Knowing this Conquers Fear

Fear is always grounded on the unknown. You have second thoughts about things you're not sure of, and that often leads to fear, especially if it remains unsettled in the mind. Unsettled things can gather more misinformation that blur issues and further deepen fear. Worse, it becomes a stronghold.

Photo by Niels Smeets on Unsplash.

Knowledge dispels fear and applied knowledge demolishes it. Truth, therefore, is the real fear buster. Knowing it sets you free from everything that works against you, especially fear. A place or person may incite fear as long as ignorance cloaks it in mystery. You may try to investigate and see the place or person for yourself to see how dangerous or fearsome they really are.

Though probably enlightening, such examination can expose you to direct deadly danger, and the conquest of your fear may end up in disaster, becoming useless knowledge for you, for what good is it if finding out ends up with you being dead? But it often pays to personally see just how fearsome something or someone is, and weigh which is more dangerous, the object of fear or you?

How to be Brave.
Learning to conquer your fears. Click the image.

A lot of times, fear is proven unfounded if you have apt training and skills in street self defense---more so if your skills are deadly. This is why I always say, training should make you deadly, not just competitive in a sport or competition. Your skills should aim at being quick and final with your combat options. Your action should quickly stop the offender. 

And here's the liberating truth you should know and which conquers fear---daily serious combat training makes YOU the cause for fear, not any place or person out there. If there's anything you or other people should fear out there in the streets, it's you---if you train to be deadly. Be afraid of what you can do to an attacker. 

This is why I avoid fights at all cost. I can't imagine what I can do to an attacker once I commit myself to engage him---and there's no other way I deal with physical attacks except with serious commitment. With deadly combat skills and a warrior mindset, it doesn't matter where you are or who you're up against. 

This knowledge conquers fear. 

Finally, it helps a lot to know where you'd end up once you face death and are overcome. I'm talking about where you'd spend afterlife, where you'd spend eternity, once you're translated from this world to the next. 

Totally surrendering to Jesus as your Lord and Savior seals this assurance in your mind and soul. If you die, you'd be with HIM. Aside from being the reason why I avoid quarrels and fights at all cost (HE said blessed are the peacemakers), Jesus is my assurance for eternity.

By the way, I try to avoid fights. I stay low profile, carry light conversations, and easily allow other people their victory during misunderstandings. Sometimes I can be extremely patient. But not if they stupidly push their luck and try to harm me or my family physically. Then I shift mood and assume a serious commitment to engage in a deadly fight. 

Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous
who give way to the wicked.
[Proverbs 25.26]

Giving Hints about Your Income

It's viral online. To lure people to join them, successful online marketers, vloggers or Youtubers, or those who advertise online, showoff their income or material possessions, or give hints of their 7 or 8-digit incomes. It's an effective marketing strategy, but never forget---there's something more important than making money. It's keeping yourself and your family safe from crooks.

Photo by Sam Moqadam on Unsplash.

I'm an online marketer myself and I understand how effective it is when you give prospects an idea of how much you're making to make them join your business. Merely telling them they can make 6-digit incomes is nothing compared to showing them your actual checks and rich lifestyle. But you make yourself too easy a target---too easy to track down. Your face and videos of your residence and family and routine will give you away. You're making it too easy for crooks to do their thing. 

How to be Brave. Develop a bold spirit in any situation. Click image above.

With today's hi-tech online tools, it's too easy to track a guy by just using his face. Even if you're just tagged. Your online activities and social media participation (including your friends') can all be tracked down leading right to your address and office whereabouts. Yup, even your usual schedules. It'll be too easy to abduct you somewhere or invade your residence.

If you say it hasn't happened to anyone yet, well, be smart enough to avoid being the first one. A lot of victims thought it'd never happen to them. There's always the first time.

So don't showoff. Don't flaunt your opulent lifestyle around, posh cars and new house, or even your costly wears. The more you have, the simpler you should look. You can talk about other people who have made it big or mention big-time people anonymously. That is, if you care for your safety and that of your loved ones. Getting targeted by crooks is never worth it.

You may say, no reason to get scared because there's nothing in the news about big-time online business folks getting hit by crooks. Nothing yet. Again, don't be the first one (wag kang buena mano). Like the open manhole on the street. No one cares about its danger until someone falls in it---and dies. Then they start doing something about it. Don't have that mindset. Crooks are creative, You should be more creative than they.

To keep safe all the time, anywhere, you have to have good imagination. Being paranoid is different. Paranoid is imagining a Martian abducting you. Street-safe mindset is imagining all possible grim scenarios and preparing well in advance for them. Making preemptive plans. I remember in the Old Testament how Nehemiah and company wore swords on their sides as they worked on the walls of Jerusalem to preempt any foolish ideas from their enemies.

So, don't brag about your money or profits. Keep simple.

Beware of the "Humble"

First of all, don't get me wrong. I believe in humility and the meek gets to inherit the earth, says the bible. I believe that with all my heart. But there's false humility and it's cunningly deceitful, combined with fake kindness and generosity. Out there in the streets, crooks wear this mask to prey on the ignorant and carefree. 

Photo by Sammy Williams on Unsplash.

They really look genuine. They've mastered the looks, voice tone, gestures, eye contact and smile. Sometimes they seem so helpful and offer you anything that would make things easier for you. And I'm not just referring to fixers. Nor do I mean strangers or even street perps or felons. They're a given. I'm going farther than that. I'm also talking about some neighbors, friends, relatives and other folks related to you. Sometimes they wear a veneer of humility to capture your heart and then control you.

"They come to you in sheep's clothing," said Jesus of false teachers and prophets. But I believe this is not limited to them. This applies to anyone who's out there to deceive. And neither is it just the street crooks who want to steal from people. It's anybody who wants control of your life and decisions, or worms himself into your safety zone. To trick you easily, they appear as "humble" folks with kind hearts. Sometimes, this is even deadlier than street crooks.

Click image above for more info on how to be brave in the streets.

Gang Modus

But I'll limit the scope to street perps, the lesser danger. I'll deal with the deadlier danger--those innocent-looking folks you allow around you--in a later blog post. Let's get to the basics first. Sometimes, someone looking so innocent or meek would come to you seeking or offering help. It happens in malls or grocery stores and then later the guy turns out to be a gang member. Or even in planes. A sweet-looking individual would act friendly but is actually targeting you as his or her drug "courier" without you knowing it. Beware.

While assuming a smile, appreciating the kind gesture, I immediately put myself in heightened alert. I ask myself, why? Then I watch closely the guy's eye and hand movements without being obvious (watching them from the corner of my eyes), maintaining a safe distance, not just as a Covid protocol, but to allow myself enough space for action. Not too far for a quick defensive hit, but not too close for his attack. You acquire accurate judgment on this through practice. 

Tiger Stare Does It

A tiger-stare from me is all it often takes for a crook to think twice and simply leave. It's happened several times. I have mastered giving a mean but a bit "smiling" tiger-stare while being on red-alert mode. The tiger-stare tells the crook that you're ready for engagement (even a bloody one) and will actually enjoy the process if he wishes to initiate it. You won't hesitate. So a tiger-stare requires combat readiness, just in case, and this means regular training in streetfighting. Because some thugs out there will engage you.

This is not a poker game where you can bluff your way to victory. "Hindi ito duru-an lang." You should know how to end a streetfight within 3 to 5 seconds and then escape.

The Best Thing to Do

However, the best thing to do with "humble" crooks is to stay alert, act smart (because crooks are often discouraged to engage smart people), as you also act a little bit friendly, and go away as soon as possible. Go to a safe place, like a bank or near a mall guard. I myself sometimes do this even if I'm a 5th dan blackbelt in Filipino martial arts and streetfighting. Avoid contact as much as possible but be willing to launch a defensive preempt.

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No Such Thing as "I Have No Enemies" in the Streets

Nobody's exempted in the streets. We're all targets. Bad things can happen to anyone. To be safe in streets, never think you're innocent and have no enemies. This mindset of assuming the street is a paradise makes people easy targets for attackers. That's why we often hear of victims shocked and frozen to inaction when danger suddenly strikes them.

You say you have no enemies? You're nice and kind to all? Well, truth is, you really can't tell. You can't control people's thoughts and motives and inclinations. They can like you so much one moment and want to kill you the next. That's street reality in most places---it's street reality in most places in Manila.

I'm not saying you should be paranoid and think everyone's out to get you. I enjoy places I go to and appreciate the scenery. I smile at people in the streets and show kindness to them. I often pray to God. But my mind is always steadfast and alert. I'm always on combat mode---in the streets, at home, or anywhere I am. It's not paranoia---it's being realistic.

We've often heard stories of a good person mistaken to be somebody and shot dead. You want to end up that way? If not, then you should always be alert, aware of your surroundings and always living in the "here and now." Be aware. Don't walk in the streets and let your mind wander off to fantasy island. Never use headphones or earphones. They're guaranteed to make you dumb and an easy target.

At home, I stay alert. My ears and senses stay sharp (frequent meditation and quiescence help a lot here). Once I step out into the street, I quickly survey everything. I checkout the street from end to end, see anything or anyone unusual. Is that guy supposed to be standing there? What is that guy doing over there? I can do this in a quick, unsuspicious glance.

I've trained myself to assume this mode without being paranoid. I'm like this while enjoying everything. I'm alertly watching while relaxed. It's a lifestyle. Well, sometimes I miss and have something else in my mind take me to places far away from my present reality. It happens. You daydream. I'm still human. But I quickly snap out of it and resume surveillance. That's why I'm also in constant prayer mode. I ask God to always guard my rear, front and sides and be my shield and protection at all times. I always talk to God.

I often pray for safety for people around me.

I always watch people's eyes, shoulders and hands. The eyes reveal intentions and emotions. The shoulders tell you intended moves so you can preempt danger. The hands tell you what they're holding. At a glance, at half a second, you hold people in check. You have to train in this if you want keeping safe in the streets.

Street Safety Coaching 

Get my safety coaching emails and videos on practical SIMA Filipino martial arts self defense for FREE. Use the Contact Form on the sidebar. For mobile users, switch to desktop view for the Contact Form.