International Personal Self-Defense Blog by Robb Hamic

Martial arts and guns

September 30, 2009-  Why aren't guns brought into the martial arts?  People seek martial arts or self defense trainers to help them feel safe, mitigate risk and train for potential attacks.  Some of the more progressive martial arts or self defense styles incorporate weapons disarms (gun and knife).  Why aren't we, as teachers and instructors, educating our students about guns?  Why aren't we teaching our students how to use firearms? 

My name is Robb Hamic and I am a nationally accredited self 

defense instructor, law enforcement and military trainer.  I am a former Sheriff's Deputy/ Detective in one of America's most violent cities.  I train people how to survive real (2009) violent or potentially violent situations.  I am a firearms instructor and I teach concealed handgun licensing (CHL, CCW) in Texas and New Mexico.  I am a martial artist and have been involved in various systems for half of my life.  It surprises me that martial arts teachers are not reaching out to their students to provide this education that could save their lives.  In law enforcement we had a rule called the "plus one rule."  This means that in any fight there is always one gun plus yours.  

Take a look at these FBI crime statistics.  

 In 2008, an estimated 4.9 million violent crimes (rapes or sexual assaults, robberies, aggravated assaults and simple assaults) occurred, as well as an estimated 16.3 million property crimes (burglaries, motor vehicle thefts and household thefts) and 137,000 personal thefts (picked pockets and snatched purses).

In 2008, women were more likely than men to be victimized by someone they knew. Seventy percent of all violent crimes against women were committed by a known offender (an intimate, family member or friend/acquaintance), compared to 49 percent of violence against men. Twenty-three percent of the non-fatal violence against women was committed by an intimate (current or former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend), compared to three percent of the violence against men.

Only 47% of all crimes were reported but around 20% of all violent crime involved a gun.  40% of all robberies involved a gun.

I know that I have an obligation to prepare my students for violent and stressful situations/ attacks that occur everyday in the United States, Mexico and most other countries.  I hope that all of my students can detect danger and avoid it.  It would be great if they could defuse bad situations but unfortunately, some situations can not be avoided.  Three percent (3%) of society are sociopaths who have no empathy for anyone.  They will kill if the opportunity arises or you stand in the way of their objectives. 

I teach self defense. I don't have anything negative to say about any martial art.  I love martial arts and I understand that students 'bet their lives on their instructors' by taking their classes, practicing their techniques and preparing for possible violent confrontations that may arise. Students should choose carefully and don't forget that you may face a gun in a violent attack, robbery, home invasion, rape, beating, carjacking and anything else that you can see on tonight's nightly news.  Cross-training in different systems or seeking out a credible firearms instructor are always good options.  Train for real life situations because the streets don't give second chances. 

E-mail me with any questions: robb@summitselfdefense.com

Synagogue and church attacks on the rise- sense of security lost..

Washington Post (09/30/09)

Several recent, high-profile shootings at churches--including attacks in Silver Spring, Md., Kansas, Illinois, and Tennessee--have driven congregations to consider increasing security in recent years. Many churches, as well as mosques and synagogues, now employee armed guards, off-duty police officers, surveillance cameras, and undercover guards to improve security. There are also now a number of security firms that specialize in providing services such as vulnerability assessments, security systems, and emergency planning for faith-based communities. Federal agencies and law enforcement groups do not track killings at religious organizations, though some security workers and police officers say that such attacks may be increasing. Randy McAlister, a police sergeant in Minnesota who is currently conducting a study at Concordia University, said he believes church violence may be becoming a more persistent phenomenon. One reason for this trend is that churches remain an easy target for violence, despite increased security. They provide a location where victims are likely to be, at the same time, each week, with some people even choosing to park or sit in the same place every Sunday.

Crime in Austin Texas- it does happen..

September 29, 2009- Austin, TX-  Do normal, law abiding, citizens have cause to be worried about crime and violence in Austin?  Yes. Unless you are in denial, you should always be concerned with your self defense and protecting yourself, not to mention your family.   Most people need to concentrate on awareness so that they can detect dangerous situations.  If you get in a bad situation, try to talk yourself out of it.  Defend yourself if you must in a manner that is effective and justifiable in the eyes of the law.  Find options.

Summit Self Defense and Robb Hamic offer seminars to groups locally in Austin and on a national Basis for self-protection, awareness and effective self defense.  How much is enough?  Your self-defense must conform to this generally recognized theory: "force parallels danger."

Contact Robb hamic directly to schedule your seminar or training session: 512-284-0087 (cell).  CLICK HERE for Summit Self Defense's website.4 shooters sought a Murder that occurred yesterday in AustinAustin police officers said they are looking for four men and three witnesses in connection with Saturday's fatal shooting of 22-year-old Michael Carmicle in Northwest Austin.
About 9:20 p.m., Carmicle was talking to two people — one in person and one on his cell phone — while in the 12300 block of Willow Wild Drive, near Parmer Lane and Interstate 35, when a black GMC Denali pulled up, Austin police said Monday.

A man got out and shot Carmicle with a military-type assault rifle, Austin homicide Sgt. Hector Reveles said.

"The victim was ambushed," Reveles said. "A man got out of the car and shot Carmicle execution-style."

Carmicle, who did not live in the neighborhood, was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, where he later died.

Reveles said a preliminary investigation shows the shooting was drug-related but said police do not think it was gang-related.

Three witnesses, who investigators think are military personnel, left the scene before police arrived and have not come forward with any information, Reveles said.

"We are hoping that the people who witnessed the shooting will come to police."

Austin police said investigators know a few of the street names for the suspects, whom they described:

"Marvin" or "Marvell" is black, 24 to 28 years old and 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 160 to 170 pounds. He has a low fade haircut and groomed goatee. He was wearing a blue button-down shirt and khaki pants.

"Steveo" is black, 25 to 27 years old and 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 180 pounds. He has a low fade haircut, neatly trimmed beard and tattoos of cursive writing on the back of both hands and Asian characters on his neck. He was wearing a white tank top, black Jordan shorts and white Jordan sneakers.

"Huggs" is black, 25 to 27 years old and 5 feet 10 inches to 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds. He has a neatly trimmed goatee. He was wearing a black T-shirt, red Jordan shorts and white Air Force One shoes.

The fourth suspect is black, 25 to 27 years old and 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 210 to 230 pounds. He has a low fade haircut and neatly trimmed full beard. He was wearing a black Jordan T-shirt, black-and-red Jordan shorts and black Jordan shoes.

Anyone with information about the shooting, Austin's 17th homicide this year, is asked to call the Police Department's homicide tip line at 477-3588 or Crime Stoppers at 472-8477.

The Mexican Kidnapping business in 2009

Mexico City, Mexico-  The underworld violence sweeping Mexico only occasionally touches the country's wealthy families, but when it does the outrage gets results.

Demands mount for police cleanups. Anticrime actions become more effective, if only briefly.

That seems to be happening once again in the aftermath of the kidnap and slaying of Fernando Marti, a Mexican magnate's 14-year-old son.

"The death of this boy signals the social decomposition which we've reached," billionaire Alfredo Harp — himself a former kidnap victim and a Marti family friend — said in full-page advertisements placed in the capital's newspapers. "Mexico doesn't deserve this reality, neither do the coming generations.

"Change is urgently needed," he wrote. "Enough already!"

President Felipe Calderon agreed. In a nationally broadcast address Thursday morning, Calderon called on Mexico's Congress to mandate life sentences for kidnappers, especially law enforcement officials.

"This cowardly act demonstrates the urgency of putting a halt to these criminal bands," Calderon said."It's necessary to stop those whose cruelty knows no limits."

The dead youth's family until recently owned a chain of sporting goods stores and health clubs. He was abducted June 4 at a phony police checkpoint while being driven to school. As many as 15 abductors, wearing federal police uniforms and flashing badges, persuaded the boy's driver and bodyguard to get out of the vehicle.

Although his family paid at least $5 million in ransom, and offered more, the boy's body was found in a car trunk last Friday.

"My son crossed paths with soulless men, people for whom there are no words to describe," Alejandro Marti, the boy's father, told mourners who attended a memorial Mass this week.

The body of Marti's driver had been found in another car trunk a day after the kidnapping — a single marigold stuffed into his mouth as a calling card. A bodyguard, at first reported killed as well, now appears to have survived attempts to strangle him and is being protected by the authorities.

Two Mexico City detectives — including a decorated commander whose nickname is "The Terminator" — have been arrested in connection with the killing. Fourteen others have turned themselves in for questioning.

Former or active-duty police officers have often been implicated in kidnappings over the years as well as in narcotics smuggling and other organized crimes.

"The problem is corruption, collusion, the relationship the police have with the kidnappers," said lawyer Jose Antonio Ortega, who heads a Mexico City activist group pushing for improved public security.

Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard ordered his police to bring the killers to justice. And Calderon observed that the crime has moved the country. "It has," he said, "filled many families with mourning, because many families live with this problem of kidnapping in Mexico."

Nearly 8,000 abductions have been reported in Mexico, and an untold number of others were not reported since 1994, according to Jose Antonio Ortega, a lawyer who heads a citizens group pushing for judicial reforms.

More than 650 kidnap victims have been killed by their captors in that time, many after a ransom was paid.

Harp was among the victims. A former part-owner of Banamex, Mexico's largest private bank, Harp was kidnapped in 1994 by suspected leftist guerrillas while being driven to work. He was released 100 days later after paying a reported $50 million ransom.

A teacher is stabbed to death in school outside Dallas

TYLER, Texas (AP) — Police say a teacher has been stabbed to death at a high school in Texas.

Tyler police spokesman Don Martin says the male teacher was stabbed around 9 a.m. Wednesday. Authorities have taken a juvenile into custody after the attack at John Tyler High School.

Tyler is located about 95 miles southeast of Dallas.

Take a look at another youtube video showing a student beating a teacher in class.  This is an out of control problem.  Teachers should obviously be concerned about their safety inside schools.  Self-defense is a human right.

Robbery is so common in the U.S. it has become a joke..

New York City, NY-  Robbery is so common the criminals are filming it.  Look at this video and ask yourself "what would I do?"  Keep in mind, you never really know what the robber intends to do with you.. Think about all of the options.

1.  Property
2.  Body
3.  Life

All criminals don't look the same and they only want 3 things from you..

September 22, 2009- Anywhere, USA-  Don't be the victim of a theft, attack, murder, rape or any of the other horrible things that happen everyday in every city in the United States..  Please take a moment and consider your vulnerabilities based on your own circumstances.  We all have vulnerabilities.  Now, consider what your response would be if you encountered an attacker like the thief in the Youtube below..

My training as a Personal Defense Readiness Coach has taught me that criminals can only want three things from you as a victim:

 Your property
 Your body
 Your life

Many rapes and murders occur at a secondary location.  Do you think that a criminal might say something like "give me your money and I will let you go?"  Why would you believe someone who was holding a weapon on you or threatening you?  Studies show that 72% of people who are attacked already know their attackers.  42% of murder victims know their killers.  3% of society are sociopaths who seek to kill, hurt and scare people.  Don't end up at a secondary location (crime scene) because that is where the real pain starts..

Don't think that you have to be a self defense expert or black belt to defend yourself in an attack.  Everyday, more people defend themselves against attacks who have NO self defense training.

Give yourself advance permission to fight back with every bit of aggression and rage if you are attacked.  Your body is navigated by your mind..  Don't let apathy/ denial derail your body/ mind's natural response to dadger.

When you train scenarios- "be a good bad guy."

Austin, TX- September 18, 2009- Scenario training is vital in any discipline to see if a tactic or technique works.  Force on force training has become increasingly popular to test combatitives.  I am not referring to sparring but actual working a scenario as it is instructed.  This is not a demo (demonstration).

"Demonstrations always work and they are used to make the instructor/ system look good," says Robb Hamic, founder of Summit Self Defense.

Do you want to look good or train for a real fight/ situation?  Most of us strive to improve and that can only come with stress in our training.  Additionally, if we don't train with an actual 'bad guy' we are cutting our training short.  What is a bad guy (in training)?  Be a good bad guy is a phrase and Trademark coined by Tony Blauer.  This is what he says:

BE A GOOD BAD GUY
The BAGBG principle was developed to teach the importance of realistic resistance in scenario training. Not to be confused with sparring, scenario and simulation training requires a strict focus from the Bad Guy to provide 'scenario appropriate' energy and tactics. Examples with and without High Gear are provided throughout.

In short, during most demonstrations or training both parties know the technique being practiced.  The 'bad guy' often provides a mechanical attack with little force and allows the 'good guy' to fly through the response with accuracy.  Do you think things change if the bad guy resists and fights back using aggression and power?  Do the responses of a good guy change and does the actual technique being practice work?  

If you are not training for reality then just go through the motions and make it look pretty.  If you are training for skill, proficiency and reality then get real.  Make sure that when you practice- have a good bad guy to resist and use the appropriate resistance to make the fight as realistic as possible.

Look at the two videos below.  Focus on the bad guy.  One is weak and one is not.  You decide..

Sorry- this didn't make it to Youtube.. CLICK HERE for the video.

Contact Summit Self Defense for your realistic training needs.  877-260-3773 

Instructors Robb Hamic and Ryan Fellows are traveling to train at Blauer Tactical Systems

Austin, TX- September 17, 2009-  Instructors Robb Hamic and Ryan Fellows are traveling to  Virginia Beach to train at Blauer Tactical Systems World Headquarters in mid October.  Mr. Fellows will be getting certified as a Personal Defense Readiness Fundamentals Coach.  Mr. Hamic will be getting an advanced training module in Ballistic Mictro Fight (BMF) and attending the PDR session again. 

"This is cutting edge training and our students will benefit from our new knowedge.  We are both looking forward to the training," says Robb Hamic, founder of Summit Self Defense.  

WHAT IS A BMF?

SHORT DEFINITION: A BMF (Ballistic Micro-Fight􀀁) is a formula-based training protocol

that applies science, psychology and safety to scenario-based simulation training.

The key is in using what Blauer has coined as the ‘replication formula’.

WHY IS UNIQUE ABOUT THIS APPROACH?

The BMF Replication Formula goes far deeper than simulating a fight. A BMF will study

confrontations at the meta-cognitive level. Not only does it blend the contact, the impact, the

adrenaline...it includes the verbal, we analyze real street footage, we discuss the legal, the

post fight, pre-contact cues, we work the scenarios with different time-line effects as well as

different emotional stressors that will effect performance in a real situation. The BMF

methodology also emphasizes isolation principles help participants improve technical &

tactical confidence.

RATIONALE, REFRAME & REFOCUS:

1. Scenario-based training is the only way to evaluate & proactively test training and the

capabilities of the people you train.

2. The Blauer BMF is about how to safely and intelligently design force-on- force

evolutions.

3. Learn how to analyze critical incident and replicate real-life attacks.

4. A researched simulation courses can also help protect or reduce liability issues.

ABOUT BLAUER TACTICAL SYSTEMS (BTS)

BTS has been providing simulation training since 1982. That’s over 20 years of R & D and

real-time experience. Our insights allowed us to design the first lightweight, mobility suit

(HIGH GEAR) for the LEO & military markets as well as for progressive self-defense & MMA

schools. Our innovative HIGH GEAR Impact Reduction gear is used to take the contact,

intensity and aggression to the most dangerous safe level :-)

Our methodology and training techniques are now incorporated into the highest-level training

by the most progressive trainers around.

“All simulation training should be created to effect one goal:

greater confidence during real life dynamic confrontations.”

As more & more martial artists jump on the reality based training bandwagon,

few will emerge as credible...

For over 20 years, Blauer Tactical Systems has pioneered the science of scenariobased

training. We have developed the world’s most dynamic training gear as well!

If you're serious about providing serious self-defense training to your students, you

need to take scenario training to the next level. The BMF formula is it.

This is a good defense to a road rage situation.

Austin, TX- September 16, 2009-  Road rage can happen and you might need some tools to deal with aggressive drivers that want to attack you for no reason.  This is a good short video that gives you some ideas to use in a bad situation.  The tactic is instructed by Tony Blauer of Blauer Tactical Systems. 

It is not intended to be the only tool that you have to use but just some additional information.