for alarm. Taking an evening stroll or a morning walk didn't involve worrying about being accosted. Not so in today's society.

With busier daily lives, school starting and the holidays nearing, people of all ages are more at risk of becoming victims. But taking a proactive stance and learning how to possibly avoid or prevent verbal or physical conflicts can lessen that risk, according to Sam Perez, a long-time Denison martial arts and self-defense instructor.

"Self-defense is mainly common sense," says Perez. "Use your head."

Perez, a fifth degree black belt, says learning how to avoid conflict and becoming a victim is always preferred over a physical confrontation. Thanks to learning some basic, common-sense things, Perez says he's had to resort to getting physical only on one occasion -- disarming and immobilizing a gun-wielding man trying to rob a Sherman grocery store. Though pleased his years of martial arts training paid off, Perez says the situation could have easily turned against him.

"I was lucky I didn't get hurt," says Perez. "I just reacted. All my self-defense mechanisms just hit."

Don't be a victim

Below are some tips Perez provides to help prevent becoming a victim:

• When out walking at night, don't go alone, if possible.
  
  
• Carry a flashlight, police whistle or shriek alarm.
  
  
• Be alert. Look around you.
  
  
• Stay in well-lit areas. Avoid school grounds, parks, vacant lots and parking lots.
  
  
• When arriving home late at night, don't stop to pick up the mail.
  
  
• If someone is following you, go to the first lighted house or business and call the police. Don't lead the person to your home.
  
  
• Never engage in physical combat unless it is unavoidable.
  
  
• When possible, it is far better to run.
  
  
• Never walk close to shrubbery and walk facing traffic.
  
  
• When in a vehicle, follow these simple safety tips: Always keep your car doors locked. Before getting in, check to see that no one is hiding inside. Lean on the horn if there is trouble.
  
  
• Make sure your car is in good, running condition and don't let the gas tank get below half full so there will be less chance of becoming stranded.
  
  
• Do not park near vans with sliding doors or other similar vehicles.
  
  
• When exiting or walking back to your vehicle, keep keys laced between fingers to use as a weapon if needed and be aware of your surroundings.
  
  
• If you are already in a car and an attacker is trying to get in with you, drive off with the attacker hanging on.
  
  
• Keep safe in the home: Keep doors and windows locked at all times and install good quality locks.
  
  
• Install a peephole in your doors and use them.
  
  
• Keep shades drawn at night.
  
  
• If a stranger is at the door, ask to see identification before opening the door.
  
  
• Report "peeping Toms."
  
  
• Turn lights on inside and outside of the home if you are not home. If gone for an extended period of time, install timers to turn lights on and off.
  
  
• If someone comes to your door, don't pretend not to be at home.
  
  
• A dog can provide excellent prevention. Even a friendly dog will sound an alarm.
  
  
• Don't travel to the laundry mat late at night and always take a companion with you.
  
  
• Immediately hang up if you get an obscene phone call. Report the call to the police and to the phone company.
  
  
• Don't give personal information over the phone and teach children and babysitters never to give out information.
  
  
• Never allow a small child to answer the door. They are usually friendly and unafraid and will often let someone into the house.

Dealing with bullies

For today's youth, bullies can be a critical problem, especially with school starting. The National Association of Professional Martial Artists, of which Perez is a member, provides much-needed information on defeating bullies without fighting. Below are the 12 possible solutions for dealing with bullies:

1.   Make friends: Treat the bully as a friend instead of an enemy.

2.   Use humor: Turn a threatening situation into a funny one.

3.   Walk away: Don't get into a fight, just walk away.

4.   Use trickery: Use creative imagination to resolve the conflict.

5.   Agree with the bully: Let insults go without fighting back.

6.   Refuse to fight: The real winner of a fight is the one who avoids it.

7.   Stand up to the bully: Sick up for yourself and just say "No!" to bullying. 8.   Scream and yell: A powerful shout can end conflict before it starts.

9.   Ignore the threat: Be like bamboo and bend in the wind.

10.   Use authority: Call a property authority to help you "defeat the bully."

11.   Reason with the bully: Use the most powerful tool you have -- your brain.

12.   Martial arts stance: Be a victor, not a victim.

Perez reminds students that schools now expel students who fight during school or a school function. However, Perez says the methods above should enable a student (or adult) to diffuse a situation without a fight. These methods are ones he's used himself since entering martial arts back in the early 1970's as a U.S. Marine.

"Just a few weeks ago, we held a martial arts camp at the lake," says Perez. "There were about 15 or 16 young men next to us who were being really loud and we were trying to get all our boys off to sleep, which was hard in the first place because they were excited. I walked over to the young men and asked politely and calmly if they would mind moving because we were trying to get the boys to sleep. They looked at me and said, `Oh. You're the martial arts guy,' and they left. Usually, if you'll ask nicely and explain a situation, there won't be any conflicts. But if I'd gone up to them with an attitude like `Hey, I'm a black belt and I'm tough,' it probably wouldn't have gone so well and there could've been a serious situation."

Defend yourself

When all else fails (except when in school or at a school function), Perez says physically defending oneself may be a necessity.

Only as a last resort, use the weapons you have -- car keys, key chains such as a kubotan (much like a six-inch wooden dowel rod), hands, head or feet.

Perez carries a kubotan and says the key chain is a handy security gadget to have. It can be used effectively to strike or gouge the assailant in the nose, eyes, throat, neck or groin. A forceful blow in these sensitive areas could well enable an intended victim to escape an attacker. These moves can also be effective using a walking stick or cane.

Other moves suggested by Perez include the following:

• If an attacker comes from behind and wraps his arms around you there are several possible moves. Use your head and slam it backwards into his (or her) head. Try to lean forward enough to either bring up your elbow and strike backwards towards the aggressor's head or lift up a leg and kick backwards, aiming as closely as possible to the groin.
  
  
• If face-to-face with an attacker and he (or she) grabs you by the arm, use your other arm and swing it hard into the attacker's arm he's holding you with.
  
  
• If pinned down, face up, by a rapist or batterer, pull the attacker to closer to you. This will hinder him from his actions and possibly enable you to deliver a blow to his head, eyes, nose, neck or groin.

Again, Perez stresses the importance of avoiding a confrontation or conflict if at all possible.

As a community service, Perez holds free self-defense seminars throughout the year and also teaches the "Stranger Danger" class to pre-schoolers.

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