Anyone who values their own safety needs to read Think Like A Black Belt, by third degree black belt and martial arts instructor Lori Hoeck. This ebook is free, in exchange for your email address.

You’re not going to learn any martial arts techniques, but you’ll learn how to mentally prepare yourself to avoid danger or get yourself out of it. And that can be much more important.

As Lori says, ”Thinking like a black belt means thinking ahead, wearing a wary eye, and presenting yourself to the world in a way that makes you less visible and less desirable to the criminals and predators who populate your life.”

Her target market appears to be women and teens, but this information is applicable to anyone.

I know a guy who has absolutely no trouble defending himself. He was once attacked by a guy with a knife, and not only did he escape injury, but he broke the guy’s neck.

However, he didn’t know how to think like a black belt. When walking through an area that wasn’t even considered particularly dangerous, he was lured into an alley by a homeless woman who called him. It was a setup, and two guys robbed him at gunpoint. He wasn’t hurt and only lost $40, but thinking like a black belt would have let him avoid the whole thing.

Thinking like a black belt could also reduce the number of fatalities in something like the Virginia Tech shooting. The details aren’t clear, but by some accounts, there were long pauses during which the shooter was reloading. He would have been vulnerable during these times, but fear kept anyone from taking action.

Sure, it’s easy to say what people should have done in hindsight, but it’s very different when you’re actually in the middle of it. That’s the point. When your adrenaline is rushing in a life and death situation, it’s not easy to think straight. That’s why you need to learn how to control your adrenaline ahead of time.

Your inner warrior is ready to be awakened. Be safe, not sorry.