Jul 01

The name of the Filipino sword and dagger technique is “espada y daga”, which is sometimes also practiced with a stick and dagger instead of a sword and dagger combination. It is one of the more advanced techniques taught in escrima, and is very effective once the user is able to close the distance and enter the vulnerable zone of the opponent. At such close range the technique becomes almost unstoppable.

This technique is reserved only for the more advanced students of escrima, and is often taught first with just a stick and an open hand. It requires a mastery of the basic principles of single weapon combat, and it also requires more coordination and concentration. It is a mainstay in most of the major styles of Escrima, such as Kalis Ilustrisimo, Lightning Scientific Arnis, and Modern Arnis. In fact, some styles consider it to be the “crown jewel” of their system.

Though it may be difficult at first, eventually those who master the espada y daga can perform alternating attacks at breathtaking speeds, attacks which can no longer be anticipated by the opponent. Also, the master of espada y daga no longer has to rely on predetermined combinations but can completely improvise, targeting different parts of the opponent’s body at his choosing. In this way the opponent is literally “chopped to pieces.”

Scholars have shown that the technique itself is not borrowed from Spanish fencing. The name is Spanish only because of the more than three-hundred year Spanish colonization of the Philippines. But it is likely that the movements can trace its roots back to the pre-hispanic warrior clans that roamed the various islands of the Philippines. It may have even been used against the Spanish colonizers themselves!

Of course, some may ask whether this technique is still practical today since it is illegal to carry a knife in many countries, let alone a sword and a knife combination. And also, this technique might not be effective when confronted with a firearm. To that our usual answer is it really depends on the practitioner. Some may see the espada y daga as just a relic of the past which needs to be preserved for the sake of tradition, while others might actually be able to use it in a real fight, say with police implements such as a baton and a spray bottle.

In any case, one should be very responsible in learning the espada y daga and not use it for illegal purposes. Centuries before, the espada y daga was probably used to defend the “barangay” (community) against tribal invaders. It is a technique used for protecting other people, not threatening or intimidating them. Hopefully that aspect of the art can still be continued today.

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May 19

I am currently a college student at the City College of San Francisco, which is located downtown. As much as possible, I try to avoid getting classes that end late at night as a safety precaution. Besides, any girl like me would certainly fear walking home in the dark.

When there are classes that could only be taken at night, I do not have a choice but to take them. But then I started feeling anxious when I was told about other students being harassed. I did not want to be defenseless, so I immediately wanted to know where to get pepper spray products.

When I checked online, I was amazed at the different kinds of defense sprays available. I never knew that it would be hard to choose just one. The first one that got my attention was the Pepper Pen Pepper Shot pepper spray. It is a small pepper spray that looks like a pen.

Learning about where to get pepper spray was a breeze. The troublesome part was choosing what to buy. The Pepper Pen alone has 2 million Scoville heat units and consists of 10% pepper spray. This strength would definitely send a burning feeling in the eyes and skin. So, I should be able to incapacitate the assaulter temporarily until I get help.

Surely, I wanted to see the other defense sprays available and found the WildFire .5 oz. pepper spray - multi-colored. It comes in a variety of colors, amely, red, pink, black and blue. It is handy and could be used as a key ring pepper spray, plus with its capacity, it is no doubt a strong pepper spray.

Those looking for a hot pepper spray will be happy with the Wildfire as it contains 18% pepper spray measuring 3 million Scoville heat units. Spraying one at an attacker will cause problems with breathing, coughing, choking, tears, and trouble keeping the eyes open. For protection, it is necessary to know where to get pepper spray devices like this.

My absolute favorite among all defense sprays is the Lipstick Pepper Spray. It is a mini pepper spray that was made with women in mind. It looks very chic and the best part is that it is a disguised pepper spray, which will achieve the element of surprise in the event an attack.

When I elected that a pepper spray was the best way for me to stay protected, I immediately wanted to know where to get pepper spray. Plus, a pepper spray is a non-lethal weapon that makes me feel secure because I will be able to defend myself without permanently hurting someone in the process.

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Feb 07

People are always asking me questions about the various Martial Arts Weapons. Why are they odd shaped and does a person use them? What’s the best Weapon in Aikido, or Kenpo, or jujitsu, or whatever.

The truth of this is expressed in a concept so simple that most people never really figure it out. There is, you see, an easy way to understand what the various implements are, and this will give intuitive knowledge as to how they are used. That simple concept is…geometry.

A killing device, no matter what the shape, is generally based on the notion of a line. The simplest and most basic line is a staff. The staff, or pole, is designed for two specific things, poking and bashing.

Fasten a knife on the tip of the pole and you have a spear. Tassels, grips, guards, or whatever, this is really nothing more a pole with a sharp end. It is used for bashing of a delicate sort, and poking.

Shorten that pole and sharpen it all the way, and you have a sword. A Jian, or Chinese Tai Chi Chuan sword is a rather lengthy knitting needle. It is used for poking, and for extremely delicate one inch bashing using only the tip.

Put a bend on that tai chi sword, thicken it up a it, and you have a sword a samurai might carry. Or a cutlass for a pirate, or some other type of sword. Great for poking, but bashing is what you use the thicker tool for.

Shorten the long edged weapon and you have a knife. Good for poking and Close Quarter bashing, of a sort. Easily hidden, great for opening boxes, and swell for putting a few nicks in that mugger who tries to take your wallet, grab your wife, invade your home, and so on.

So, knife to sword to pole to even gun…there is a line that defines the tool. The line can be hinged not at all or many times, or handled with little hand grips (a tonfa) poking out the side, and so on. And the the ultimate geometry of all martial arts weapons is making the decision as to whether the shape of the tool best supports poking or bashing.

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Dec 02

Self defense is just one of those activities that just about every person would love to do, but many people don’t actually take time to do it. One of the primary reasons I hear is the fact that they don’t have enough time. A number of people only want to learn self-defense, they don’t prefer to head off to class on a weekly basis and make the time commitment that karate training requires. For a lot of people, another option to traditional training has become karate online. With the innovations in video, training online hasn’t ever been easier.

One more reason people stay away from taking classes is intimidation. No one truly wants to feel like a novice and entering a martial arts training center is really a brand new environment for most people. Walking into a dojang the very first time while folks are yelling and screaming may be extremely intimidating. What if you could be taught from home or even understand the basics before you walk through the door of a studio?

I wouldn’t know what style to study, I am new to this! This is another legitimate reason/excuse I hear from those who would like to study self defense but don’t know how to start. There are literally hundreds of fighting styles out there and it can be tough to determine which one will give you the self-defense training you are looking for. What if you could pick the techniques you wanted to apply or better yet, have a professional take you step-by-step through the system, in the comfort of your own residence?

Where should I head to practice, there are a ton of schools in the phonebook? Dependent on where you reside, the amount of automobile traffic, plus the class times, it can be a lengthy commute. By the time you get to class early to warm-up, workout, and drive home, a significant amount of your evening could be gone. What if you were in a position to decide what time and where you trained?

There was a time when college classes online were considered a pipe dream, now millions of people all over the world take classes on the web. Martial Arts and self defense training are actually pursuing that same course. The benefits associated with learning a fighting system include more confidence, weight reduction, more energy, overall flexibility, and a whole lot more. If you have ever made any of these excuses, you really need to look at all of your choices for learning self-defense online.

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Sep 15

My wife was busy doing the laundry, while I was at the basement looking for an electric extension cord, when we heard our pet dog barking loudly. There must be a stranger on the grounds.

When we got out, we were frightened to see a hungry bear trying to steal our dog’s food. Our dog was trying to scare the bear away but to no avail.

We were on an outdoor weekend trip in this cottage in the woods. We had come in from the city a few days ago. We half-expected this thing to happen because of the many stories we heard from our friends.

A bear spray is one item that we did not forget to bring, but facing a real bear is a different matter. Bear repellents, as our friends said, are really effective in scaring away these huge animals.

We searched for suitable bear repellents in the internet several weeks before our scheduled trip. The first model we saw is the Mace Bear Repellent Spray. Its Magnum Fogger can spray up to 30 feet so we thought that this bear spray is good.

Later, we learned of another bear spray, the Guard Alaska Bear Repellent. We liked this one better because it can repel all species of bears. That settled our mind because we were not sure of the kinds of bears roaming around these woods.

That was good to know because we do not know what types of bears are roaming in these woods. Aside from that, the catalog said that this is the most effective and powerful bear spray in the market today.

Finally, after all the bear repellents that we looked into, we settled for the Guard Alaska Bear Repellent. We have proven its effectiveness because when we sprayed it to the bear, even at a distance of 15 feet, we saw that he felt the burning heat of the hot pepper in his eyes and face. He quickly ran away and we never saw him again.

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Sep 10

Something about donning a shirt and tie every day transformed me from a once hardy teenager to a rather unruffled man on a first job. It was alright except that I seemed to have forgotten how not to get my butt kicked.

Once, I found myself surrendering my money and cell phone to a mugger. He kicked me on the groin before walking away. I never wanted to feel so defenseless again. My long time buddy said to fight back with stun gun knuckles.

I could have sworn he was putting me on and reminded him of my X-ray vision, too. So he gave me a little demonstration of his Blast Knuckle Stun Gun. If you can imagine brass knuckles with electric shock, that’s what it is.

The Blast Knuckle Stun Gun wasted no time in terrorizing me once he put it around his knuckles. It made this crazy fizzing sound and then his stun gun knuckles released a frightening blue light of stunning arc after he jerked it some.

This self-protection weapon, on first impressions, would have no trouble browbeating assailants. After knowing that it strikes with 950,000 volts, almost a million volts of electric shock originating from one man?s knuckles, I was sold.

Striking an opponent with stun gun knuckles, my buddy emphasized, is not fatal but can temporarily debilitate him to allow me some time to flee to safety and potentially seek assistance.

One other thief crossed paths with me many months following my purchase of the Blast Knuckle Stun Gun. With a gun towards my mouth, I put my hands in the air and later said I needed to rummage for cash.

From inside a pocket, I slid my hand into the Blast Knuckle Stun Gun and blasted him with stun gun knuckles before he knew it. I darted to my workplace to alert the security guard as he took a spill after I hit his shoulder and later his solar plexus.

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Sep 06

I never expected sleepy work days as I am part of a small group that assists a women rights lawyer. We were especially under siege after she became high profile due to a number of clients she accepted.

The popular opinion in the staff was that high voltage stun guns could immobilize an assaulter with less strikes so the assault would not drag on. We decided to go online and hunt for ways to guarantee personal defense for women.

With 2.7 million volts, the rechargeable Stun Master Multi-Function Stun Gun stood out right away as super handy. It boasts an extra radiant LED flashlight, 110 dB personal alarm and blinking red lights.

A mere 3.5 inches high, Runt Stun Guns in 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 million volts are some of the most potent high voltage stun guns in a small package. Making use of cutting-edge micro-technology, they fit perfectly in women?s hands.

For something that unleashed 4.5 million volts of stopping force, the Pretender Cell Phone Stun Gun sure looked cute in its believable camera phone casing. Among the most unassailable high voltage stun guns, it has an integrated 12-LED flashlight.

A cumulative 1.2 million volts emanated from stun tips spaced 5 inches apart in the Double Trouble Stun Gun, instead of the usual 1.5 inches. It is great for disabling bigger bullies using twice as much stun power.

The final decision was to procure each of the high voltage stun guns we believed were the most purposeful. After every staff member tried a different type, we would exchange notes on how each provided effective defense for women.

What made our sentiments of being in hot water worse was when our boss took a VIP client in her charge. When I had a moment with the purportedly mistreated leading lady, I hinted at stun tools being the protectors she needs.

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Sep 01

The doors were intact, the windows were still closed, but the house was a jumbled mess. This was how my friend recounted his experience in their rented apartment. I already told him to buy home protection products but he did not listen. As a result, some of their valuables were gone, stolen by the thieves.

On one hand, it was good that none of them was there. But if they did not ignore my advice to buy home protection products, things would be different. These products are specially made to secure the properties of homeowners.

At the time they transferred here, I suggested that he buy home protection products because of the reputation of the place. There were break-ins in this place in the past.

We searched the internet after this incident for these types of products. Our search showed that there was a wide range of security products sold in the market. Devices like door alarms, window alerts and motion detectors could be the answer to the predicament of my friend.

He decided to buy two window alarms and two door alarms but seemed to be undecided on the motion alarms. I suggested that he buy the TeleSpy Intruder Alert because of its excellent features and reasonable price.

It looks like any ordinary telephone but it is equipped with special circuitry which readily alerts the owner once an unlawful entry is made by anybody. The Passive Infrared Technology or PIR of the TeleSpy Intruder Alert is the motion detector. It can detect movement 30 feet away and 25 feet wide.

The intruder’s sound is picked up by the condenser microphone in the TeleSpy Intruder Alert and amplified. In addition, the owner’s number is automatically dialed by the phone so he can call the police.

Now my friend is convinced that it is really good to buy home protection products because of the peace of mind the TeleSpy Intruder Alert gave him.

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Jul 22

There are no words to explain how I feel about what happened to my daughter. She was attacked by two drunken boys inside her college campus. She clawed, crawled, hurdled her way out of the assault, barely making it out alive.

I never left her side while she recuperated from a badly bruised arm and fractured leg. I turned to going online and seeking where to buy Taser C2 with free shipping in the long period I was home nursing her wounds.

From possessing one when I was younger, I remembered that the Taser releases wires carrying two darts at their tips. Any woman who suffered through a close-contact attack could use one, which can be fired safely from 15 feet away.

I had no desire to return my girl to thoughts of danger in her unsettled state so I needed to find out where to buy Taser C2 with free shipping without alerting her. I was buying time getting her ready to possess a self defense weapon.

There is no safer defensive tool with which to equip my daughter. Its laser sight function allows the C2 to be targeted to an opponent on the mark, at whatever area of the body.

Online, I was instantly assured there were places where to buy Taser C2 with free shipping even if I was not ordering in bulk. There were many enough, in fact, and all I had to do was pick one I liked the most.

Luckily, I was able to fish for where to buy Taser C2 with free shipping to our small town in Wisconsin, with same-day delivery at that. I placed an order immediately and waited for its arrival.

My precious darling held the weapon in her hand with such calmness and said to me that the experience fueled her determination to defend herself from criminals more ably.

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Jul 18

Michael, my ten-year-old son, loves the Internet. But from the different negative stories I hear on the news about the perils of the net, I started asking myself, how do I monitor my child’s Internet activity?

I saw on the TV that the modus operandi of pedophiles was to befriend children online. The phrase, how do I monitor my child’s Internet activity, was constantly on my mind. I had to know.

Though I was weary of going online, I still acknowledged its benefits. And while surfing, I chanced upon the Intellispy Computer Activity Tracking Software that gave me the freedom to track what my son does on the computer.

It has various features including the ability to block out unsavory websites. I could also have access to everything that he typed using the keyboard. All these really assist my surveillance.

As soon as I got it, I installed the software on the computer that my son uses. And after he goes to bed, I’d look over his exploits on the web. It was so reassuring to have encountered nothing dubious.

I gathered all my friends who were mothers too to spread the news of this product. As I suspected, they were enthusiastic about having one of their own. Now, I always have an answer prepared for whenever I hear, “How do I monitor my child’s internet activity?”

My favorite thing about the Intellispy Computer Activity Tracking Software was that it was easy to navigate. Since I wasn’t an expert on the latest advances in the realm of technology, it was nice to have something that I could handle on my own.

After inquiring how do I monitor my child’s Internet activity, I am now more confident and at ease whenever Michael would use the Internet. I can now depend on him to stay safe and innocent.

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