Know Thyself Defense

Wednesday 2 pm

The day was slowly heating up as the clouds moved on, taking their showers with them. Meghan peered out her bedroom window, glad to see the sun. It had been a rainy day and she looked forward to getting outdoors. Smiling, she grabbed a hat for a quiet afternoon in her garden.

Outside, an intruder made his way to her back porch. The back door was locked as usual. Meghan should be safe from him. Most criminals need only a locked door to make them find another mark. Today would be an exception to the rule.

Hat in hand, Meghan entered her living room.

A sound too loud, too violent, exploded from her kitchen. Without thought, Meghan ran straight to the commotion. On a splintered frame swung the porch door… she stared down at a man on her stairwell. He clutched a knife and wore a mask. She froze. He looked up at her.

He had done the unimaginable: he had kicked in a locked door.

One Mississippi. Two Mississippi. Three.

She snapped out of it. A familiar voice in her head gave her an order. “Get to the front door.” She tore back into the living room. Her shaky hands jiggled the key in the timeworn lock.

Too late. She felt fingers in her hair throw her onto the floor. Now he stared down at her.

That familiar voice spoke again. “Okay he knocked you down. What can you do?” She stood up.

This shocked him. He grabbed a vase and hit her on the head. She fell down again. More instructions from the voice: “Okay, he knocked you down a second time. What can you do now?” She stood back up and began negotiating with him. “Take my credit cards, my car. There is cash in my purse. You can have my ATM card.”

He was visibly shaken by her calm demeanor. He refused to talk, only grunted and pointed toward the bedroom. She heard the voice again: “Breathe. Look around. Think. What can you do?” Meghan ignored his signal to go into the bedroom and smoothly offered him her valuables a second time.

He grabbed her, the serrated kitchen knife at her waist. He dragged her backward toward the bedroom. The voice became louder: “What else can you do?” She seized the blade of the knife and bent it forward, away from her body as they moved into her bedroom. He threw her onto the floor. Only at that moment did he notice the bent blade in his hand. He freaked out and flung it across the room.

He climbed on top of her and began to rip her clothes. His plaid shirt was both buttoned up under his mask and tucked into his khakis. Doggedly the voice continued: “What can you do here?” She kneed him in the groin so hard he caught air.

Despite all his effort and planning, he was unable to get an erection and finally stopped. He hunted down the knife and picked it up. He straightened the blade while he watched her face for fear. She was terrified. Pleased with her terror, he waved the knife triumphantly and grunted one last time. He left the way he came in.

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Thursday, 7 am. My phone rang.

“Hello?”

I heard Meghan’s voice. She sounded upset.

“Sandaura?”

“Yes?”

In a gush of words, she described what happened to her.

“What? When? Are you okay? Where are you?”

Meghan called me because I was the voice she heard in her head.

I call this book Know ThySelf Defense because the most important power we have in defending ourselves is to know who we are. When we know this, we can develop insight into what our nature is and what we are likely to choose to do in a crisis.

This is an exploration of you. It is an exploration of the voice in your head and how to train it to serve you.

Consider this an exercise of looking in the mirror. Only you truly know you. The more honest you are about your response to any given insight, the more you will learn about yourself and your inner voice.

Please keep in mind these Insights are designed to get you thinking. You may be surprised at how much intuitive power and natural insight you already possess. You may also find some of your beliefs confirmed, while others may be challenged.

Prepare yourself. I am asking you to get to know yourself in a distinct way. I am asking you to consider new ideas, new ways to look at things, and new ways to respond to them. I am asking you to recognize what you like and what makes you uncomfortable.

Know ThySelf Defense is organized within a structure of four sections: Body, Mind, Family and Spirit. Although each section is dedicated to one aspect of life, they are deeply interwoven.

Each section revolves around a core philosophy of Six Safety Zones that unfold throughout the book. This philosophy comes from teaching women’s self-defense in four states for over twenty five years. I teach holistically, as a woman, friend, martial artist, partner, sister, daughter, and mother. Another core principle of mine is nothing is wrong. We are all students in life.

To be clear, I began my martial arts career in college with Tae Kwon Do, then studied Mo Do Kwon, American Hopkido, and Kempo before being trained as a women’s self-defense instructor. They are distinctly different, and add dimensions of insight to each other.

Good self-defense expands our capacity to live a full and meaningful life. There are many talented professionals and resources available nowadays! I have included resources from cutting edge thinkers, professionals and technology for you. Please reach out and learn what they have to offer – they are amazing. It will only empower you. Remember, it is ultimately up to you to help you.