Defend University Self Defense Safety and Security

How to Win a Fight: Self-Defense Strategies for the Untrained Man

2011-03-26T18:28:00.000-07:00

You’re out and enjoying life with your friends or a certain young lady. But some knucklehead is determined to end your fun by trying to punch your lights out. What can you do?

There are some simple self-defense tactics that even someone who’s not in great shape or has any special training can employ:

First of all, wake up!

Who’s watching you?
Look around, is someone giving you a hard look? Or alternately, does someone quickly avoid your gaze?
Watch people’s hands as you are walking, don’t look away when you pass.
Cross the street if you have to avoid a group of punks.
Don’t get too drunk.
Are you doing something stupid like hitting on someone’s girlfriend at the bar?
Are you in the habit of boasting about your fancy watch, car, apartment?
Point out the troublemaker to the bartender or doorman.
If the negative vibes get too intense, leave.

Remember, it’s always easier to STAY out of trouble than to GET out of trouble.

Second of all, keep from getting hit in a vital area!

Get your hands up in front of your face to protect your head.
Keep your mouth closed with your teeth clenched. When your mouth is open you are ripe to get your jaw broken (which means you should forget about ‘talking trash’).
Circle away from his power side (circle to the right if he has his right hand cocked back, circle to the left if he has his left hand cocked back).
You need to be either two arms lengths away from him (outside of his kicking range) or all the way in tight against him (holding him in a boxing clinch). Anything in between puts you in range for his punches and kicks.

Third, use your strongest weapons against his weakest targets.

Use the proverbial knee to the groin when you are clinching.
Smash him with your elbows in the face, throat and neck.
Kick him in the knee, groin or lower abdomen. Kick straight ahead using the bottom of your foot like you would kick in a door. Or kick straight back like a mule using your heel. If you are untrained, resist the urge to kick with the top of your foot like you are punting a football, you will probably use too much of your toes instead of your shin (ouch!).
If you try to trade punches with him, you’re probably playing right into his game.

Finally:

Get a barrier between you and him (even if you have to run around a car).
Yell for help. You can’t count on people coming to your aid, but he might think someone will render assistance.
Use a weapon. Hose him down with your pepper spray. Use a chair like a lion tamer. Throw ashtrays at him.
Make your escape. Lose your ego and your attitude. Retreat and escape. Live to go out and party again next weekend.
Better yet, start training tomorrow in a self-defense art or program.
www.stevekardian.com
www.nydefendu.com
www.defenduniversity.com

2011-01-25T09:49:00.000-08:00

Phone companies know where their customers' cellphones are, often within a radius of less than 100 feet. That tracking technology has rescued lost drivers, helped authorities find kidnap victims and let parents keep tabs on their kids.

But the technology isn't always used the way the phone company intends.

One morning last summer, Glenn Helwig threw his then-wife to the floor of their bedroom in Corpus Christi, Texas, she alleged in police reports. She packed her 1995 Hyundai and drove to a friend's home, she recalled recently. She didn't expect him to find her.

The day after she arrived, she says, her husband "all of a sudden showed up." According to police reports, he barged in and knocked her to the floor, then took off with her car.

The police say in a report that Mr. Helwig found his wife using a service offered by his cellular carrier, which enabled him to follow her movements through the global-positioning-system chip contained in her cellphone.

Mr. Helwig, in an interview, acknowledged using the service to track his wife on some occasions. He says he signed up for the tracking service last year. "AT&T had this little deal where you could find your family member through her cellphone," he says. But he didn't use it to find his wife that day, he says. Mr. Helwig, who is awaiting trial on related assault charges, declined to comment further about the matter. He has pleaded not guilty.

The allegations are a stark reminder of a largely hidden cost from the proliferation of sophisticated tracking technology in everyday life—a loss of privacy.

Global-positioning systems, called GPS, and other technologies used by phone companies have unexpectedly made it easier for abusers to track their victims. A U.S. Justice Department report last year estimated that more than 25,000 adults in the U.S. are victims of GPS stalking annually, including by cellphone.

In the online world, consumers who surf the Internet unintentionally surrender all kinds of personal information to marketing firms that use invisible tracking technology to monitor online activity. A Wall Street Journal investigation of the 50 most-popular U.S. websites found that most are placing intrusive tracking technologies on the computers of visitors—in some cases, more than 100 tracking tools at a time.

The cellphone industry says location-tracking programs are meant to provide a useful service to families, and that most providers take steps to prevent abuse. Mike Altschul, chief counsel for wireless-telecommunications trade group CTIA, says recommended "best practices" for providers of such services include providing notification to the person being tracked.

Mr. Helwig's wife had received such a notification, by text message, from AT&T. A spokesman for AT&T Inc. says it notifies all phone users when tracking functions are activated. But users don't have the right to refuse to be tracked by the account holder. Turning off the phone stops the tracking.

For the full article go here...

http://on.wsj.com/bw5njd

www.stevekardian.com

www.nydefendu.com

www.ThornwoodMMA.com

D.C. Sees Shocking Rise in Sex Assaults or not!

2011-01-25T09:28:00.000-08:00

In keeping up its reputation as one of the most dangerous metro areas in the U.S., the District of Columbia has seen the number of sexual assaults skyrocket this year by 50%. Or it could be only 11 %. It depends on whose statistics you use.

According to the Washington Examiner, it’s a 50% increase for serious sexual assaults which includes 1st degree and 2nd degree assaults (1st degree is defined as when the attacker forces sex through direct violence and 2nd degree is when the attacker uses the threat of violence).

However the city’s Police department says the increase is only 11% this year. The city’s numbers include everything from the misdemeanor of “innappropriate touching” to forced sex.

The overall crime rate for D.C. differs with who you talk to as well. The FBI says violent crime in the city increased 7% this year. The D.C. police department says violent crimedecreased by 7%.

Mark Twain said it best, “There’s lies, there’s damned lies, and then there’s statistics.”

I’ve seen statistical information vary wildly from different institutions. Some of it can be chalked up to different methodologies in gathering and interpreting information. But I also suspect that a good portion of it comes from either driving — or protecting — a political agenda. That means organizations which would be hurt by the numbers are most likely to downplay the real threat.

For example, I know that many universities report their crime statistics strictly by the actual school boundaries and not the general campus area. This means that crime statistics can look quite low — as measured within the sidewalks that contain the school’s buildings. But the real crime rate is usually a lot higher around the campus in the living areas, restaurants, bars, stores and parking lots that students invariably use every day.

Sexual crimes and violence against women has historically been, and continues to be, a huge problem. The fact is, if you are female, you are at risk no matter where you are — dispite what the city, the university, or others might tell you.

www.stevekardian.com

www.nydefedu.com

www.thornwoonMMA.com

CREEPER ALERT! Attention Female Self Defense Instructors!

2010-07-01T14:04:00.000-07:00

In 2008 and just this week a number of our “Female Instructors” have been receiving e-mails from a man claiming that his wife or girlfriend was involved in an incident that required her to use force against the male aggressor. He claims she then went on to stomp him in the face while he was down causing significant damage to his face (OVERKILL) or a scenario of a similar nature. The creeper then asks the female instructor if she would be willing to speak, via e-mail, with his wife or girlfriend. The girlfriend (really the creeper) then tells the story. When the female instructor mentions that she spoke with me about the situation, the creeper states “Here is my story, please don't share this with your instructor as I need the opinion of another woman”. The e-mails are violent, sexually explicit and graphic. The “wife/girlfriend” speaks using language that a man would use. After speaking with my partner, Brad Parker, we learned that the same exact e-mail had been copied and pasted to our instructor’s across the country and that we were not the only organization he was targeting.

In 2008 I wrote him and informed him, among other things, that I was in law enforcement and he disappeared. He resurfaced this week sending the same e-mail to several of our new instructors. I sent him an e-mail on Tuesday advising him that I would be more than willing to speak with him and offer my input. I requested his contact information. He has not responded. Please inform your instructors. He only targets female instructors.

He has used a Yahoo account and has used the name Jim and Steve. His female name is Becky

Six Sexual Assaults occured in Daytona Beach the first week of Spring Break!

2010-03-19T13:25:00.000-07:00

Every year I speak to hundreds and sometimes thousands of young High School and College women but the crime of sexual assault and drug facilitated sexual assault continue to raise at an alarming rate.

There have been six reported rapes in Daytona Beach during spring break, all of which occurred in one week.

Daytona Beach police said the reported rapes happened the first week of spring break. One person has been arrested in connection with a rape, while authorities search for the other suspects.

One attack happened at a resort and spa. Another four occurred behind a popular beachfront restaurant and one on the mainland.

In the most recent attack, which occurred on Sunday, a 37-year-old woman was pulled into the men's bathroom at the Ocean Center and assaulted during an electronics trade show.

Police said reported rapes usually increase in March because of vacationers on spring break.

Last year, there were 41 sexual assaults in Daytona Beach, police said.

Hustler Magazine's VILE request!

2010-03-11T09:21:00.000-08:00

Gary Michael Hilton, 61, pled guilty January 31 to killing Meredith Emerson, 24, after he met her hiking in the North Georgia mountains. Authorities believe Hilton killed Emerson on January 4, three days after she disappeared while on a hike with her dog.

Hilton directed authorities to Emerson's body on January 7. An autopsy found she died from blunt-force trauma to the head and was decapitated after she died. Hustler magazine has filed a Open Records Act application in an attempt to obtain the pictures for publication in their magazine.

While there are legitimate reasons for a news agency to request crime scene photos for news stories, I cannot fathom why HUSTLER would or could justify doing a story on a poor woman that was kidnapped on a hiking trail, raped, tortured and partially decapitated. Is Hustler catering to sexual deviates? I have investigated homicides where a person has been nearly decapitated and I can say first hand that these are some of the most gruesome scenes that a member of Law Enforcement will encounter. The thought that Hustler wants to print these photos in a porn magazine is deeply disturbing and it appears that the magazine is acknowledging the fact that some people may get aroused by the gruesome violence and forceable rape these photos depict.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation refused to release the photographs to Hustler even though the Open Records Act provides for their release.

At the same time, the Georgia State Legislature moved closer to enacting a law that will change the state's Open Records Act. The law would prevent anyone from obtaining gruesome crime scene photographs.

Full story here at http://www.11alive.com/

http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=141649&catid=3

January is national "STALKING AWARENESS" month!

2010-01-13T07:41:00.000-08:00

Largest-ever National Study on Stalking a Wake-up Call

A major national study on stalking, released on January 13, 2009, by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), serves as a wake-up call about a serious and often misunderstood crime, says the
National Center for Victims of Crime, the nation’s leading resource and advocacy organization for crime
victims and founder of the Stalking Resource Center. Stalking Victimization in the United States, the largest
collection of data on stalking prevalence and behavior to date, found that 3.4 million persons identified
themselves as victims of stalking in a 12-month period. This figure, which represents an increase of 2 million
victims per year over the findings of a key 1998 study,1 suggests the urgent need for a more comprehensive
response to the crime.

“This groundbreaking report shows the vast scope of stalking and the devastating impact of the crime,” said
Mary Lou Leary, executive director of the National Center for Victims of Crime. “It also sheds light on some
previously unexplored aspects of stalking, such as the use of technology to stalk.” More than one in four
victims reported that stalkers had used technology, such as e-mail or instant messaging, to follow and harass
them, and one in 13 said stalkers had used electronic devices to intrude on their lives. One in seven victims
reported having moved to protect themselves. About 130,000 victims reported having been fired or asked to
leave their job because of the stalking, and about 1 in 8 lost time from work because they feared for their safety or were taking step (such as seeking a protection order) to protect themselves.

Raed the full article at http://www.ncvc.org/src/AGP.Net/Components/DocumentViewer/Download.aspxnz?DocumentID=45874

The WAR on Women!

2010-01-06T10:04:00.000-08:00

Jane Velez-Mitchell host of CNN HLN's "ISSUES" refers to the many horrible crime committed against women in America as the "WAR on women!" Here are some of the many cases she covered in 2009. Thanks for your work Jane!

"Through a rapists eyes!"

2009-12-22T13:54:00.000-08:00

This writing is in response to dozens of e-mail that were forwarded to me by women taking my Women’s Self Defense & empowerment Program (aka- the "Fight Like A Girl" and the "Rape Escape"program). Much of the information offered in this mass e-mail is misleading to say the least! Over the years I have received this e-mail dozens of times. In consulting with my partner and the creator of the Rape Escape program (Brad Parker - www.rapeescape.com ) we discovered that this mass e-mail has been in circulation since 2000 and has most likely mislead thousands of Women.

As reported by www.snopes.com the information contained in the “through a rapist’s eyes” e-mail was allegedly provided by David Portnoy at a Women’s safety seminar. Based upon my internet search Mr. Portnoy credibility can certainly be challenged. Snops list this advise as "FALSE!"
http://www.snopes.com/crime/prevent/rape.asp

Stay Safe!
Steve Kardian
http://www.nydefendu.com/

Brad Parker
http://www.rapeescape.com/

"Our response posted in blue"

Through a Rapist's Eyes.

This is important information for females

of ALL ages. When this was sent to me, I was told to forward it to my lady

friends. I forwarded it to most everyone in my address book. My men

friends have female friends and this information is too important to miss someone.

Please pass it along. A group of rapists and date rapists in prison were

interviewed on what they look for in a potential victim and here are some interesting

facts.

1) The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle

They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun, braid or

other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed. They are also likely to go after a

woman with long hair. Women with short hair are not common targets.

Not true! It’s not about you hair style, eye color or the clothing you are wearing. He is looking for an easy target and he wants to take advantage of the window of opportunity. The only thing that might be relevant is you may display a trait that reminds some of the “real sick ones” of something that “may” related to his abuse in the past.

2) The second thing men look for is clothing. They will look for

women who’s clothing is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry

scissors around specifically to cut clothing.

Not so! Regarding the clothing, however, some rapists do carry rape kits that “could” include scissors. I’ve seen rape kits that include cords, duct tape, condoms and lubricant.

3) They also look for women on their cell phone, searching through

their purse or doing other activities while walking because they are

off guard and can be easily overpowered.

True! Anything that causes you to be distracted and not concentrating on the many things going on around you is a trait the predator looks for. Walk assertively, with a purpose and DO NOT preoccupy yourself with activity that distract you.

4) Men are most likely to attack & rape in the early morning, between

5:00am. and 8:30am.

Not so! It is more likely to occur on nights between 6:00pm and 6:00am. Some feel most assaults occur on Friday night between 10:00pm and 6::00am Sunday morning with Monday is the being the day most sexual assaults are reported ( I have been told some studies indicate that Tuesday is the likely the report day) . Statistics also indicate that attacks are more prevalent during the warmer months.

5) The number one place women are abducted from/attacked is grocery

store parking lots . Number two is office parking lots/garages.

Number three is public restrooms.

Some kidnappings and sexual assaults do take place in parking lots and in public restrooms. I do know that since 70% percent of the time you will know your attacker so it would be likely to say that many of the attacks will occur in your home or the home of a friend, acquaintance or relative. However, there are some statistics which indicate that a significant percentage of attacks occur in or around your car.

6) The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman

and quickly move her to another location where they don't have to

worry about getting caught.

True! I tell my instructors, students and female loved ones that even if the predator has a gun or knife run, scream, drop to the ground and kick at him along his center line (groin, stomach and face). He’s using the compliant fear factor in that he wants you to comply with his wishes through fear. I would rather see him do what ever he’s intent upon doing there (primary crime scene) rather than be taken to the secondary crime scene where what he has in store for you is very likely to be more horrific than anything he can do to you at the primary crime scene. If you do resist the predator at the primary crime scene chances are that you will likely receive little or no injury.

7) Only 2% said they carried weapons because rape carries a 3-5 year

sentence but rape with a weapon is 15-20 years.

Regarding weapons it’s approximately 7% of the time the predator will be armed as reported by the US dept of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics for 2005, however, I have seen studies that show this number to be higher. Regarding the sentence, the predator, for the most part, does not consider this. Most predators believe they will never get caught. However, I believe there is anecdotal evidence which suggests that a rapist "knows" he can always find a weapon in your kitchen.

8) If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged

Because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after

you isn't worth it because it will be time-consuming.

50% of the time, if you even indicate that you are going to resist, the predator will more on to an easier target. If you fight back, scream, run or drop to the ground you have more than a 90% chance of surviving the attack with little or no injury.

9) These men said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas, or

similar objects that can be used from a distance, in their hands.

Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker

To use them as a weapon. So, the idea is to convince these guys you’re

not worth it.

Again, not the predator’s primary consideration, because a predator could single out a victim who is carrying an umbrella, but still fits a good "victim" profile" or present herself as a "soft target!".

10) Several defense mechanisms he taught us are: If someone is

following behind you on a street or in a garage or with you in an

elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a

question, like what time is it, or make general small talk: "I can't believe it is so cold out

here”, we’re in for a bad winter." Now you've seen their face and could identify them in

a line-up you lose appeal as a target.

Don’t afford him the opportunity to interact with you. You are giving him the opportunity to learn much about you. The statement below is from one of the foremost authorities on the subject.

In a stranger-rape situation, if he allows you to see his face, you get his name, or you can somehow otherwise identify your attacker, and he knows it, it’s all the more important to get away from him, even if he has a knife and you are risking injury. Because unless he’s quite inexperienced, he’s likely to kill you to leave no witnesses."

John Douglas, legendary FBI profiler

11) If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of

you and yell STOP or STAY BACK ! Most of the rapists this man talked

to said they'd leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she

would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an EASY target.

True!

12) If you carry pepper spray (this instructor was a huge advocate of

it and carries it with him wherever he goes) yell I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY

and holding it out will be a deterrent.

As a pepper spray instructor one of the first things you learn is to “not announce its impending use.” Why afford him the opportunity to cover up or give him a reason to attack you at that very moment. If you carry pepper spray and you take it out you better be ready to use it at that very moment! The element of surprise is very much to your advantage. Also, keep it accessible and be familiar with how to use it so you can react under extreme stress. Sun Tzu said the eagle never shows it's talons before it attacks...

13) If someone grabs you, you can't beat them with strength but you

can by outsmarting them. If you are grabbed around the waist from

behind, pinch the attacker either under the arm (between the elbow and armpit) OR

in the upper inner thigh VERY VERY HARD One woman in a class this guy taught

told him she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date rape her

she was so upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands -

so the guy needed stitches. Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as

you can stand it; it hurts.

This may get the attackers attention. Unfortunately, techniques like this fall under the "pain compliance" category. 64% of criminals are on some sort of intoxicant during their crime. The dirty secret about date rape is that alcohol is a huge factor. I would rather they employ a more mechanical method than a pain method. Have a follow up and back up plan.

14) After the initial hit, always GO for the GROIN. I know from a

particularly unfortunate experience that if you slap a guy's parts it

is extremely painful You might think that you'll anger the guy and make

him want to hurt you more, but the thing these rapists told our instructor is

that they want a woman who will not cause a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble and he's out of there.

Regarding the groin, we all know that it’s a very sensitive area of a mans body. I would compare it to your eyes in that when something gets near your eyes you automatically blink. The same goes for a mans groin, when something gets near that part of a mans body he will automatically react and move to avoid being hit there. Attacking the groin should be done with the element of surprise and or as a follow up attack. In any real-life situation you cannot "always say always or never say never."

15) When the guy puts his hands up to you, grab his first two

fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure

pushing down on them as possible!. The instructor did it to me without using much

pressure, and I ended up on my knees and both knuckles cracked audibly.

I'm worried about encouraging the guy to hit you in response to this technique. If someone is bending my fingers back, I'm not falling to my knees, I'm YANKING my hand back to escape the pain and then retaliating to re-gain control of the target victim.

16) Of course the things we always hear still apply. Always be aware

of your surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see

any odd behavior, don't dismiss it, go with your instincts!!! You may feel a

little silly at the time, but you'd feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.

Well said! Try not to feel silly and certainly don’t worry about your actions being seen as such.

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your

body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

I would say the "best" weapon on your body is your brain. As for your personal weapons, for the upper body, your elbows and head (head butts) and for the lower body it’s your knees and legs.

2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans. If a robber asks

for your 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

and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE

MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

This guy wants your money, your body or your life and sometimes all three. It’s likely that he wants or needs (drugs) and green and gold (money & jewelry) will temporarily take care of that need. You also may want to try, if possible, dumping the contents of your purse onto the ground so you don’t end up loosing everything. Be sure not to carry your social security card in your wallet or purse. Make photo copies of everything in your wallet. Your license, credit cards, personal papers. So that in the event you have been robbed you can notify your credit card company before the perpetrator has a chance to use it.

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back

tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like

crazy.. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

Also, most new cars have a trunk release inside the trunk

4.Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping,

eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making

a list, etc.

(DON'T DO THIS!) The predator will be watching you, and this is the

perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a

gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO

YOU’RE CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.

Also, have your key in your hand and scan the area you are in!

If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF,

repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything,

wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the

the backseat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run.

It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

I would only do this as a last resort to save your life! The airbag may or may not save you. If the predator is seated directly behind you and you are involved in a front end collision the predator, if not wearing a seat belt, may very well be propelled into your head and neck and or he just might occupy the drivers seat with you.

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

Parking garage:

A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger

side door, and in the back seat.

B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the

passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling

them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their

cars.

C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and

the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest

your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a

guard/policeman to walk you back out.

A) Yes!
B) I saw that movie but it has happened before! A vehicle of any size can be used to facilitate a sexual assault. Try to park close to the entrance & try not to park when you are obstructed from view.
C) Yes, you may want to do this!

IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than

dead.)

Safe rather than sorry, yes! Being paranoid may well cause your good gift of intuition or your gift of fear to send off false signals that will in time cause you to be desensitized and not recognize danger when it presents itself! Kind of like when we hear the neighbors car alarm going off night after night. Gavin de Becker has a good book on the subject “The Gift Of Fear.”

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are

Horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is

especially true at NIGHT!)

Yes!

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control,

ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in

100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ..

RUN, preferably in a zig-zag pattern!

Do not allow yourself to be taken to a secondary crime scene. Chances are you’re not going to come back alive.

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP. It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle which is when he abducted his next victim.

We all know this to be true and I show this very concept here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wJTYwCZSJs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOrJHpXAU00
http://www.youtube.com/user/Fightlikeagirlusa#p/a/u/1/JqtAnbFYsN0

Training with Rorion Gracie "1999"

2009-11-17T17:19:00.000-08:00

"From the archives"!

LAPD Officer and Iraqi war veteran Cliff Byerly talks about the "Fight Like A Girl" instructor certification!

2009-11-10T16:16:00.000-08:00

See what this Law Enforcement and Military trainer has to say about the program!

Steve Kardian keynotes the Washington State University "Campus Safety Banquet."

2009-11-10T15:27:00.000-08:00

The Daily Evergreen

"ASWSU stresses campus safety"

The second annual banquet was meant to inform students about safety programs on campus.

Sarah Linker
The Daily Evergreen
Published: 11/02/2009

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A woman entering her freshman year of college is at the most vulnerable time in her life for sexual assault, Steve Kardian said Friday evening.

Kardian, a former police officer and nationally recognized self-defense expert, was the keynote speaker at the second annual ASWSU Students for Safety Banquet.

He discussed ways students can protect themselves from sexual assaults, date rape drugs, school shootings and stalkers. He said it is important to have a plan and think about what could go wrong in dangerous situations before they happen.

ASWSU President Derick En’Wezoh said many of the topics Kardian touched on are extremely relevant to WSU students.

“We have a very strong social atmosphere here, and sometimes I do feel like students, both men and women, can become really trusting of their environment and be oblivious to some of the warning signals,” he said. “It’s important to be aware of your environment and be aware of what’s going on around you.” Joshua Hart, ASWSU director of student affairs, said the goal of the banquet was to promote safety programs that are available for students.

For example, ASWSU provides grants for self-defense and personal safety courses offered by University Recreation. It is also working with local and university officials to improve campus lighting.

SafeWalk, a volunteer-based weekend service that provides escorts to students on campus and College Hill, is another ASWSU safety program. Hart said the list of SafeWalk volunteers is expanding. In the past week, roughly 50 people joined.

Banquet attendees were also asked to fill out comment cards with suggestions for new safety program ideas.

“We realize that safety is not a luxury — it’s a right,” Hart said. “And so we need to treat it that way. We need to continue to have programs like this that are going on around campus to promote safety.” Hart said he is not yet sure how much money the banquet raised. Those numbers will be available later this week. He estimated that 260 people came.

“I don’t anticipate making a lot,” he said. “If we break even and make a little bit, I’ll be happy. It’s really more about informing the students.” Erin Thomson, a senior humanities major, attended the banquet with members of her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega. She found the event informative and worthwhile, she said.

“I think there was definitely information we will take back to our chapter and share,” she said. “These are really serious issues, so I’m glad we got to have some exposure to them, and the speaker was really cool. I was impressed.” Thomson said she believes sexual assaults are the most important issue on our campus in regards to safety.

“Sexual assault is always a big issue because it often goes un-talked about,” she said. “I think it’s something we need to talk about a lot more.” Hart also believes that safety issues such as assault need to be addressed frequently on campus.

“We live in a community really that is pretty darn safe,” he said. “If we pull into that apathetic idea that we are not safe, and we don’t need to worry, someone is going to take advantage of us.”
Link: http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/29969

2009-10-24T14:45:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Ewing, the mother of three, was brutally raped and murdered along the Silver Comet Trail in Atlanta, Georgia. On May 22, 2009 Michael Ledford received the death sentence by a Georgia court for Jenny’s murder. For more than 2 ½ years Jenny’s family had to remain quiet until the case was disposed of. Now with the case disposed of and the predator receiving the death sentence the family has closure and can work to keep Jenny’s spirit alive. Jenny’s sister, Paige Slocumb, traveled from Macon, Georgia to Westchester New York to learn Steve Kardian’s “Fight Like A Girl” program. Paige and her family have created www.safealone.org to promote safety while in public places. After the two day “Fight Like A Girl” and “Girls On Guard” certification Paige talked to safety expert Steve Kardian about Jenny, her murder, the system and what she intends to do with her new found skills.

A Woman's Warrior

2009-10-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE Nurse) Karen Carroll doing wonderful things worldwide. Karen and I have worked sexual assault cases together and we serve on the Victims Assistance Board of Advisors for Westchester County, NY.

Fifteen years ago, Karen D. Carroll, RN, SANE-A, NY-SAFE, was raped by her then-husband and had to show an ED physician how to collect the evidence.

Today, the Yonkers, NY, resident is associate director of the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) at North Central Bronx Hospital (NCBH), providing trained forensic examiners to NCBH and two other public hospitals in the Bronx: Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center and Jacobi Medical Center, all part of the New York City Health and Hospital Corp. SART sees approximately 200 cases a year.

SARTs combine medicine, law enforcement and victim advocacy to ensure sexual assault victims receive appropriate medical attention, evidentiary examinations, emotional support and referral information.

Click here for the full article!
http://nursing.advanceweb.com/Editorial/Content/Editorial.aspx?CC=207483

Are College Students Too Trusting? A must see for parents and students alike!

2009-09-06T07:41:00.000-07:00

In 2004 I did this piece with the investigative unit of Inside Edition. This has never been done before in the United States. The results amazed all of us!

To book Steve at your College or University contact CAMPUSPEAK AT (303) 745-5545 http://www.campuspeak.com/speakers/kardian/

Defend University's Top 10 Back-To-School Safety Tips

2009-09-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

1. Rely on the gift of intuition, trust your instincts. If you feel that the guy is a creep, he likely is. If you feel that you are in danger, you likely are.

2. Go to people, be with people. Avoid being isolated or alone with strangers.

3. When you arrive on campus familiarize or reacquaint yourself with the campus, housing and your surroundings.

4. Have a plan. Explore the “what ifs?” What do I do if someone tries to break into my dorm, someone is following me, someone is stalking me... Making decisions while under stress or duress is the worst time to make any type of decision.

5. Facebook, Twitter and MySpace are all wonderful social networking sources but they remain a stalkers dream. The college campus is a closed community and social networking sites are a tool the stalker uses to accomplish his/her desire.

6. The buddy system. Go out as a group, go home as a group. If you see something is out of place address it or bring it to the attention of someone in authority.

7. Don’t accept a drink from someone you don't trust your life with. Watch the drink being poured or served and remember that the bartender and predator sometimes act in concert.

8. If you see something, say something. If you observe a friend doing something odd or acting out of character don't be afraid to intervene.

9. Create and share a secret signal with your friends for when they should intervene if you’re in an uncomfortable situation.

10. Do your best not to go out alone at night. If you do walk with a roommate or someone you trust. Avoid the ATM and jogging during darkness. Don’t put music headphones in both ears so that you can be more aware of your surroundings.

To book Steve at your College or University contact CAMPUSPEAK AT (303) 745-5545 http://www.campuspeak.com/speakers/kardian/

2009-07-10T08:50:00.000-07:00

From California to Cape Cod, Massachusetts here are the new Fight Like A Girl instructors.

Defend University, The Women's Self Defense Institute and the Fight Like a Girl Program have come of age. Brad Parker, Ray Butcher and I will continue to empower women of all ages, "world wide", with the knowledge and information that will keep them safe!

The next east coast Instructor certification will be held on September 19th & 20th, 2009.

Character: The Ultimate Survival tool!

2009-07-10T08:42:00.000-07:00

Before he became an instant celebrity for winning Survivor Africa, CAMPUSPEAK co-speaker Ethan Zohn played soccer professionally for teams in both the United States and Zimbabwe. He thought his previous experience in Africa would help him on the reality show, but it didn't really give him an edge he said.

It did remind him of the tremendous problems facing most African countries in terms of poverty, corrupt governments and most devastatingly, the AIDS crisis. After this reminder, when it came time to decide what to do with his newly acquired million and his fifteen minutes of fame, Ethan's decision was easy.

In Africa, the most popular sport by far is soccer. Since Ethan has experience in that arena, he decided to use his money and notoriety to help provide AIDS education, using African role models — soccer players — to teach children about HIV and AIDS. Ethan donated the money he won for this cause.

Now this inspirational speaker and person is putting his character and survival to the test. He's was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease in April and went public with his diagnosis in May. Keeping the positive attitude he has shown ever since vowing to "inspire and educate people" through his ordeal, Zohn, 35, lets the camera roll as he enters "the chemo zone," and takes viewers behind the curtain as a doctor puts a needle in his chest and he downs a cup full of pills – jokingly calling them "Skittles, M&Ms and Tic-Tacs."

Our thoughts and prayers go to Ethan during this difficult time. You can receive updates and follow his progress on People magazines, people.com. The link is below.
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20289066,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines

Craigslist good, bad, or dangerous?

2009-06-24T10:26:00.000-07:00

Is Craigslist doing enough to keep its users safe? We know about the Craigslist murder but what about all of the other scams occurring on the popular site. Below is the most recent event.
Joseph Brooks the Oscar-winning composer and director behind "You Light Up My Life" raped 11 women he lured to his apartment with the promise of a starring role in a movie, prosecutors said at his arraignment Tuesday.

The women read an online ad placed by the director, Joseph Brooks, applied for the audition, "and thought this was their chance to become a big star," Manhattan prosecutor Lisa Friel said.
Instead, once the women were in Brooks' Manhattan apartment, he plied them with wine and forcibly raped them or used threats and coercive behavior to make them have sex with him, prosecutors said.

District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said Brooks used his Hollywood credentials on the Craigslist classified ads Web site to attract the victims, aged 18 to 30. He said Brooks' ad specified attractive young women for a starring role in a movie.
Morgenthau said nine of the 11 women were from the Portland, Ore., and Seattle areas and the others were from California and Florida. He said Brooks paid to fly 10 of the women, who didn't know each other, to New York.

Craigslist, unfortunately, is about much more than just buying and selling things. There have also been issues with prostitution, child exploitation, stolen property, ID theft, and a number of other crimes. Law enforcement across the country have arrested many people in recent years for Craigslist-related crimes.

However, substantially reducing Craigslist-related crimes may not be possible. however. Federal courts have so far ruled that Web site operators are not liable for what people post on them, and local law enforcement officials say they do not have the resources to constantly monitor Craigslist.

Founded in San Francisco in 1995, Craigslist claims to operate more than 300 sites in 50 states and more than 50 countries. According to organization statistics, Craigslist is now the seventh-most popular English-language Web site in the world, hosting more than 12 million ads viewed by more than 15 million people a month.

Attached is one of the segments I did on CNN regarding Craigslist.

Rihanna, Chris Brown and Domestic Abuse

2009-06-24T10:12:00.001-07:00

Note: The first paragraph is an abbreviated version of the Rihanna assault but it’s also a “very graphic” account of Chris Browns assault on Rihanna.

The real deal:
When this vicious assault was first reported I appeared on CNN's "The Nancy Grace" show and had the opportunity to review the search warrant affidavit filed by the Los Angeles Police Department. It was lengthy and rather descriptive. Chris Brown punched, bit, viciously choked Rihanna and threatened to kill her. His punches caused Rihanna’s mouth to fill with blood and splatter all over her clothing and the interior of the vehicle. Rihanna attempted to text her personal assistant. Brown threw Rihanna’s cell phone out of the vehicle. Brown pulled Rihanna close and he bit her on her left ear. Rihanna saw that Brown’s cell phone was on his lap. She picked it up and she was placed in a headlock by Brown with his bicep and forearm applying pressure to Rihanna’s left and right carotid arteries causing her to be unable to breathe and she began to lose consciousness. She reached up her left hand and attempted to gouge his eyes in an attempt to free herself. Brown bit her left ring and middle fingers and he released her. Brown continued to punch her and she put her back against the door, brought her knees to her chest and began to kick him (a technique taught in my "Fight Like A Girl" program). Brown continued to punch Rihanna about the feet and legs. Rihanna began screaming and Brown exited the vehicle.

The case disposition:
Chris Brown pled guilty to one count of felony assault against Rihanna today.
As part of his plea bargain, he was given five years probation and 180 days of community labor in Virginia.
According to court records, he must obey a protective order and a stay-away order, which requires him to stay at least 50 yards away from Rihanna, who did not testify but did appear in court.
Brown's attorney Mark Geragos addressed the media afterwards stating: "This is a kid who has never been in trouble before. He embraces this as a chance to get the message out that domestic violence will not be tolerated. He wants to get his life back on track."

Conclusion:
When we look at the dynamic of the assault we see that the “choke’ is a rage move. In a domestic or social situation anytime someone places his hands around your neck he/she is intent on causing you serious physical injury and or death. You don’t plan to choke someone but rather it’s an emotional response brought about by an extremely emotional interaction with another person.
The sad fact of this case is that Chris Brown's probation and community service sentence is a typical disposition for a first time batterer, despite the violence involved in this case. Will he publically apologize for punching Rihanna in the face, choking her, and biting her, or will it all be forgotten in time and will he as his attorney suggested “get the message out that domestic violence will not be tolerated. Only time will tell.
Battered Women’s Syndrome:
I will write more on this subject later but history tells us that it is unlikely that this is the first time Chris Brown acted out in this manner and just as unlikely that this was the first time that Rihanna experienced similar behavior from Brown.

CNN - Jane Velez-Mitchell NY Times article. Jane drawing "big" ratings!

2009-03-16T13:49:00.000-07:00

Steve Kardian is regular guest on"Issues" with Jane Velez-Mitchell on CNN HLN at 7:00pm (Est.) She's AWESOME! Kardian says.

March 3, 2009
A Fill-In on Cable News Is Thrust Into Host’s Chair
By BRIAN STELTER

Jane Velez-Mitchell is a true-crime author, a television talking head, a lesbian, an animal activist, a recovering alcoholic and a vegan. She was until recently a glorified freelancer for Headline News, the sister channel of CNN.

Now she is one of Headline News’s nightly hosts — and her 7 o’clock show is setting ratings records for the network.

Last October, with only nine hours’ notice, Ms. Velez-Mitchell joined the ranks of evening cable news anchors. At home in Los Angeles, drinking her first cup of coffee on Oct. 17, a Friday, Ms. Velez-Mitchell, who had substituted for years for Nancy Grace, the host of her own news show, was jolted by a call. It was from Ken Jautz, the executive vice president of CNN Worldwide in charge of Headline News, who asked her to host the channel’s 7 p.m. hour from Los Angeles that night, then hop on a plane to New York and start a five-nights-a-week shift on Monday. He told her that slot’s program would be called “Issues.”

“Great,” she jokingly recalled responding, “because I have a lot of issues.”
The sudden assignment became a surprising success for Headline News, which was formally renamed HLN in January. Ms. Velez-Mitchell’s hour of water-cooler talk, delivered with heavy doses of opinion, reached an average of 596,000 viewers in February, up 74 percent from the slot’s average for the same month last year, when the conservative commentator Glenn Beck was the host.

Mr. Jautz’s call came the day after Mr. Beck signed a contract with the Fox News Channel. Once it was clear that Mr. Beck wouldn’t be at HLN on Friday, Mr. Jautz scrambled to create a new show in less than 24 hours. Ms. Velez-Mitchell had been on a short list of possible anchors as he considered adding another prime-time show, but neither expected it to happen in a day.
HLN traffics in news headlines during the day, but Mr. Jautz has differentiated the network from CNN by hiring night-time hosts who have what he calls the three P’s: passion, personality and a point of view. The strategy started four years ago with Ms. Grace’s 8 p.m. program about crime and justice; Mr. Beck was added as the 7 p.m. host in mid-2006. The pair helped HLN achieve its record-high ratings in prime time, allowing the network to charge more for advertising.

While Mr. Beck left the network last fall, it did not lose viewers. To the surprise of some at Time Warner, Ms. Velez-Mitchell’s show has received higher ratings than his did.

In February “Issues” reached an average of 241,000 viewers among the 25- to 54-year-old demographic segment of the audience, compared with the 157,000 that Mr. Beck averaged in the same month last year. Mr. Jautz said that the ratings were a “validation of a strategy.”
“The advantage of having two fully distributed TV networks is that we can niche-target,” he said, adding that the election propelled CNN to its best year ever in 2008, even as HLN drew its highest ratings ever.

For the past three months Ms. Grace’s tabloid-oriented show has outdrawn Campbell Brown on CNN and Keith Olbermann on MSNBC programs among 25-to-54-year-olds. (Now hosting the 5 p.m. hour on Fox News, Mr. Beck drew a bigger audience than any of the HLN shows did in February.)

On “Issues,” Ms. Velez-Mitchell and commentators cover a wide swath of the day’s stories, be they a missing child, a plane crash or a debate about the Proposition 8 legislation in California. Still an interim host, Ms. Velez-Mitchell is in long-term contract negotiations with CNN.
In an interview in her office at the Time Warner Center in Manhattan last week, her attitude about the abruptness of her anchor assignment bordered on nonchalance. “In Hollywood, they say good news finds you,” she said, by way of explaining her approach.

In a medium that has favored the archetype of the white male anchor, at least in prime time, Ms. Velez-Mitchell brings a unique background. After almost two decades in Los Angeles, chasing local news for its CBS affiliate and covering criminal trials for the syndicated show “Celebrity Justice,” Ms. Velez-Mitchell, 53, was content to fill in for Ms. Grace, promote her book about crimes and write a memoir.

In appearances on Ms. Grace’s show starting in 2005, she had been enticed to share opinions, a marked change from her years in local news where, she recalled, producers would tell her to “stick to the copy.” Having made the leap from news to views, “I kind of sensed that I couldn’t go back” to local journalism, she said. “Which is O.K.: life’s an adventure, and you keep moving forward.”

Ms. Velez-Mitchell said she drew her one-day-at-a-time philosophy from the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. She will celebrate her 14th year of sobriety on April 1. “That’s really the main thing that informs how I look at the world,” she said. “I’m not in control of anything, so why bother trying to control it?”

Her years of therapy lend a psychological perspective to the crimes that “Issues” covers. Discussing the death of the 2-year-old Caylee Anthony and the indictment of her mother on murder charges, last month she asked her guests about dysfunctional families, using diagnostic terms like “triangulation” and “enmeshment.” “These are phrases that I don’t think you hear on television very often,” she said.

Ms. Velez-Mitchell said some of her views can be traced to her mother, Anita Velez, a former vaudeville performer who exposed her to beliefs about nonviolence. On HLN Ms. Velez-Mitchell expresses shock about violence, in particular in a recurring segment titled “War on Women.”
About four and a half months after Mr. Jautz’s call, Ms. Velez-Mitchell now lives in Midtown Manhattan with her mother and walks to work each day. She has not returned to her condominium in Los Angeles since her abrupt move; she had a friend mail her tax forms to her.
“It’s astounding how little you need to survive, it really is,” she said.

12 New Fight Like A Girl Instructors

2009-03-16T08:57:00.000-07:00

12 New Fight Like a Girl Instructors

Instructors came from New Mexico to Canada, including 3 members of the New Mexico State University, New York State Police, Westchester County Police and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department, school teachers, personal trainers and martial artists from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga and klickboxing.

Whether you’re a professional martial artist, a community activists, high school or college professor this program will fulfill your needs to empower and keep women of all ages safer in their environment. Click on the link below for additional information on becoming a certified instructor.

The next Fight Like A Girl and Girl son Guard certification program will be Saturday April 25th and Sunday April 26th, 2009.

http://www.nydefendu.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3&Itemid=9

Stay Safe!
Steve Kardian

The Predator’s Tool Box

2009-03-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

The Predator’s Tool Box
By Steve Kardian

Beware ladies! If you’re out on a date or in a social setting and you hear cute words like swirl, special k, liquid e, scoop, blue nitro, forget pill. ruffies or fantasy, then date rape drugs like GHB, Rohypnol and Ketamine may be in the house! Even worse they may be in your drink!

The predator has developed a new method of introducing these drugs. They are now commonly being carried in visine bottles, contact lens solution, nose drop bottles, breath mint bottles and squirt guns … Yes, squirt guns! Even that cigarette you’re offered may contain the date rape drug ketamine.

Rapists now have in their sinister tool box more than a couple of methods to render their victim helpless and law enforcement are left to put together a puzzle with many of the pieces missing. GHB, Rohypnol and Ketamine all have one thing in common…. “Amnesia” The victim will likely not be able to provide law enforcement with who, what, when, where and how. Which are some of the basic questions we need to know.

Rohypnol (Ro-hip-nol)
This is the oldest of the date rape drugs. Rohypnol is the trade name for flunitrazepam. Some of the common street names for this drug are roofies, rope, forget pill, and Mexican valium. It’s up to 10 times more powerful than valium and produces a slowing of physical and mental responses, muscle reflexes and amnesia. The drug usually begins to take effect in about 15 to 20 minutes and full effect in 30 to 60 minutes. The drug looks like aspirin and is colorless and odorless when mixed with beverage, usually alcohol.

Initially the victim may feel confused, disoriented and light headed. As the drugs effect progresses, the victim will experience a loss of inhibitions and eventually the victim may be rendered unable to resist an attack. The effects of Rohypnol can be dangerously enhanced when combined with alcohol. Some victims describe an almost “out of body experience” where they are aware of what is going on but can not react or resist. Depending upon how much has been ingested; the effects may persist for 12 hours or more. The drug’s metabolic properties are detectable in urine for up to 72 hours after ingestion.
Rohypnol—is manufactured worldwide, particularly in Europe and Latin America, in 1- and 2-milligram tablets by Hoffman-La Roche, Inc., a large pharmaceutical manufacturer. However, the drug neither is manufactured nor approved for medical use in the United States. The drug is administered in surgery where the patient may have to respond or cooperate during surgery. In Mexico the tablet can be bought for about 40 cents and sold in the United States from anywhere between two and six dollars. It is generally mailed or smuggled across the borders. Several packages seized in Miami in past years were shipped from Cali, Colombia, and contained up to 11,000 dosage units each.
Since February 1999, reformulated Rohypnol tablets, which turn blue in a drink to increase visibility, have been approved and marketed in 20 countries. The old non-colored tablets are still available, however. In response to the reformulated blue tablets, people who intend to commit a sexual assault facilitated by Rohypnol are now serving blue tropical drinks and punches in which the blue dye can be disguised.
According to Pulse Check: Trends in Drug Abuse, Rohypnol is now the least available club drug in the United States. Nevertheless, Los Angeles and El Paso report that the drug is widely available. The remaining Pulse Check sites report it as somewhat, not very, or not at all available, however, my research indicates that rohypnol is readily available in the southern region of the United States from southern California to Florida.

GHB (Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate)
This is the predator’s tool of choice. It’s easily concealed and transported and just as easy to introduce to a potential victim. This date rape drug is powerful and carries with it potentially deadly consequences. This drug goes by the name of G scoop, jib, liquid e, liquid x, grievous body harm, easy lay, salty water, women’s Viagra, swirl and “the date rape drug” to name a few.

GHB was actually available at health food and drug stores and advertised as a steroid that would enhance muscle tone and strength. In the late 80’s early 90’s I recall responding to aided calls involving otherwise healthy bodybuilders that were unexplainably unconscious and or in respiratory distress.

The most popular form of GHB will be a clear, odorless and tasteless. Some victims have reported that it has a mild salty taste. It can be carried in most anything that will host a small amount of liquid. Some common carriers are eye drop bottles, nasal spray bottles, 35mm film containers, mouth wash bottles, contact lens drops or solution and soda bottles. In some instances GHB has been found in powder form. GHB is the drug that Andrew Luster, of the Max Factor fortune, used to drug his victims and video tape his sexual assaults upon them.

History

l 1960’s: Synthesized initially as an anesthetic
l 1970’s: Used in clinical trial for narcolepsy
l 1980’s: GHB introduced to public health food stores
l 1990: FDA bans GHB from health food stores due to related illnesses and deaths
l 1991: FDA and Dept. of Justice had taken enforcement action
l 1993: DEA begins documenting GHB cases
l 1996: First cases of GHB use for sexual assault
l 1997: FDA re-issues GHB talk paper
l 1999: FDA warns about GBL asks for voluntary recall
l March 13, 2000: GHB becomes a Federally Controlled Schedule I drug; GBL and BD list I Chemicals
l July 17, 2000: FDA approves Xyrem for medical use (treatment of narcolepsy)

GHB is a rapidly acting central nervous system depressant. One of the reactions to this drug is reduced respiratory capacity. The body forgets to breath. The gag reflex is reduced and the victim also faces the danger of aspirating vomit into the lungs. Symptoms are greatly enhanced when mixed with alcohol and when the dose is too powerful for the victim’s body composition. Additionally, there is a fine line between intoxication and respiratory distress, coma and or death. The drug is so popular among the predators because of its intoxicating effect and the side effect of diminished memory. The amnesia effect is very powerful and the victim may remember very little if anything of the sexual assault. Other signs and symptoms are giddiness, sudden burst of energy and loss of inhibition, dizziness, slurred speech, loss of muscle control, vomiting and/or the appearance of “falling asleep”/”passing out.”

Symptoms will vary widely depending on dose and concentration. Onset of the symptoms begin within 5 minutes. Symptoms generally last 3 to 6 hours. The victim may recall starting to feel euphoric, and increased feeling of sexual excitement and then passing out. GHB leaves the body rapidly and may not be detected in the body 8 to 12 hours later.

GHB is easily made in home laboratories. It is made in bathtubs, in 5 gallon buckets and on stove tops. Recipes are available over the internet. A dose or cap full of GHB sells for between $5 and $25 dollars.

Ketamine (key-ta-mean)
This is a relatively new date rape drug. The drug was introduced in the early 1960’s and originally created for use as a human anesthetic is still used for children, persons of poor health and veterinary medicine. It was also used during the Vietnam War to treat injured solders. Ketamine is produced by the drug manufacturer Parke-Davis. As Rohypnol is associated to valium, Ketamine is closely related to the drug PCP.

Some common street names for this drug are Special k, “K” or vitamin k. A single dose is sometimes referred too as a bump.

Ketamine usually comes as a liquid in small pharmaceutical bottles and is most often cooked into a white powder for snorting by intentional users. The drug can also be injected or placed into a beverage, usually alcohol. Some rapists inject the liquid form into a cigarette, allow it to dry and then offer it to the potential victim. At low doses the drug has a mild dreamy feeling. Victims report feeling like they are floating and slightly outside their body. Numbness of the extremities is also common. The initial high gives way to amnesia and the victim is unable to give details of the sexual assault.

Intentional users refer to the high caused by Ketamine as the “K hole” and describe a profound hallucination that includes visual distortion, a lost sense of time, and identity.

If introduced into a beverage the effects begin in about 15 to 20 minutes. Amnesia may last for one or two hours. One of the side effects of this drug is flashbacks that can occur for up to two weeks. The drug may be detectable in the body for up to 24 hours. A major source of the drug is through burglaries of veterinary hospitals. Sometimes the only thing taken during a burglary of a veterinary hospital is injectable bottles of ketamine.

Tips to avoid being a statistic

In the world that we live in today not only do you need a designated driver when you venture out for a night on the town but you also need a designated friend to watch out for any unusual behavior you may exhibit. They should also look for the efforts of a stranger or and acquaintance to lure away. Here are some tips for safety.

Do not accept a drink from anyone that you don’t trust with your life
Never leave your drink unattended
If your drink tastes salty, soapy, cloudy or has particles in it, discard it
Listen for the “fizz” on twist bottles
Listen for the sound of a breaking seal
Be aware that the top to a plastic bottle of water can be opened, contaminated and resealed or glued to appear to be unopened
Drinking from a glass or wide mouth bottle makes it easier to tamper with
Don’t drink from a common punch or juice bowl
Discuss strategies with your friends on what to look for and what to do if you suspect that you have be drugged by a predator
If you think something has been slipped into your drink get to someone you trust, go to the hospital and take your drink with you
Ask to be tested for date rape drugs as soon as possible. The drugs leave your system rapidly
GHB, Rohypnol and ketamine are used for sexual attacks, pranks, robberies and attacks on males too
Listen to your good senses … If you feel that a guy is a creep, then he most likely is
Be aware that bartenders may work in concert with predators to spike your drink with one of the date rape drugs.

Defend University New York
53 Kensico Rd
Thornwood, NY 10595
(914) 747 -5707
http://www.nydefendu.com/
http://www.stevekardian.com/