Self Sufficiency and Your Role

Self Sufficiency is the key.

“Paranoia is based on fear; preparedness is based on avoiding and mitigating negative outcomes.”- Joseph Nizzari

I recently saw a post on Facebook that said “People call me paranoid because I carry a gun. What do I have to be paranoid about, I carry a gun.” My first thought was, “Exactly!”

Why Train, Why Carry?

I do not keep myself physically fit because I live in fear of an attack. I do not have a concealed and carry license because I am afraid of the dark. The majority of my adult life was not devoted to self defense and fighting because of a sense of anxiety. Rather, the opposite is true.

I started martial arts because of the sense of empowerment it gave me. Krav Maga has just been another step toward a life of self sufficiency. A lifestyle that acknowledges me as my family’s first responder. My city, Fayetteville, North Carolina was recently given national props as being ranked fifth in the country for crime. Hmmm. The prudent person would be wise not to consider the consequences ‘if’ violence ever slaps you in the face but ‘when’ it happens.

Be The Person Good in a Pinch

First of all, you need to determine what kind of person you are. Are you the kind of person who prepares for the incoming storm, or do you throw a ‘hurricane party’ and hope for the best. Consider this, why do you buy insurance for your cars and house? Is it because it is required by law and banks require it before they give you a mortgage? This is true for some. I am sure that if the law didn’t require car insurance a percentage of people would not have it. The real question is, what kind of decision would you make? Houses and cars are the biggest purchases that most Americans make. When you put significant money into something, it is nice to have some assurance that if something happens to it, it can be replaced. I value the lives of my family highly. They, unlike possessions, cannot be replaced. And as for my personal safety, if something happened to me, what kind of burden would my family suffer in my absence?

What Is Your Insurance? Rely on Self Sufficiency.

Krav Maga, firearms, alarm systems and combat shooting classes are all part of the insurance I buy and that which I recommend. The national average response time from a 911 call is 10 minutes. I do not think there is a study that gives the average time it takes to kick in a door and give someone a beat down, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that it is probably way below 10 minutes. So what do we do with this information? Self Sufficiency. Aquire it. One answer would be to put it on the back burner acknowledging the fact that yes, I probably ought to do something about my family’s safety, someday. Regardless of the statistics, I will probably be fine.The other response would be to start taking steps to be more self reliant today. If you or your family is the target for a violent attack next month, which one of these people would you like to be? I suggest take steps to prepare for the ‘storm’.

Author

Master Michael Brown is a seventh degree black belt in Taekwondo and a certified instructor in Krav Maga. He is a two time world champion in sparring and a former Captain in the United States Marine Corps. Master Brown has been working with families and training people in personal defense in North Carolina for 24 years. He and his wife, Master Kimberly Brown love working with military personnel, law enforcement and civilians to become combat ready and helping them develop skills that will enable them to be the ‘First Responders’ for their families.

ATA Leadership Martial Arts serves the communities of: Fayetteville NC, Hope Mills NC, Spring Lake NC, Linden NC

Learn more about our academy at PunchNKick.com.