Driving from Halesowen to Dudley martial art academy the other morning I watched something that shocked me. It also reminded me that not all self protection covers just you, it also covers the little ones with you.

As I was parked I watched as a mother with a young girl walked past the car, they suddenly stopped and started to look around. Further up the road a young toddler was walking slowly down the road about 100 meters from his mother.

How did this happen you may ask?

The answer is simple, she was far too concerned about her phone.

90% of self protection is awareness. Limiting 80-90% of your concentration to a little mobile phone has shown to be a disastrous idea. Think back to when Pokemon Go was all the rage, how many people mindlessly walked out into the road, fell down a hill or even into a pond. Just think how many times you yourself have nearly walked into a lamp post while reading a text.

The Solution?

Simple again, learning to focus and be aware of your surroundings is much better than what could happen. The mother I spoke about at the start was lucky that her child remained safe, a toddler may not think twice before walking into the road or going somewhere with a stranger. Crime can happen anywhere and at anytime. Many criminals are opportunistic and they will take advantage of any opportunities that may arise. The easiest way to prevent being a victim is to limit the opportunities a criminal may have.

So what’s this got to do with a martial arts blog?

Once again the answer is simple. Martial arts are proven to help focus and help with awareness of situations around you. This spans into every part of life and can help keep you and your children safe.

So why not let your friends know about the ways they can be safe and the safety of their children.