Since I started writing my column in the year 2000 for the Doral Tribune, writing for Ciudad Doral and this blog every year between Halloween and New Years I write on how to survive the holidays by staying safe, crime free or healthy, not gaining weight. My First article written for the Doral Tribune in October 2000 was on Halloween Safety. Last year I wrote an article entitled “Stay Safe and Healthy for the Holidays.” I gave the readers 10 Holiday Safety Tips and 5 Strategies to Combat Holiday Weight Gain. You can find this article archived at the Doral Tribune’s website.
This year I want to write about awareness for the holiday season. The holidays are filled with expectations of warmth and careless good times. It’s a time to take vacations and to celebrate with your family and friends. It is a time of preparation and giving. Yet, beware criminals also love the holidays and are preparing to steal your holiday joy. Most of us don’t think about crime prevention during the holidays.
Lets learn to be aware of your actions and surrounding when shopping, dinner and on vacation. If you have kids be aware of their presence, where are they, what are they doing? Lets also be aware of the changes in our bodies eat everything around us and do not exercise. As a martial arts and fitness instructor I try to always be aware of my surrounding whether I’m at home relaxing, at a restaurant, movie, driving or shopping. I’ve learn most of my anti-crime awareness from my 10 years working at a maximum security prison as an officer, in the United States Marine Corps and as a Krav Maga IDF (Israeli Defense Force) Self Defense instructor.
When I went to the academy to get certified to be able to work at the prison they teach us how to be constantly aware of our surroundings because the convict is always a step ahead of us since they have 24 hours to think of how they will deceive you and break the prison laws. When these criminals go to prison they are learning new strategies to ruin your holidays by robbing, attacking you, and stealing from you. When they leave the prison or what I call Thug University they have learn new strategies to help them commit the crime.
In Marine Corps Bootcamp in Parris Island, North Carolina also called the land that God forgot you are under stress for 16 hours or more hours a day, 7 days a week for 12 weeks. When you graduate from USMC Bootcamp you walk and talk different, you are confident, you look sharp, you are lean, mean and aware of your surroundings. You are a Marine. Yet, you do not have to enlist in the Marine Corps to stay safe this holiday season.
For most adults I recommend learning Krav Maga. Krav Maga taught to Israeli military is a great way to get fit, learn crime awareness and how to gain the confidence to defend yourself and your family.
Let me leave you with a few tips. By following these tips you will help to stop making it easy for the criminal mind to make you the next victim. Let’s take control of our lives before the criminals do.
Predators seek easy targets and people. People that appear more alert are less likely to become victims. Body language combats the first stage of an attack when the attacker is picking the victim. You must learn to walk like a predator not prey. If you have a poor body image it will show in your posture, movements and the way you walk. Low self esteem will also show in your facial expression and tone of voice. This behavior to the predator is like bait to a shark. Walk like a shark not a goldfish. So walk proud, look up and you shall walk in peace. Have a safe and joyous Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year.
"