Florida Aikido Center Offers Self-Defense and Safety Recommendations for Holiday Travelers

Dec. 14, 2011 - PRLog -- Tampa, FL – Beginning this weekend, people in Florida and elsewhere will begin taking to the highways – often driving long distances – to visit friends, relatives and loved ones for the holidays. Recognizing this, the black belts and martial arts instructors at Florida Aikido Center have put out the following self-defense and safety recommendations for those traveling by car this holiday season.  

•   If possible, try not to travel alone – bring a family member, a friend or dog with you
•   Map out your trip and let others know your planned route and timeline
•   For safety, it is preferable to travel during daylight hours
•   Try not to stop for gas, directions or rest in under-populated areas.
•   When you stop for gas, directions or rest, don't advertise that you're from out-of-town
•   Have a cell phone on you and keep it charged
•   Ensure you lock your doors when you leave your car, even if it’s just for a minute, and never leave your keys in the car
•   If you need to stop and rest in your car, find a dedicated rest area or a well-lit parking lot (Walmart or Target parking lots are ideal)
•   Have a breakdown kit in your vehicle, including:
  o    Jumper cables
  o    Can of “fix-a-flat”
  o    Hand tools (pliers, screwdriver, etc.)
  o    Bungee cords
  o    Duct tape
  o    First-aid kit
  o    Space blanket
  o    Tarp or rain jacket
  o    1-gallon can of fuel
  o    A towel
  o    Toilet paper and paper towels
  o    1-gallon of water
•   If you have a smartphone, use Facebook or Foursquare to “check in” along your trip
•   At stop signs or traffic signals, keep at least a ½ car distance between your car and the one in front of you; this leaves you room to maneuver in case you're boxed in
•   Do not store valuables – purse, smartphone, tablet, computer, etc. – in sight when leaving your car
•   Don’t pick up hitchhikers – EVER!
•   If you see people in need of aid on the side of the road, do not stop; use your phone to call the Highway Patrol or 911
•   When walking to and from your car, keep your keys in your hand and keep a firm grasp on any valuables
•   If you think you are being followed, keep driving and call the police

For additional self-defense and safety tips and training, Florida Aikido Center offers hosts two-hour seminars every month aimed at providing attendees with a small but reliable arsenal of basic, easy-to-execute techniques that can be used against aggressors of all sizes and in a variety of scenarios. Subjects covered include situational awareness; countering grabs, chokes and strikes; taking a hit or fall; escaping multiple attackers and effective strikes that can be used “up-close.” Additionally, time is dedicated to addressing specific self-defense topics, such as defense from a prone position and use of improvised weapons.

For more details and class dates, visit http://www.flaikidocenter.com/self-defense--bully-defense....

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About Florida Aikido Center
Open since 2008, the Florida Aikido Center offers an open, encouraging and respectful training environment to anybody ready and willing to learn. While the Florida Aikido Center is a “traditional” Japanese martial arts school, the atmosphere is friendly, accepting and ego-free, allowing students to better focus on attaining their specific goals – be they physical fitness, self-defense training, personal fulfillment or everyday stress relief. Florida Aikido Center is located at 4405 W. South Avenue, Tampa, FL 33614. For more information, please visit http://www.flaikidocenter.com.