"The most simple thing is to get out of the way and not to take things for granted. Sometimes people will tell me that a person came out of nowhere. Nobody comes from nowhere. You know something could go wrong when you go to a shopping center in the late afternoon and come out after dark. If you don't park underneath a light you could turn around, go back inside, and ask an employee to walk you to your car. Common sense is the best thing. It's important to be aware of your surroundings," Stabile says.
Stabile says another important self-defense tip is to avoid standing out wherever you go. If you're a woman, it's a good practice to travel with a friend. He says this is what he advises his students during self-defense training. It's simple and basic street self-defense.
"Aikido is the greatest martial art that is out there. Our style, Nihon Goshin Aikido, works well in a dojo or on the street. We practice what we call Airline Aikido and Subway Aikido. It's unlike other martial arts where you have to punch and kick. I can draw blood on people without even doing anything. Just look at Steven Seagal - that's Aikido," Stabile says.
Aikido is just one form of self-defense training. Stabile is passionate about Aikido because he says its philosophy is all about being conservative. The Aikido courses teach students, women, children, and men, that less is more. Preventing an attack is key in Aikido training, as well as knowing how to move if attacked.
"The main thing that people should learn is what we call blending. If somebody throws a punch, learn to give them half a target by either stepping back or stepping in. Evading the strike is very important. It sounds funny, but don't resist. What I mean by that is if an attacker comes up and tries to push you backwards, go backwards; knock him down, and sit on his stomach. It will knock the air out of him so you can get up and run. If they push you forward, step forward and turn your side. The attacker will fall. Try this with somebody: Grab them by their hand looking straight at them and tell them to pull. If you push, that person is going to lose their balance. In Aikido if the attacker pulls, you push, and if he pushes, you pull. Go with the energy to increase your strength without using effort. We are not violent people in Aikido. I always tell my students that it's simple but it's not easy. It takes thought. It's very empowering to women, especially. It doesn't matter if they're 4 feet tall or 7 feet tall," Stabile says.
In a scary situation, people tend to panic and forget all about self-defense. They don't have a well-thought out plan about what they are going to do if someone jumps out of the bushes. Stabile says your mouth should be the first self-defense tool you use. So it is very important to know what you're going to say in each self-defense case.
"One thing that I will stress in any situation is to yell fire. Never yell for help. When people yell for help, most people will turn away and not want to get involved. If you yell fire, people will turn and say, 'Where?!'" Stabile says.
You may have not had the opportunity to ever take a self-defense course, or you may have many years of experience in training. Regardless, Stabile's advice can help you feel more confident every time you encounter a situation that makes you feel uneasy. Never panic. Always have a plan. Stabile says its simple advice that can save your life.
