Predators usually strike when their victims aren't on the alert.

Out on the street, predators prey on weaker individuals all the time. Don't believe me? Well just tune into the nightly news. Another day another murder, drive by shooting, mugging and or rape stories are simply just a typical news day.

There's nothing unusual about any of it in any big city. Gangs looking to expand turf and of course, find easy pickings are now targeting smaller cities and communities.

Here's a reality check for anyone still doubting the dangers out there:
Trust me; don't expect your reality check to come from good intentions. More likely it'll come from the hospital AFTER they've stitched you up—if you're that lucky.

Think in terms of the shocking possibility of being a victim AND having to pay $10,000 to $20,000 in medical bills. Now that's a more realistic view of the situation, unless you consider taking the necessary steps to defend yourself and your loved ones.

Let's face it, if you're not aware of what's going on around you then you're more vulnerable than a virgin on the corner of Sunset & Vine. Criminals love to watch the street in search of someone mindlessly walking along, lost in deep thought. Picking pockets, purse/cell phone snatches and simple street muggings are relatively risk free for a criminal who is patient and has a decent game plan. Now here are some options, should the situation become physical.

Martial Arts Vs. Boxing/Wrestling

The debates over which style of self defense is best will most likely out live us all. I've studied boxing since the ripe old age of 4 (My uncle was a Golden Gloves champ and my mother learned from him.) In my younger days I've occasionally enjoyed landing a good solid punch on a most deserving knucklehead. Back then when a drunken jerk got knocked out for being stupid that was usually the end of it. Period. And thankfully, no lawsuit was filed.

Was it the practical thing to do? Probably not, but most of those incidents occurred in much simpler times with less of the "sue the bastards" mentality. These days it seems that no matter what some bozo does it's not his fault. No one seems to be able to quite figure out whose fault it is. OK, let's blame the parents, teachers, coaches and anyone else in his background. That makes it OK, right? No, it doesn't.

The Everlast Wave Master.

Hitting a punching bag or one of the newer rubberized, more realistic practice dummies is great exercise. It builds confidence and basic skills. I say basic because beating up a punching bag or practice dummy is a hell of a lot different than having to do it out on the street. Without proficiency with your fists you would be better served by walking away, if at all possible, rather than trying to break your fist on someone's face.

The same goes for martial arts which I've studied (and still do) since the age of 13. Repetitious practice drills help in learning and building confidence in one's ability. Katas are essential to learning whatever style you choose, but do have some major drawbacks when used in a real street fight. What works fine in a dojo or in a tournament under controlled
circumstances may not work out quite so well in an anything-goes street fight.

Learning to defend yourself in a highly regulated environment such as a martial arts dojo is a great way to learn the basics. But don't be fooled into thinking that it is an end-all of your worries. Nothing except death is guaranteed to work 100 percent of the time. The problem there is that you could end up facing manslaughter or even murder charges. Not a good option at all.

The trick is knowing what works and what won't be suitable in a particular situation. Kicking above the waist in a dojo or in a tournament may be impressive but never try it on the street unless you don't mind getting your ankle snapped. Be practical and use low kicks that work and forget all the fancy stuff.

If you've seen as many fights as I have over the years, one thing usually stands out. Within a minute or so the combatants almost always end up in some kind of wrestling technique on the floor with the exceptions being those very experienced and skilled fighters. Why do you think former World Champion Royce Gracie did so well in the early days of the Ultimate Fighting Championships?

Wresting is humans' most basic instinct when it comes to self-defense.

If you're going to end up grappling on the floor at least consider taking the time to learn some basics before you get your clock cleaned. On the street "tapping out" is not an option. The common misconception from both movies and TV is that fights last five minutes or more. In reality 30 seconds to a minute is a long, long fight for nonprofessionals. In real life most people just can't take that much pain and punishment.

The bottom line here is that without the knowledge, ability and a healthy dose of common sense you too could become another statistic in police files.

As we age the bones in our hands can't take the punishment they did in younger (and faster) years. But older people trained in martial arts are still quite capable of defending themselves in spite of somewhat "slower" reflexes. Experience does count for something. Now in my 50s I don't look forward to wrestling on a bar floor with a young guy in his 20s. But then I do know how and when to cheat.

Semi-Armed Self Defense

There are many options to using your hands, elbows and feet in a defensive situation. Pepper spray became popular in the '90s and is now sold over the counter here in California. The State of California certified me in 1994 to teach pepper spray to both civilians and security personnel.

Police use a somewhat more potent form than civilians, in addition to having access to several other non-lethal tools, whereas civilians aren't that lucky.

Understand that pepper spray has its limitations too. Yes, it can do a number on some people but practitioners of chemical enhancement have been known to ignore the burning eyes and skin while doing their level best to rearrange someone else's world. Another problem is creating the necessary three to five feet distance for the ingredients to activate. Rain also voids the desired results. And if the wind shifts and blows the spray back into your face then you could become a victim.

The author prefers his walking stick, left, over using a cane.

My favorite defensive weapon today is my ever-present walking stick. They are straight sticks made of exotic and domestic hardwoods. The knob fills my hand and works just fine to keep my balance after too many injuries in my career. Having a blue handicapped placard is a bonus too, since no cop on the planet wants to risk an American with Disabilities Act lawsuit by unlawfully taking it way from me. But the real advantage is in self-defense situations.

I prefer the straight stick to the traditional crook handle, although I do own and practice with both. The reason is simply that from the martial arts I can use basic Kendo strikes or riot baton techniques to ward off almost any threat at close range. Remember the severe beating from a wooden sword (Boken) that Tom Cruise took in The Last Samurai? Believe me, in real life it would have ended a lot sooner but in that particular scenario a rather painful lesson was being taught. I believe that Teddy Roosevelt, quoting an old African phrase, said it best: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far!"

Now obviously an opponent 20-plus feet away holding a pump shotgun on me has an advantage. But up close against a handgun, knife or broken beer bottle the advantage can definitely change to a skilled defender. Two or three swift (and accurate) strikes will usually end the confrontation without further incident.

When faced with a deadly threat and no possible exit, your best option may be to fight back rather than hope for mercy from some street thug.

Personally I'll take my chances in fighting back any day, but that's strictly a personal decision and I have been known to cheat in a fight upon occasion. Surprise can be a great equalizer.

When faced with multiple opponents its inevitable that one of them has to talk tough. And that knucklehead with a big mouth is the one I'll deal with first. In seconds, decisive blows can render even the toughest man helpless and on the ground. Seeing their once fearless leader crumpled on the ground in a lot of pain can have an adverse effect on the other tough guys. A change of heart is not uncommon at this stage of the confrontation.

When confronted at close range by an attacker a Kubotan or substitute, such as properly wielded car keys, can give a potential victim an advantage.

My next favorite self-defensive weapon is a Kubotan. Five and a half inches long and either a half inch or five-eighths in diameter, it is truly an amazing impact weapon. Available in martial arts and police supply stores and over the Internet, most are made of injection molded plastic or metal. Mine are made by a friend of the same hardwoods as my walking sticks.

Combining the power of your arm movement concentrated onto a small blunt end of the stick, the results are truly devastating. Hit the right nerves and anyone on the planet will go down in pain. Using pressure points one can control an assailant with little effort. The drawback is that it if you can touch him then he can touch you. The new 3-cell AA LED Mini Maglite is a good substitute for a Kubotan

For women about to open their car in a poorly lit parking area there is always an opportunity for an assault.

Reacting with a vicious swipe across the forehead of her attacker followed by a swift kick to the knee or groin could very well save her life. Her attacker is now blinded by the flowing blood and in pain from a follow up kick, giving her precious seconds to get away.

Now the follow up scenario is that your assailant may possibly have to get some medical attention for a nasty tear across his forehead. The medical staff will be curious how he received his injury too. Secondly you can contact the police and hand over your keys because they now contain DNA samples from the bad guy. Guess who's going to have a hard time arguing, first to the police and later in court that he didn't do anything?

The new 3-cell AA Mini Maglite.

Simple and tremendously effective when used properly, the Kubotan offers a lot in the realm of protecting yourself. Flashlights and other hard objects can be used in a pinch when needed. The new and improved version of the classic AA Mini Maglite features a longer three-cell AA battery with a greatly improved LED bulb for better visibility. In a pinch it can be used to first blind and then strike an assailant's most vulnerable areas. At $25 it's both an effective defensive tool and very practical.

In bars, broken beer bottles, cue balls and sticks as well as heavy ashtrays have been used to inflict devastating damage on others. Getting a face full of ashes and cigarette butts can instantly blind you, leaving you open to some nasty follow up moves.

Once I ordered a double shot of house bourbon when threatened by a much larger bar patron. Rather than drink it I tossed the liquor into his eyes causing severe yet temporary blindness.

A brawl broke out and I slipped a punch from some guy behind me as I headed toward the door. I was long gone before the big guy's vision came back. It only cost me five bucks for the drink and the big drunk never got the chance to rearrange my anatomy. Practical? Oh, hell yes! The trick is understanding what they can do to you and then properly defending yourself against them. Go back to awareness as the first step.

The Only Fight You'll Ever Win

Now here's the bottom line: The only fight you'll really ever win is the one you walk away from. No, I'm not talking about clocking some poor but deserving spud when the time comes and living to brag about it. I'm talking about avoiding confrontations all together, apologizing before walking away or even running away if need be.

It's definitely not the macho thing to do this but it damn sure works. It may not win you any points with your drinking buddies or while out on a hot date but your hands won't ache the next morning and you won't have any bruises except for maybe your ego.

Let's be practical about this. Not everyone has the time or inclination to spend years learning and practicing self-defense techniques. It is possible to learn in a relatively short period of time enough techniques to save your hide under many conditions and still go home at the end of the day.

Hopefully no one gets seriously hurt and you don't end up getting sued.

Keep in mind that part about litigation. There must be some truth to that old saying about the first thing we do is kill all the lawyers.

Things To Avoid

While both the butcher knife, top, and Al Mar folder, bottom, are practical tools, their use as weapons should only be as a last resort.

Pocket knives and, God forbid, fixed-blades should be used only in the most dire of circumstances. In modern times knives are viewed negatively in the public's eyes, and that includes those of your potential jurors too. Now a terrorized housewife trying to stop a crazed attacker in her kitchen with a butcher knife (used in desperation, of course) may be a lot easier to defend in court than a guy carving up some fool in a bar with his fancy custom combat folder.

A little common sense goes a long way. Avoiding high crime areas and bars known to sweep up the body parts after closing makes a lot of sense.

In my career I've spent entirely too much time in such places and now suffer from TMI: Too Many Injuries. Clint Eastwood said it best in Magnum Force: A man has to know his limitations. There's nothing wrong with that kind of logic.

In the Army back in the '70s there was a saying that stuck with me over the years. Stay alert, stay alive! Older veterans will remember that classic cartoon sketch of the turtle and the GI helmet filled with bullet holes.

Get some professional training, use the knowledge wisely, and as always, good luck! l