Another Self Defense Article by Dave Heuthe

What jungle you ask? We live in a dangerous world. We could be the prey of a human predator the same way an impala might be the prey of a tiger. What can we learn from creation? What do animals know that humans don’t? What strategies can we adopt from the animal world that will help us be safe?

We humans are still animals. Don’t believe me? Look at a hungry teenager at lunch, his mother at a sale or his father at a little league game. We are more intelligent and we are more aware of our motives and moral implications of those motives, but we are still animals. We are still responsible for our actions. Our intelligence and conscience give us an inherent sense of right and wrong. The predator ignores that sense. That’s what makes him dangerous.

We can be fooled into thinking that we live in a safe world. It doesn’t look like a jungle, there are too many buildings, and we have sidewalks and paved streets not paths and trails. What really confuses us though is that everyone looks so nice. They would never hurt us. Let’s see the real picture. What is this society really like? Street attacks that seem random may be well planned. Studies have shown that the vast majority of attacks are planned. How are they planned? What criteria do they use? Could knowing that help us to be safe?

The predator always has three advantages. He chooses the where, when and how of an attack. He has a plan. We don’t. Or do we? Let’s go back to the animal world and see what we can learn.

We have all seen nature shows about Africa and how the animals interact. What is the motive and intent of the predator? How does that shape his decisions and actions?

The predator has one goal, EAT. He’s not fighting for honor, country or a philosophy. He is hungry. When he looks for a victim he is looking for an easy mark, one that will give the least resistance. He looks for the young, weak, injured. He looks for the lost and isolated. He picks the straggler, because there is less risk more reward. How does that relate to us?

The human predator actually has the same goals as his animal counterpart. He wants to eat. In our case that means robbery. He also doesn’t want to be injured or captured. So who will he pick as his victim? He will pick the old or young. The weak or handicapped. The distracted or alone. How does this help us to stay safe?

Here are some proven strategies.

• • • • Walk with confidence. Walk with your head up, shoulders back. If you look strong he’ll look for someone else.
      • Walk aware. Look up not down keep checking your surroundings. If he can’t sneak up on you he’ll move on.
      • Walk with someone. Don’t go into a deserted area alone. There is safety in numbers.

• • We know that nothing is 100%. Even following these guidelines doesn’t guarantee safety they do greatly increase the likelihood you will go home safe