WELCOME
The world is constantly changing. You deserve to feel safe.
When it comes to self-defense,
YES, you can learn how to escape a violent scenario.
YES, you can learn how to minimize your risk.
YES, there is something you can do.
This website is 100% FREE.
As traditional martial artists, we believe that we have a responsibility to share our knowledge to help make our community and the world a better place. If you learn something from this website that makes you feel safer in this constantly changing world, please consider sharing it with others.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS
LEAD INSTRUCTOR: GRANDMASTER CLIFFORD C. CRANDALL, JR.
Grandmaster Crandall has been teaching martial arts and self-defense programs for more than 55 years. As a retired Superintendent of Schools in NYS and classroom teacher, he brings an educational professionalism and method to self-defense instruction. He has developed and taught programs for people of all ages and abilities including individuals who are blind or visually impaired, stroke survivors, individuals with mobility challenges, and more. He has published numerous books and DVDs on the topic of self-defense. Grandmaster Crandall is the lead instructor for the videos on this webpage.
CO-INSTRUCTORS
The co-instructors for the following videos are:
Left: Headmaster Eric Stalloch, 9th Degree Black Belt. Headmaster Stalloch is a high school forensics and anatomy teacher with 35 years of martial arts training. He is the co-founder of SecureLiving.org and co-author of Be Safe Physically and Mentally with Grandmaster Crandall.
Center: Master Gisella Stalloch, 7th Degree Black Belt. Master Stalloch is a systems and discovery librarian with 28 years of martial arts training. She co-produced the instructional DVD: Self-Defense and Awareness in a Constantly Changing World with Grandmaster Crandall.
Right: Master Amanda Crandall, 7th Degree Black Belt. Master Crandall is a civil engineer with 25 years of martial arts training. She is the author of four martial arts books including Reflections of a Grandmaster and the Julia and Tiger Lilly children's books.
All of the co-instructors have taught numerous self-defense and safety programs for people of all ages and abilities with Grandmaster Crandall.
Experience
Professionalism
Quality
WHERE DO I BEGIN?
Self-defense and awareness are skills that can be learned. There is no substitute for a qualified instructor who will be able to take into account your body type, level of self-confidence, and on-going understanding as you continue to learn. However, this free website can help you improve your knowledge and help you to feel safer.
First, choose an area that interests you. If you have questions about knife assaults, you can jump to that section first. We learn best when we are having fun. However, the website is laid out so that more fundamental concepts are first, and more advanced concepts are later. So, it may make sense for you to work through the videos in order.
We recommend watching each video more than once. Simply by watching you have begun to arm your mind with the knowledge that can make a difference in your personal safety. You may want a partner to practice with. Realize, that while you are learning, your partner needs to be cooperative in the learning process. Part of what makes self-defense effective is the element of surprise. After the first repetition, your partner will no longer be surprised. They should not make the technique too easy, but they should not fight you.
This website is a resource. Always consult a physician before engaging in physical activity. Do not use real guns or knives or other devices during practice. We use rubber, safety training equipment. Finally, check with your local law enforcement or an attorney about the legality of responses presented. We are offering you options for safety, but you are responsible the choices you make in an assault scenario.
"As with all skills, the skill of personal safety improves when you increase your knowledge about the subject and you practice the skill regularly.
Seek to arm your mind with knowledge and your body with skills."
-Clifford C. Crandall, Jr.
FUNDAMENTALS
HOW TO MAKE A FIST AND USE IT
If faced with an assault scenario, you may need to use a physical response to escape. During the process of defending yourself, you do not want to injury yourself. In other words, should it be necessary to strike an assailant, knowing how to make a proper fist becomes important.
There is more than one acceptable way to structure the hand into a fist, but his method places particular emphasis on protecting the thumb and joints of the hand.
This section also covers one effective method of punching. Emphasis is on proper technique for safety. Power and speed will come with time and repetition.
AWARENESS AND AVOIDANCE
This website is filled with physical responses with the goal of escaping a situation to get help.
When it comes to your personal safety, consider:
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How can I avoid a situation?
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Can I prevent a situation?
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Can I minimize risk?
The purpose of self-defense is not to hurt other people; it is to ensure that you escape to safety. In the process of defending yourself, you may injure the attacker. This video provides some information and a perspective regarding strikes and when to use them.
BLOCKS
ESCAPING GRABS AND PREVENTION
We have already looked at punching. Before considering additional strikes, it is important to practice some fundamental blocks. We will look at two: the down block and outside block. Others exist, such as high block, x-block, center block, and many more.
A block can free you from a grab, prevent a person from grabbing you in the first place, to deter further contact by the aggressor, or to intercept a strike from an attacker before it can hit its intended target. The motion of a block can also be utilized as a strike.
Often the primary difference between a classifying a technique as a block or strike is the intent behind the motion. For example, an outside block can release a grab or be used as an impact to over-extend an elbow joint.
ADDITIONAL STRIKES
PALM HEEL, BACK FIST, AND ELBOW
If faced with an assault scenario, you may need to use a physical response to escape. During the process of defending yourself, you do not want to injury yourself. In other words, should it be necessary to strike an assailant, knowing how to make a proper fist becomes important.
There is more than one acceptable way to structure the hand into a fist, but his method places particular emphasis on protecting the thumb and joints of the hand.
This section also covers one effective method of punching. Emphasis is on proper technique for safety. Power and speed will come with time and repetition.
The diagram indicates seven primary striking areas on the body.
The effectiveness of striking these areas will depend on:
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the technique used,
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the amount of power projected on the point of impact, and
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the type of clothes, including shoes, which are being worn by the attacker and defender.
Perhaps the most effective target is the knee joint. It is a weight bearing joint for the entire stability of the human body. It only bends in one direction, and once damaged, the attacker will have a hard time pursing you. It is also difficult to safeguard.
VITAL STRIKING POINTS
1. Eyes
2. Cervical Vertebrae
3. Clavicle
4. Elbow
5. Solar Plexus
6. Groin
7. Knee
KICKS
THE CENTER KICK AND SIDE KICK
Every part of our body can be used as a defensive tool. So far we have focused on the skills of the upper body such as punches, palm heel strikes, and elbow strikes. Kicks are also a power self-defense resources. If you are concerned with balance, realize that you will often be able to grab the attacker back for support, using their legs for additional stability. If you are near a table, chair, wall, or car, you may be able to hold onto those for support. When you practice, you may chose to hold onto a chair while you practice the motion.
You do not need a high kick. Our focus will be the knee joint. If you impact anywhere between six to eight inches above or below the knee, the force will translate to the knee, locking it and hyper-extending it.
FUNDAMENTALS
CIRCULAR ARM BREAKAWAY
We have covered some fundamental blocks, upper body strikes, and kicks, giving you a range of options should a physical response be necessary. Now we are going to introduce circular arm breakaway.
This technique combines the element of surprise with the physics and mechanics of the human body to escape from a wrist or sleeve grab. It is ideal for people of all ages and sizes. It does require judgement for the situation. It's purpose is to break free with the intent to run.
WON'T THEY JUST CHASE ME?
A common concern is "if I start to run, won't they just chase me?" It is possible, which means you may need to stand your ground and continue a physical response. However, most criminal acts are planned. A robbery or ambush was chosen by criminal because they knew the area lacked security cameras, or a building obstructed a clear view, for instance. Even putting a few feet between yhou and the attacker changes what can be witnessed. With every step, they must now concern themselves with being seen and identified to police.
ESCAPE TECHNIQUES
COMMON GRABS AND HOW TO BREAK FREE
The following sections are samples of the most common grabs during assault scenarios. There are numerous techniques and options when it comes to self defense responses, and these are just a few methods to break free to get away.
THROAT GRAB
HOW TO ESCAPE
A throat grab is a serious assault situation. The immediate concern is your restricted breathing. A throat grab can be frightening, and a natural impulse might be to grab the attacker's wrist, often with both hands. This ties up your arms from being able to respond, and it reinforces their grip. While this is occurring, you are more at risk of blacking out. In addition, trauma to the trachea can cause inflammation, which can be a serious medical situation, as well. This technique is a fast, and immediate response that can free you from their grab. Due to the severity of the grab, a counter is presented.
ARM AROUND THE WAIST
HOW TO ESCAPE
An arm around the waist is a common form of unwanted physical contact that does not seem overly aggressive to onlookers, and in a socially inappropriate action. Often the situation can be terminated with a verbal rebuke. A direct command for the person to "take your hands off of me." However, if they persist or it escalates, this video presents one option to break free.
HAIR GRABS
A hair grab is a dangerous situation that often escalates into further physical violence. This may include strikes against you, or impacting your head against nearby objects such as walls, counters, lockers, and so forth. It can cause a great deal of pressure on the neck muscles and cervical vertebrate. Therefore, escaping this hold is important.
When an attacker grabs your hair, they, in effect, begin to take control of your head. Where your head goes your body will follow. It also begins to take control of where your eyes are directed and what you can see regarding the situation and your surroundings.
Therefore, in all three of the techniques presented in this section, the first motion will be to firmly grab the attacker's hand in order to regain better control of your head and neck.
The video for a Front Hair grab includes two different techniques. Then, a scenario presented with an assault from behind.
HAIR GRAB FROM THE FRONT
HAIR GRAB FROM BEHIND
ASSAULTS FROM BEHIND
One of the scariest assault scenarios is being caught off guard and grabbed from behind. It is often the first stage of an abduction or an assault intended to go to the ground. It may also be a form of restraint for multiple assailants. Whatever the situation, there are some quick responses that can help you to break free. Understand that the attacker has committed both of their arms to this type of assault.
A bear hug often restrains your arms to your side, while a rear choke hold more often leaves them free. Below are techniques that can help you to break free.
"There is a chain of events leading up to an assault. One way we can minimize our risk is establish boundaries and actively work to maintain them.
It's not about be paranoid; it's about being proactive."
BEAR HUG
REAR CHOKE HOLD
GROUND ASSAULT
FROM THE FRONT
Whether an assault resulted in "going to the ground" or the attacker has restrained you on a bed or floor, this type of scenario can seem overwhelming due to the weight of the attacker on top of you. This is one method to be able to escape.
KNIFE ASSAULTS
LOW (UNDERHAND) KNIFE ATTACK
For most people, the scariest type of assault involves a knife. Guns can be a deadly weapons, but more people can relate to being cut than shot. The fear a knife can generate tends to be greater because the mind can imagine having your face cut, having your body slashed, losing an eye, and the realization that you will probably live through the attack. Your greatest protection against a knife is to create distance between you and the attacker. Once you are out of the knife's range, it will not be able to harm you. The assailant will not likely throw the knife at you. To do so would be to throw away their weapon, and without the knife, they lack the confidence to assault you. Few knives are balanced properly to be thrown to successfully penetrate a target. Add to this the complexity that you will be a moving target as you run away, and it becomes nearly impossible for them to touch you. Therefore, the key element in protection against a knife is creating distance. Do anything that will create space and a moment when you can flee. Grab a chair and hold it between you and the attacker. In your home, you could grab a toaster or a pan from the kitchen counter and throw it at the attacker. You can flee in the moment when they are trying to avoid being hit. If you are left with no other option, here are two techniques against common assault motions.
HIGH (OVERHAND) KNIFE ATTACK
FIREARM SCENARIOS
INFORMATION REGARDING FIREARM
ASSAULT SCENARIOS
BEFORE WATCHING
THE TECHNIQUE VIDEOS, please take a moment to watch this introductory video regarding the complexity of
firearm self-defense scenarios.
HANDGUN ASSAULT
TO THE FRONT
While this webpage and video resources includes defense against a firearm, effectively disarming an aggressor who wields a gun is a complex skill that requires training and confidence. Just as we would not expect you to gain the ability to defend yourself against a knife by only reading this text or watching these video, the same holds true for gun techniques. These methods can be effective, but if you want to become better skilled, seek out a qualified instructor.
RIFLE SCENARIOS
TO THE FRONT
Firearm scenarios can fall into two broad categories. The first is the firearm being used as a tool for intimidation and manipulation. The criminal wants to use fear to gain control of a situation, whether that be a robbery, sexual assault, abduction, or other violence. The intent is not to shoot you, although they may. This is different that the second general scenario, which is the firearm is actively being used to cause injury or for homicide, in other words, an active shooter.
In the case of firearm self-defense scenarios, we are confining ourselves to situations where you are unarmed, and the firearm is being used for intimidation. This is still a very dangerous situation, but it does provide more options for a physical response. The choice to take action against the assailant is complex. In these scenarios we are assuming that you have arrived in the positions demonstrated in the video, and these are two options. Again, if you have not watched the introductory video regarding firearms scenarios already, please take the time to do.
AFTER AN ASSAULT
INFORMATION FOR CONSIDERATION
The videos and information on this webpage have provided you with many options for your consideration. They have focused on what might be done if faced with a physical confrontation, after your proactive awareness and avoidance methods were not enough to prevent the situation from occurring.
In this section we want to briefly touch on some concepts regarding the aftermath of an assault.
HOME SECURITY
OPTIONS FOR GREATER SECURITY
This video series has focused on physical responses you may consider to get free from an attacker. However, where possible, it is best to minimize the risk of a confrontation. This is a vast topic which can include precautions and strategies used during your daily routine, while traveling, regarding your car, regarding internet presence (especially in regards to personal information), and more. In this video we are offering a few suggestions regarding home security. Home security is a very large topic, so in this video we are focusing on just a few strategies that may help you feel safer in your home.
