Self Defense Suggestions

A recent question from my friend, Mr. Lance Moore (e-mail contact@doublelightmusic.com) has generated significant interest with my clients and associates for an article to be written.

Question: Dear Dennis,
In 1967, Ayn Rand relayed this story at a lecture at the Ford Hall Forum in Boston when asked about the war in Vietnam. It is relevant to Kenpo. This is Ayn Rand speaking: Napoleon Bonaparte was once asked, “Sir, you are the greatest military genius in existence; what would you do in this situation?” The questioner then described a completely hopeless military situation, to which there is no military solution. Napoleon replied, “I became the greatest military genius in the world by never getting into such a situation!” My question, Dennis is: What are some of the common sense tips for avoiding trouble in the first place? If possible, please include concrete examples from your experience or from the experiences of your colleagues. Thank you.

As for concrete examples from my experiences and those of my colleagues, I’m sending my friend a copy of --- Aware – Survival stories to help you have a safer life. Please see my AWARE article on this website for more information.

Self-Defense Suggestions
By Jimmy Parsons (and Michele (Missy) Lane)

Please remind yourself and others of these things to do in an emergency situation. This is for you and for you to share with your wife, your children --- everyone you know!
After reading these crucial tips --- Please forward this link http://www.yourkenpo.com to everyone you care for. It never hurts to be AWARE in this crazy world!!!!


  1. Tips from martial artists: The elbow is the strongest points on the human body, if you’re close enough --- USE IT!

  2. Michele Lane recommends targeting the assailant’s eyes, throat, and groin!

  3. Jimmy learned this from a tourist guide to New Orleans (or maybe from a friend who lived there!). If a robber asks for you wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM! Toss it away from you… chances are that he is more interested in your wallet/purse than he is in you and he’ll go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

  4. Always take the elevator instead of the stairs. Stairwells are a perfect spot for an assault. Stand next to the elevator door and the control buttons. MAKE EYE CONTACT with anyone who enters the elevator. If you’re at all uncomfortable with the other passenger, get off the elevator and take another.

  5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot or parking garage.


    1. Have you keys in your hand when walking to your car.

    2. Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger’s side, floor, back seat. Michele Lane adds check under the car, a common place for an attacker to hide.

    3. If you’re parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Many serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into vans as they attempt to enter their vehicle.

    4. Look at the car parked on both the driver’s side and passenger’s side of your vehicle, if a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car walk back where you’ve come from and ask a guard/policeman to walk you to your car.

    5. Ms. Lane suggests, when at home keep your keys and car alarm next to your bed, if you become concerned for your safety --- set off your car alarm and call 911.


  6. Best self-defense model for entering and leaving your car --- after entering your car

    1. lock your car doors first

    2. start you engine

    3. put on your seat belt



    For leaving your car ---

    1. remove your seat belt

    2. shut down the engine

    3. unlock your doors


  7. Often from a lack of awareness we may get into our cars after shopping, eating, working etc. and just sit (balancing our checkbook, making a list etc.) DON’T DO THIS!!! A predator may be watching you. This provides the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side put a gun to your head, and tell you were to go!

  8. Be wary when a stranger calls on your sympathetic nature --- STOP! This could be the prelude to assault. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking educated man who always played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He would walk with a cane or limp and often asked for “help’ into or with his car this is how he abducted his victims.

  9. If a predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN. Statistically, the assailant will most likely not fire, since this will attract unwanted attention. They will generally move on to an easier target. If the weapon is fired, the predator will only hit a moving target 4 in 100 times. Chances are high that if you are hit it will not be in a vital area. RUN and run in a zig-zag pattern!

  10. A final safety point --- Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch last night and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her whatever you do, “DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR!” The policeman said, “We have a unit on the way, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR!” He told her that the police believe that a serial killer uses a recording of a baby’s cry to coax women out of their houses. This CRYING BABY theory was recently mentioned on America’s Most Wanted when they profiled a serial killer in Louisiana. I’d like you to forward this information or this link YourKenpo to everyone you know. These ideas may save a life. A candle is never dimmed by lighting another candle.



    11. Thank you and BE SAFE!

    Jimmy Parsons

    Mr. Parsons is a black belt who operates a Kenpo studio in Pittsville, MD.
    Jimmy is a client of Dennis Lawson and yourkenpo.com

    Ms. Michele Lane is a black belt and an associate @ yourkenpo.com

    Lance Moore is the creative genius behind the music group --- DOUBLELIGHT.
    Mr. Moore teaches, writes, and performs music with DOUBLELIGHT in Austin, TX and surrounding areas. Lance is a graduate of the Musician’s Institute and holds a degree in philosophy from the University of London. He can be contacted @ www.doublelightmusic.com

    By: Parsons