Self Defense Choices Cover a Wide Range

If you are at leading edge of your voyage into the world of self defense, there is a lot to consider. Here are a few areas for consideration and a low level starting point.

• Lethal Weapons – These typically take the form of either a knife or firearm of some sort. While they do have lethal stopping powers, the danger is that the bad guys can take them away and use them against you. Think long and hard before choosing one of these.

• Non Lethal Weapons – These are great options, especially for newbies in the field of self defense. Stun guns or pepper spray can make you very unattractive as a target. Besides that, if taken away and used against you, it’s not likely that you will die from the experience. You will be uncomfortable, for sure, but probably not expire.

• Martial Arts – Practitioners are right when they say it takes not just years but decades to hone their skills. This is great for long-term consideration, but not much help for the upcoming weekend.

• Self Defense Classes – These are a great option for beginners. Most communities offer some form of classes. Community centers and local law enforcement agencies (or off-duty police officers who want to make a difference) may offer classes. Martial arts dojos may offer their own variation on the theme, too.

If none of these fancy options appeals to you, you can start by attaching a simple little whistle to your key ring. It can make a lot more noise than you can.