Below you can read about two industry-specific courses I’ll be offering during the afternoons in the Uptown/Turtle Creek area of Dallas. In addition to these, an “open” evening course will also be offered on Monday and Wednesday evenings…all at M iMage Center of Dallas.

The “open” evening course will allow participants to go online and book the classes they wish, meaning you’ll never pay for a class you did not attend. If you forget to book the class, once you have initially setup your profile on the M iMage Center system, you can still show up (obviously space allowing in class) and one of the front desk attendants will check you in. But advanced bookings are requested. Classes are only $15 per session — that’s it! No uniforms, no equipment (that “I” do not provide), no enrollment fees, no long-term contracts…just training you pay for per-session.

As time goes on, I do plan on adding several other industry-specific courses for attorneys (mostly family law, personal injury and criminal law), security professionals, teachers, delivery/courier professionals, hair stylists and possibly a few others…stay tuned! But the common denominator to the above is the need for simple, realistic strategies and training for those who, due to their job duties, can easily find themselves in harm’s way. I would appreciate any “suggestions” to the list above as well for those who have yet another profession to recommend for such a program.

Jeff McKissack
Defense By Design

Real estate agents face many challenges, not the least of which has to do with their constant interaction with the (unknown) general public. Think of these actual scenarios:
* Attackers enter an Open House to rob or assault a realtor
* Attacker set up a would-be prospect home showing to rob or assault a realtor
* Foreclosed homes have squatters, surprising a realtor
* Foreclosed homes have original owners surprising a realtor

Real estate agents all across the U.S. have been robbed, attacked, raped, beaten and even murdered. They are definitely in “at-risk” jobs, calling for something that will particularly address these and other concerns. Well, in Dallas, now they have such a course.

Every week for three months on Wednesdays from 2-3pm beginning in mid-September, local realtors may attend training that is designed for them. To book any of these classes, CLICK HERE. Classes will be held at M iMage Center, just off Turtle Creek Blvd in Dallas

Realtors may print out receipts online that they can in turn use for tax deductible training. Consult with your own CPA, but given the nature of your job duties, not to mention the National Association of Realtors putting aside an entire month for “Realtor Safety” the training is highly justified. Any other questions just email jeff@DefenseByDesign.com

Jeff McKissack
Defense By Design

Dallas has just announced we are up 25% in crimes of sexual assault. Much of the police efforts are being directed toward the “entertainment districts” of Dallas. Why? Because police have noted the effects of drugs and alcohol as they relate to rape and other violent offenses. But what about the people who WORK in these venues?

I am offering a new 3-month course (meeting weekly) for those who work in various bars, restaurants and clubs in the area. The training will meet on Thursdays, beginning mid-September, from 2-3pm just off Turtle Creek Blvd at M iMage Center. For booking information, CLICK HERE.

The course will meet weekly for three months. Participants can choose however many classes they’d like, but the format will be as follows:

Month 1: Strategies involving a single, unarmed attacker
Month 2: Strategies involving multiple, simultaneous unarmed attackers
Month 3: Strategies involving armed attackers

Those interested from this industry can probably deduct this as a legitimate training due to their “at-risk” job descriptions. Consult your own CPA for validation. Any other questions, simply email jeff@DefenseByDesign.com

Jeff McKissack
Defense By Design

This is truly one of the more “bizzare” random acts of violence I have heard of, but just goes to prove that we live in strange times with strange people. Therefore sometimes our only mistake is being the “wrong person” at the “wrong place” at the “wrong time.” But note in particular the victim’s initial feelings and instincts, which were KEY to what “could have” been avoided in this senseless attack and tragedy below…

Bethany Storro had just bought a pair of sunglasses and was celebrating a new job when a woman walked up to her with a cup and said: “Hey pretty girl, do you want to drink this?”

The woman then splashed acid in the cup on Storro, who stumbled in pain and fell to the ground screaming. She felt agonizing pain as the skin on her face bubbled and sizzled and portions of her blouse disintegrated.

Police are seeking the woman in the Monday attack as Storro, with her head wrapped in white bandages, recounted Thursday how only days before, she had been celebrating a new job and a recent move to Vancouver, Wash., from Idaho.

Her mother said Storro was getting something out of her car before heading into a Starbucks when the woman approached her with the cup. Storro told police the attacker was a black woman with slicked-back hair in a ponytail, wearing a green top and khaki pants.

“I have never, ever seen this girl in my entire life,” Storro said. “When I first saw her, she had this weirdness about her — like jealousy, rage.”
After the attack, the woman ran off. A passer-by called police using Storro’s cell phone.

Nancy Neuwelt called the attack “an act of evil.” Joe Neuwelt said the family hopes the attacker is found, but is focused on Storro’s recovery.

“You can imagine how I feel,” Joe Neuwelt said. “This is my little girl. We’re going to get through this we’re not going to allow this to stop our lives. We’re going to get through it.”

Jeff McKissack
Defense By Design

Sunday morning, August 15th, alleged “Craigslist Killer,” Philip Markoff was found dead in his jail cell, an apparent suicide.

Markoff was a summa cum laude medical school graduate of Boston University, and did so in only three years. He was, by all purposes, an intelligent, well-educated, articulate, charismatic, handsome fellow… who obviously led a double-life. Does this sound familiar to any other such criminals and killers we’ve seen and heard of in U.S. history?

This serves as yet another case of “you cannot judge the book by the cover.” Just as the internet was the source (or resource) of Markoff’s crimes, it is also what led police directly to him with a considerable footprint in his online activities, all of which could easily be traced back to him. When I teach about the “Internet Lure” (and have for some 20+ years), stories like this come to life as we see this rule does not just apply to children and teens, but grown adults as well.

I have nothing against online dating or shopping services, but at some point our parents’ or grandparents’ sage advice of “if it looks too good to be true, it probably is” comes to mind here…again and again. You simply cannot be too careful when meeting someone offline that you met online. The simple fact is there is a great amount of anonymity the internet affords most of its base. Pic pirates, impersonators or imposters are all easily accomplished putting many in harm’s way with no real prior warning.

While we will now probably never know the entire story with Markoff’s death, we know what we need to know most. Again, you cannot judge a book by its cover and if it looks too good to be true, it probably is…especially online.

Jeff McKissack
Defense By Design

Elias Abuelazam, age 33, was arrested and charged with the stabbings of 20 and the death of 5 victims in three states from May to August of this year. The store manager where Elias worked said of him, “He was friendly, He was a nice guy.” Sound familiar to any other similar stories before a tragedy struck?

Of particular note to me was from CNN regarding how Elias “lured” several of his victims — all of whom were MEN. “The suspect is believed to approach victims who are on foot during the early morning hours, asking for directions or other assistance to lure them closer to his car, Leyton said.” The age-old “Assistance Lure” at work here, typically the #1 lure identified in most assault, rape, abduction cases according to law-enforcement.

As another report read, “Police have said the attacks tended to follow a pattern. The suspect approached his victim late at night on a lonely urban road and asked for directions or help with a broken-down car. Then, without warning, he pulled out a knife and struck. Afterwards he sped away in his vehicle, leaving the victim for dead.”

Also of note was the “profile” Elias used. Again, quoting from the CNN article:

“We know he is a strong individual,” Leyton said, adding that the suspect is “preying on individuals who are alone on the street.” The Michigan victims’ ages ranged from 17 to 60 years old, according to Leyton. All of the victims have been men, and in two cases they were people with special needs. Leesburg Police Chief Joe Price said the Virginia victims “all appear to have been smaller in stature or more of an older age than our suspect — in other words, people that he thinks he can physically handle.”

So often we as “men” think we are safe due to the non-sexual nature of many of these attacks. But it is not always about “sex” in an attack, as this story illustrates. Road rage is hardly a sexual crime, most bar room brawls are hardly considered “sexual” in nature either. Men still have a lot to learn when it comes to safety…the ladies are not by themselves on this one.

Jeff McKissack
Defense By Design

Another sad day in our country as six are now dead in Albuquerque, NM as a domestic violence dispute caused six people their lives with four others wounded.

OSHA compliance states that businesses have “A Duty to Protect” but how far must this be carried to insure the safety of those in the workplace?

CLICK HERE FOR OSHA FACT SHEET

Card access doors, cameras at every turn, etc seem to be little consolation for those at this New Mexico manufacturing plant today. The keys are still “education” and “awareness.” We have to provide greater training to those in the workplace today with violence on the rise. Some of this can be attributed to the economic condition, double-digit unemployment, housing bubble burst, etc but other parts are still quite “human.” As Gavin de Becker said in his book The Gift of Fear, “Though we live in space-age times, we still do so with stone-age minds.” You cannot rule out human emotion, passion or aggression.

The very fact there had already been “one” incident of domestic violence with this particular individual “should have” sent up a flag…but it didn’t. We have to learn how to connect these dots more effectively and efficiently for ALL concerned.

Jeff McKissack
Defense By Design

Thanks to the great folks at NBC 5 News in Dallas! The story on our Uptown Trolley seminar we’ve called “A Streetcar Named DEFENSE” took to the lines a few weeks ago, with the news crew onboard.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO

The response from this was PHENOMENAL, from both riders…and viewers! Our next trip through Uptown and Downtown is set for July 20th, so “All Aboard” once again for those interested.

The two-hour trip acquaints riders with those things that predators look for when evaluating their prey. In other words, who is distracted, who is lost, who is alone, who is a bit tipsy, who is dressed nicely and driving a nice car, who has something in their ear and therefore cannot hear them approach, etc. In addition, we hop off the car twice for some “up close and personal” training with some physical aspects thrown in related to protecting the head and the dynamics of multi-assailant defense.

If interested, simply email me for more details. This is getting popular, so plan ahead as we already have waiting list being established as this is only once a month with 30+ riders allowed on each car.

Jeff McKissack
Defense By Design

Celebrity U Radio is a local internet radio broadcast featuring various business people in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Recently I was interviewed on this broadcast, which runs for about 20-30 minutes.

To view the interview, CLICK HERE.

I really hope people take this message to heart, as so many times what I do is relegated to the area of “martial arts.” While I love my background in this area, and love teaching these skills to others, my true passion lies in helping people avoid being attacked or compromised entirely.

Whether it is the Joran van der Sloots of society or the Bernie Madeoffs of society, we all can benefit by learning how to better tune into that still small voice that often tells us something just is not right.

I hope you enjoy the interview.

Jeff McKissack
Defense By Design

The stories we are now hearing of Joran van der Sloot bring to mind another “couple” of serial killers from years ago in Canada. This was a husband and wife team, Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo, back in the 1990’s.

Their story was one of “love” and “death” at first sight. This couple, lured, raped, tortured and murdered three young women before finally being caught. Oh, and they video taped their escapades as well which was needless to say the “smoking gun” in their court case.

The reason this couple comes to mind is that so many I’ve talked to over the last week or so regarding van der Sloot mentioned “But he seemed like such a clean-cut guy.” Yes, which once again goes back to the “Cannot judge a book by its cover” proverb. If you take a look at this couple above, they look like the couple on top of a wedding cake! Imagine meeting them in a bar, where they picked up several of their victims. I’m sure the ladies though the same when approached by this “all-Canadian”, nice, clean-cut, attractive, personable, etc. couple.

Again, we have to look beyond what our eyes simply see and our ears simply hear. There is more that often lies beneath, but we have to know “how” as well as “where” to look.

Jeff McKissack
Defense By Design