Personal protection We live in a dangerous world. Not many people will argue with that. While we certainly can avoid many hazards, some inevitably stumble upon us. With the crime rate consistently rising, it's always prudent to have some personal protection. Now, this can be interpreted in various ways. By personal protection, I mean a way to protect yourself. This can range from martial arts, to street knowledge, to a variety of weapons. As sad as some may find it, the world is not that perfect place we dream about as kids. Therefore, in order to assure the safety of ourselves and family, some form of personal protection is imperative. When you hear the words, personal protection, a hand gun, knife, pepper spray or stun gun may pop into your head. Don't get me wrong, these are all valid forms of personal protection if handled by the right individual. However, you do have other options. After growing up with a father in law enforcement and an older sibling in Special Forces, I formed a pretty decent understanding of self preservation. I took the martial arts route. After taking two styles of Karate in High school, I eventually moved on to the art of Wing Chun for its practical and effective applications. This is one form of personal protection. As you delve into martial arts, regardless of your style, you may start to get over-confident. I have seen this far too many times. You want to stay in touch with reality and realize that no one's invincible. Martial arts are simply a vehicle to help you better understand self-defense and help you get prepared for a possible confrontation. While martial arts are a great method of personal protection, the best is always knowledge. Avoiding bad places at bad times is the best way to stay safe. You want to understand that running is an ideal option if available. I know a number of individuals that carry guns, knives or even tasers as forms of personal protection. Some are educated on how to use them, and others are not. I don't discourage the use of weapons since they may save your life, but you surely want to make certain you're justified before using them, or the law will become your adversary. Personal protection is a difficult subject. One of the best things people can do to stay safe is become better educated on crime and how to react in various situations. You can avoid most assaults if you know how. Again, if you feel the need to carry a weapon, please learn how to use it first, and when to use it. This may prevent it from being used on you. The Internet is a wonderful place to turn for information and products concerning personal protection. Education is the key!