Stay Alert, Stay Safe

Self defense skills will no doubt save your life, but you don’t necessarily need to know how to fight in order to survive. Self defense starts with awareness - the first step in keeping yourself free from harm is to be alert. When walking anywhere by yourself, day or night, it is important always to be aware of your surroundings so that nothing will take you by surprise.

Here are a 5 awareness tips to serve as your first line of self defense.

1. Listen. This means popping out the earbuds and paying attention to the sounds around you. Turning off your iPod is just as important while crossing the street as it is when walking down a dark alleyway. If you can hear an oncoming threat, you already have an advantage.

2. Look around. Avoid the temptation to stare at your feet or at the ground while you walk, being sure to take notice of nearby people and surroundings. When waiting at a bus stop or crosswalk, always keep a hand on your phone without gluing your eyes to the screen - this will keep you alert while keeping a call for help ready at your fingertips.

3. Take wide turns. When rounding the bend in the street, give shadowy corners a wide berth. Attackers will sometimes crouch out of sight, waiting to mug an unsuspecting pedestrian. By anticipating this kind of attack, you avoid surprise and keep yourself safe.

4. Be loud. Talk on the phone as you walk to alone at night - or at least pretend - in order to ward off would-be attackers. Describe your surroundings over the phone, so your location is known. If you at least seem as if you are talking to a friend, you make yourself a very undesirable target.

5. Be prepared. Arm yourself so that you are prepared to fight in the event of an attack. Stock your keychain with pepper spray and self defense weapons to disarm an attacker and allow you to make a swift getaway.

Personal safety starts with awareness. Keeping a close eye - and ear - on your surroundings is the first step to staying safe. However, it doesn’t hurt to arm yourself for added confidence, particularly at night. Amory Replicas carries a wide variety of self defense gear at affordable prices. From self defense keychains to portable pepper spray to high-voltage stun guns, we’ve got what you need to keep yourself safe!