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What is "EDC" or Every Day Carry? Your EDC, or Every Day Carry, is a collection of useful items that you carry with you everywhere you go. Think of a uniformed police officer's duty belt, or an electrician's tool belt. But don't get too carried away, your personal defense EDC doesn't have to be near as cumbersome as what police officers and electricians carry. What types of items make up an EDC? A EDC is made up of useful items that you carry with you every day. Should be items that serve a purpose, like helping you protect yourself or helping you conduct your activities more efficiently. (In this episode I'm only talking about EDC items for personal protection. There are many more items you could consider for every day carry to make your life more convenient and keep you better prepared for unexpected situations that aren't necessarily self-defense situations.) Don't go cheap with every day carry items. Buy high quality components that you can rely on if you need to use them. "Don't go cheap" means don't buy "cheaply made." A high quality item doesn't have to be the most expensive. High quality components will last longer and cost less in the long run since you won't have to replace them as often. Your every day carry is personalized. Not everyone dresses the same. Nor can everyone in every jurisdiction legally carry the same items. Not everyone is capable of using particular weapons, etc. For these reasons your personal defense every day carry might not be the same as your friend's. It's very likely that it may not be the same for you all the time for some of the same reasons. What are the essential personal defense items for every day carry? Here are three items that I consider essential: A personal size tactical flashlight A mobile phone A weapon Tactical Flashlights Criminals like to hang out in the dark a lot; a flashlight can help you illuminate dark areas to see if someone is hiding. Maybe you've already perceived a threat lurking in the shadows. A good flashlight will light up the shadows so you can identify the threat. In the dark, an attackers eyes will be adjusted to the low light. Shining a bright tactical light in their eyes is a good way to disorient them. With proper training a tactical flashlight can also double as a striking weapon, and several models are designed with use as a weapon in mind. Also

Developing the Defensive Mindset and the Principles of Personal DefenseDeveloping a defensive mindset should be a priority for those inclined to take charge of their own self-defense. Jeff Cooper's Principles of Personal Defense is considered by many to be one of the greatest books ever written on the subject of the combat mindset. In SPD 002, Bruce discusses Principles of Personal Defense and Cooper's ideas on conditioning the defensive mindset. In Principles of Personal Defense, Cooper theorized seven practical principles to help you develop proper defensive mental conditioning and gain a solid foundation for your self-defense training and readiness. Bruce talks about the meaning of each of the seven Princples and ways to develop them in order to strengthen your defensive mindset. If you want to buy a copy of Principles of Personal Defense, you can get one at any of the following links: Principles of Personal Defense from the Gunsite ProShopPrinciples of Personal Defense from Paladin PressPrinciples of Personal Defense from Amazon* *Amazon Affiliate Link Disclosure Defensive Mindset Tip of the Week Strengthen Your Observation Skills by Playing "Kim's Game" Situational awareness is key to a strong defensive mindset. One of the main ingredients to maintaining situational awareness is the power of observation. Many of us have become so absorbed with what we're doing that we've lost the ability to pay attention to what's going on around us. This simple game can help strengthen your observation skills, which in turn leads to strong situational awareness a solid defensive mindset, and greater personal security. I had an instructor once tell me that 'KIMS' stood for 'Keep in Memory Stupid.' It's also been said by sniper school instructors that it stands for 'Keep in Mind Sniper.' Truth is, neither is correct. Kim's Game comes from the Rudyard Kipling book, Kim. The book's hero, named Kim, plays the game to learn observation skills while he's in training to become a spy. Now that you know

Self-Defense StrategyA good self-defense strategy includes more than carrying a firearm or learning to fight. In this episode I discuss five elements I believe we need to consider when we're beginning to think about developing a self-defense strategy. The five areas I talk about in this episode are: Self-Defense Philosophy and Mindset Knowledge Personal Behavior Tools and Equipment Training Of course, many aspects of self-defense strategy are subjective and their level of relevancy are highly dependent on individual situations. Also, the five elements are definitely not an exhaustive list of all the items that you should consider when you work out your self-defense strategy. They are, however, a good start to building your plan. Self-Defense Philosophy and Mindset What are your underlying beliefs about self-defense? Do you believe you have the right and/or obligation to defend yourself? Or, do you believe the State (that is, the government) is responsible for the personal safety of its citizens? Your philosophy will determine how you approach your self-defense strategy. Are you mentally prepared to defend yourself? We need to understand and develop a defensive mindset as part of our self-defense strategy. Knowledge What do you know about defending yourself? Maybe you know how to use your chosen weapon. But, do you know how and when it is legal to use your weapon in whatever jurisdiction or situation you find yourself in? Do you know how to identify and avoid situations where you might be unnecessarily put in danger? Personal Behavior Our behavior can either discourage an attacker or it can give them confidence that we're easy targets, and thereby encourage an attack. Does your behavior discourage attackers? Tools and Equipment What tools and equipment do you need to discourage attackers and respond to an attack, if necessary? The tools and equipment you need for your self-defense strategy will be largely dependent on your situation. There are two "must-have" items should be part of your self-defense strategy. You should always carry a mobile phone and a flashlight. Mobile phones can be vital to reaching help in an emergency. Flashlights can be used to find and deter attackers. They can also be used as weapons against attackers. Most people these days already have a mobile phone. If you don't have one, and you're not keen on get

Smart Personal DefenseWhat is "Smart Personal Defense?" Host and defensive firearms instructor, Bruce Withrow, believes that a smart personal defense is much more than just carrying a firearm or learning a martial art. A smart personal defense strategy is "comprehensive", meaning there are many different techniques, tactics, and areas of knowledge that we need to understand and utilize in order to properly protect ourselves, our families, and our homes. In this episode, Bruce introduces you to the topics we'll discuss on Smart Personal Defense. Disclaimer Laws concerning the use of force and the carrying and use of weapons vary within the United States and around the world. The tactics and equipment discussed on Smart Personal Defense may not be legal in your jurisdiction. Be sure you understand the laws in your jurisdiction and consult an attorney if necessary. Topics we'll cover on the show Some of the topics we'll be discussing on future episodes include: The carrying and use of weapons Avoiding violent conflicts Defusing confrontations Legal issues Training Developing a daily personal defense plan Home security "Mass shooting/active shooter" scenarios Much, much more. Feedback I would really like to know what you think of the show. Please comment below and send questions and topics you'd like to hear discussed on the show to bruce@smartpersonaldefense.com.   Show intro/outro music: www.bensound.com