Kelsey Smith, Abduction, and Self-defense

As a parent, it is unimaginably painful to contemplate the case of Kelsey Smith, whose body was recently discovered after being abducted. But also as a parent, I feel more commited than ever to ensure my karate training is not wasted by forgetting to train my children in the essentials of self-defense.

Please make no mistake, I am not claiming that Kelsey Smith could have prevented her abduction if only she had known karate. Such a claim is cruel to the family, dishonors her memory, and pretends omniscience. The bitter truth is that our world is inhabited by ugly people who commit horrible atrocities. What I am claiming, is that as parents, we have an obligation to our children to arm them as best we can against the many worst possible situations that they may face, work to change our society where we can, and then pray every day for their safety.

The most imprtant rule of self-defense is avoid trouble. I think being in a mall, Kelsey was no more in trouble than any other public place. Being with friends might have improved her chances of not being selected for this horrible crime, but there are times when that's not possible. Awareness is also part of avoiding trouble. Be aware of tricks that attackers use to put their victims unaware and use innate politeness against them. Scenario training can make someone more comfortable resisting such situations without feeling stupid about over-reacting.

The second rule of self defense is to act quickly and fight like hell to protect yourself when trouble threatens. Teens in such situations need to scream, kick, gouge, and refuse to comply. Once you're in the back of a van, you are often well on your way to being dead. Please see this short video on karateforge. If you're reading this and are a self-defense expert, please contribute to the information on the site.

My heart goes out to the parents of Kelsey and all parents with children. Please suggest ways we can solve the bigger problem of bad people and vulnerable children. For example, is anyone aware of a fund for the reduction of violence against children and teens?