Did you know one of the best ways to determine if a child will become a victim of crime is to look at who he hangs out with? If his friends are criminals or better put, delinquent, he is more likely to be a victim of crime. The reason being is that he or she is around bad people, bad acts and bad places and when they’re around those things, children are apt to become victims. This is a gauge some professionals use to determine which kids are likely to end up as victims.
Just as for kids, the same holds true for us adults. Much of why being attacked and robbed occurs is because of who we hang out with, where we hang out at and with what activities we’re involved in. If we are out and about in the wee hours of the night we have a better chance of becoming a victim of crime. If we associate with people who are criminals or who are on the fringe of society we have a higher chance of being a victim of crime; even if we aren’t partaking, just tagging along. And the more we go to “bad” areas the higher the chance of becoming a victim.
The famous comedian Chris Rock had a beginning line in his comedy routine where he said, “If you drive down any street by the name of Martin Luther King Boulevard in America you immediately gotta lock your doors and drive out quick cause you know it’s really dangerous.” His words are quite telling about many of our urban areas which have become very dangerous for anyone regardless of color.
For those of us who have chosen to be a part of self-defense training we should realize that we have a decent amount of control over the need to utilize our techniques to survive. Just knowing that we can substantially lower the need to fight is liberating. However, there is no guarantee that a lunatic won’t freak out at a McDonald’s or the great neighborhood that you frequent won’t have ugly crime right in your face. Consequently, we should continue to be on top of our training no matter what.
Just several days ago in Chicago, on a Tuesday, five men were killed and 12 men were wounded. The good people who work and live near these murders have such a high probability of becoming victims. Conversely, just in this last week, there have been assaults, rapes, and robberies in not so expected areas which shows us that yes, we do have much control over not being a victim but we never know for sure what may occur, anywhere. In a mobile society crime can be minutes away from us.
Let us be prudent in our associations and behavior and yet be on top of our game regarding self-defense and being ready to fight. If you have chosen to be a part of self-defense and martial arts training, be great at it and be ready to instantaneously kick-ass and take names when needed.
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