There's No Place like Local

Don't practise the fallacy of leaving your self defense and martial arts training in your suitcase when you oomph on vacation!
Peter Barry


A couple of weeks ago there was a allegory on the facts and in the paper that sticks in my mind. It is the clothesline approximately a group of cruise ship passengers that were held up at gun point while on a land tour. If you are not familiar with the story, The Carnival Lines ship Legend docked in Limon, Costa Rica. A group of 6 passengers booked a private tour. While on the tour, 3 armed assailants attempted to rob them. One of the passengers, a 70 year-old man grabbed one of the attackers
and snapped his neck. OK, so the human race was a former Marine. The other passengers began to resist and the barrage ended with no one that things growth hurt.

When I inceptive heard about this I thought it was great that none of the passengers were distressed and the man was a hero for taking action. I much think that but, when you look extremely into the story, the passengers own to receive some burden for putting themselves in this situation. The passengers were warned that Limon was a dangersome place and that a passenger on another ship was shot in the stomach a month earlier. Another passenger booked a private tour
on the other hand he heeded the crews' warnings and also hired a body guard. Another passenger, a retired NYPD officer, said "From the mo I stepped off the ship, I knew it was very dangerous,"
"Everyone was eying us all over". I looked up Limon in the internet and I didn't see anything worth doing or seeing that was valuation risking my enthusiasm over. Why would you want the added stress of wandering around a fatal compass when you are supposed to be relaxing on vacation? I estimate staying on the ship and lounging by the pool would acquire been the wiser choice.

In another incident, a friend of mine was in Madrid visiting his daughter who was spending the semester studying in Spain. Now, Madrid is not at all like Limon. It is a very clean, very friendly municipality where you feel sheltered at any time of the day. My friend was walking through the rail station,
rolling his bag extreme him, looking for the apartment he was meeting his daughter. All of a sudden he was knocked backwards over his luggage and a mortal stole his billford from his pants pocket.
I don't credit this was in any bag his blunder but, he should admit been bounteous aware of his environment and at least seen the person coming. What can be learned from these two
incidents? Be aware of your surroundings. Whether you are at the mall in your hometown or
on vacation in some third world country, you must be cognizant of what is going on environing you.
Just now you are on vacation does not mercenary the criminals are. It means you will be absent of town before the trial (if any) starts. Criminals always choose the weakest target. Wandering a train station looking lost makes that you.

You are culpable for your own safety. Because Carnival Lines chooses to dock in Limon, doesn't mean it is a safe district to visit. It probably means it is a cheap place to dock. Be prepared. Pack your pepper spray in your baggage (NOT your carry on) and Across Generations- It's never too early or unpunctual to start your training. Bring your personal alarm for adoption in the hotel. Admit me, when people are staying in a hotel and hear a unusual alarm they come out of their rooms pretty
quickly. I'm not saying you annex to go complete life being paranoid, fair-minded careful. Be safe.

About the Author
Peter Barry is a longtime martial artist and has one of only 4 recognized Dingy Belts in the world in Carl Cestari's Tekkenryu jujutsu and rank in Kodokan Judo. He was Sensei Damian Ross's cardinal student in the ZenShin Dojo. He has over a decade of combat and trains and teaches at the ZenShin Dojo in Pompton Lakes, NJ (www.zenshin.info) He is further a staff instructor and author for The Self Defence Society (www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com)

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