Be Your Own Bodyguard is a self-defense course is like no other. Learn, hands-on, practical and effective self-defense techniques. This course covers the physical, emotional and psychological aspects of self-defense incl... more »uding avoiding confrontations and simple / effective techniques to gain an advantage if you are attacked. The enhanced DVD features picture in picture technology to guide you through training as well as an interactive menu, that lets you chose which lessons you would like to learn. The course takes place in real life scenarios: on the street, out and about, at the car, at home, etc. You will learn from Robert Cabral, a police tactics instructor and personal security specialist with more than 20 years of experience. There are no complicated martial art techniques to learn and no need to find someone dressed in a "big rubber suit". This course is about practical and effective techniques that most anyone can learn and apply. The course also covers practical safety topics, steps anyone can take to protect themselves in their personal lives. Understanding how frustrating it can be to try to learn something by watching an expert, in this, the Women?s Course, Robert found a woman with no previous experience in self-defense or martial arts and guides her along, as she learns?so do you. There are two courses, one for men and one for women. The courses are quite different and it is recommended that you select the appropriate course.« less
"I am a martial artist of over 21 years. I am an instructor in Combat Hapkido and have studied various styles. I own several instructional videos on different Martial Arts and Self Defense Instruction. One rater wondered if they had bought a good video or not because it was her first one. I'll assure you that this is a good video. For the most part the quality is great as is the filming.
I was impressed with this DVD course. I liked the format. I liked the idea that he used an inexperienced woman in this DVD. Although I do know it takes more than just watching a video to learn Self Defense, (mainly practicing techniques and preventative measures) I still believe that there was a lot of very good informative material in this video. 99% of Self Defense is awareness and prevention (not putting yourself in a bad situation if you can avoid it) and you'll see this in this video. He teaches many important lessons that all women and men should know. The weapons in the purse was a great addition, (other weapons are all over your house). After watching this video, maybe you will begin to see the world a little differently. If you do, then a large part of the Self Defense battle will be won, (awareness). What is going on around you! You're important, watch out for your safety!
I watched this with my wife, she liked it. She was saying things like, "If that happened to me, I'd do this." Well, it got her thinking. That is what is important, thinking!!!
Great things are stressed in this video, important things that all women should know. The price of this DVD is reasonable. It is my feeling that if I buy an instructional video and I have learned even one thing that I could use one day then it was worth every penny. If you know absolutely nothing about Self Defense then you will get something out of this DVD that you can use. You're money will not be wasted, I promise.
Why a four rating? I was hoping to see her shown some of the striking techniques on a target of some sort. I know how important it is to actually practice techniques if you do ever have to use them. You would have seen a great difference in her striking the assailant. It is one thing to strike someone that is standing relatively still, but another to strike someone actively trying to hurt you. This may take practice. This is still a great DVD with sound advice beyond striking. Buy it!
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3 stars for Technical Production 5 Stars for content...
Kay F Gibbs | Chapel Hill, NC United States | 02/10/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Robert Cabral does a great job at covering most of the potential situations that can occur, showing you how to protect yourself if you are attacked. He also offers helpful tips on what not to do and how to protect your personal information. After you see about 30 minutes of the DVD and you see how big the trainer is compared to Cabral, you start to realize that if you were ever attacked by someone his size, you would hardly stand a chance of getting away unless you are willing to really hurt your attacker and Cabral does stress this in the DVD. He shows the participant how to overcome those barriers, but that is more mental programming. When I decided to buy it I thought this DVD might be about the mental aspects as opposed to the physical aspects of self protection, it is rather a combination. I really liked the part where Cabral goes through the participants handbag, showing her various items she can use to ward off an attacker and again this all boils down to letting go of the fear of using those things to hurt someone if you have to. Having used an untrained participant helps you to see how you might react in any of the situations presented and not how you think you might react. This is a +++++. Maybe women should get the men's version also.
The biggest complaint I have about this DVD is the technical aspects. The lighting at the beginning is terrible. Many of the scenes in the first few minutes are washed out and you can barely see what's going on. By washed out I mean that the camera lighting was too bright and it washed out the scene quite a bit. At one point you can't tell the participants blue shirt from the glaring white light, as in too much lighting. It gets better after about 5 minutes but there are a few scenes further into the DVD with the same problem. There is also a scene where the camera man is filming through what appears to be a car window and it must have just rained or something as the glass is spotted and doesn't exactly obscure the section but makes it difficult to focus on what they are doing. It doesn't seem they edited the production at all after it was completed. Adjusting my set didn't help and having paid $26.00 I expected much better. This was obviously a low budget production.
While the content is more than adequate for teaching you what not to do and how to get away from an attacker, it lacks in the technical quality you get from a movie on DVD. I can't recommend an alternative as this is the first of its kind I have purchased. I'm considering returning it, however I would like to emphasize again that the content and its presentation is very well done and extremely helpful and why I hestitate. I could get something much worse."
AWESOME
rich at the beach | California | 10/28/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this DVD for my wife a few weeks ago. She sat down and watched it right away, although a little reluctant. She thought she could never learn self defense from a DVD, but found out that SHE COULD.
The course is very easy to understand, but more importantly, it covers many topics that don't involve fighting. There are so many tips that we both learned to keep safe, I'm ordering the Men's Course today!"
I've Learned So Much-- 5 Stars
Carmen CH | Switzerland | 02/26/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I imagine like most women, I was reluctant, at first, to watch a DVD on Self Defense, but I did so at the recommendation of a friend of mine who had purchased this video. Roberts approach to teaching is quite different from what I expected. I felt at ease and was able to understand what he meant in his descriptions and explanations. I thought it was very interesting that the person he taught in the course was a beginner too, and I was able to follow along and see the mistakes that she made, and that I would make and how Robert corrected them. A good thing with this course was the way it explains everything, there is a small screen that appears inside the lessons that guides you along and explains everything; I thought this was a very good idea. The lessons went through so much that watching it once is just not enough. The video covers self defense techniques (hands on), as well as preventative measures that I have employed around my house and there is a great section where Robert goes through the woman's purse and explains how to use common items as self defense weapons.
Another good feature about the DVD is that there are menus that allow me to watch only the techniques or jump from lesson to lesson as I wish. I've watched the DVD several times, and the one time I did have a question I e-mailed the course and Robert himself e-mailed me back directly the answer to my question. NOW THAT'S CUSTOMER SERVICE! Bravo Robert, I'm telling all my friends about this video.
I've watched the DVD several times, and the one time I did have a question I e-mailed the course and Robert himself e-mailed me back directly the answer to my question. NOW THATS CUSTOMER SERVICE! Bravo Robert, I'm telling all my friends about this video."
BASIC Self-defense One-on-One on location scenarios & being
Lena, LMT | Nassau, NY | 02/11/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Menu choices: play, 16 chapter choices & play all techniques only & play all discussions only.
In each scenario Robert Cabral has a petite blond beginner Jane (on picture) be attacked by an "assailant" & her first instincts which were usually wrong. This is a great way to show what not to do & help realize what you could do. He reminds her what limbs she did have free, 2-3 moves way to strike & get away. Most of these are to turn, knee groin, grabbing soft tissue like eyes, ears, strike to the neck, head butt, biting, using everyday items as weapons, etc. After having her learn slowly those moves, she does it normal speed 3-4x & the film also shows it in slow-motion & with a small PIP those shows a zoom in on certain strikes. There is also a commentary between Robert & Jane in b&w in room talking about what's going on, how Jane feels, what she knows/thinks, what she should know, more info, etc.
The scenarios he goes over are:
Walking into Home - being attacked from behind, 1 arm grabbed, bear hug & shoulder grab.
At home & opening the door - being pulled to the ground (the editing here is bad & only shows her learning slowly not the moves normal speed like real life.) He also states such as never opening the door if you can help it, using a chain, a 180º peep hole, having many phones around to call help, caller ID blocked, having an unlisted phone number.
Driving home into garage - no clutter where assailant can hide in, watching the garage up/down to make sure no one enters, rear choke hold, using everyday items as weapons.
Walking outside & Purse Snatching - keep purse held in hand low, keep ID in fanny pack/pocket instead.
Sitting outside on phone - tell caller where you are & use phone as weapon.
Pepper spray - wind can blow it back in your face or if assailant is close, he can grab you & gets on you.
Dogs - are great for home security & barking.
Never open door for anyone, even a government employee - they will call first or confirm first.
Standing outside - assailant walks up to her & double wrist grab, hit guy before he can grab you or 2-3 moves if he does grab you.
Walking outside - wrist grab from behind & then front bear hug.
Outside & walking to car - grabbed from behind & arm bar across neck pinned to car. When get away, lock door, drive away or honk horn to get help.
Car Safety - Robert suggests to have a separate key for valet, watch personal information such as address in the glove compartment, using a P.O. Box number for driver's licensed, car insurance, etc. that people may see. Checking anyone near you getting in/out of car, only open your door, make sure no one in back seat, watch if followed, drive to well-lit area like police station or firehouse & lean on horn, etc.
Walking to Car - assailant come from behind with "gun" in pocket & threatens to get into car. Never get in car, run out of car when he gets in the other side. Throw keys away when first grabs you.
Assailant gets in other side of car when you get in - get attention
Walking - assailant grabs hand over mouth from behind & choke hold - thumb pull/hold part of one option
Purse - filled with great weapons, (keys in between fingers, pen, hairbrush, hairspray, comb on neck/bottom of nose, clutch credit car for striking), walk with weapon & confidence, hand in purse at all times to be ready & open (but then don't carry a lot of money), he recommends a fanny pack for valuables which I don't agree with, those can be stolen just as easy as a purse if not easier.
This is one of the most entertaining self-defense videos I've seen. I have seen a few. I did learn a few things. Robert, Jane show a lot of personality through their conversations. I can practically feel Alex's pain & wanting to say "Ok, ok, not so hard!" when Jane strikes him or Robert shows what to do. I can also see Alex not happy being slapped/pushed by Robert full force & his sunglasses go flying & Alex is hoping they're not broken as Robert continues to lecture Jane. At first there was too much replay & talking, but as time went on, they edited it down & it didn't drag on. Yes, it was too much lighting at first, but I had no trouble seeing. Yes, there were spots on the camera lens, but again, I had no trouble. Though, yeah, first rule of being a cameraman - check the lens. I enjoy low-budget films more as long as I can see/hear which I can because they're more amusing & entertaining then expensive ones & less scripted to show personality.