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

Starting in July, I am going to begin a very unique offering in the Uptown area (but available to replicate in other areas of DFW). The theme? Train 10 Weeks for 10 Seconds! What do I mean by this?

The average attack (versus “fight”) only lasts about 10 seconds or less, typically because the attacker(s) had the initial element of surprise. But what do these critical 10 seconds look like? This is what we will investigate over 10 weeks as we train in the following five scenarios for just two weeks each:

–2 weeks of defense training facing a single, unarmed opponent
–2 weeks of defense training facing multiple, unarmed opponents
–2 weeks of defense training facing an attacker with a knife
–2 weeks of defense training facing an attacker with a gun
–2 weeks of defense training from a seated and ground position

The real appeal here is that the above is being offered at only $100 for all 10 weeks! This is an introductory offer only, however. Classes will be held at Trophy Fitness in Uptown from 7:30-8:30pm on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning the second week of July.

For more information, or to register (as space will be limited), email me directly at jeff@DefenseByDesign.com.

Jeff McKissack
Defense By Design

So many times in my presentations I address various “stereotypes.” Why? Because we all have them. Ask any group of kids to describe a “stranger” and you’ll be amazed at the answers you receive. They’re looking for Freddie Kruger, not Mister Rogers, yet we all know it’s more of the latter than the former that poses a real threat to our kids.

Now take as another example (for college students and adults) the case of Joran van der Sloot suspected in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway five years ago in Aruba, now also a suspect in the murder of a young woman in Peru. But more importantly “look at” his photo. Is this the new face of crime? Actually, it always has been, as the more and more you learn, the more you also realize (a) there are no stereotypes and (b) the more “effective” perpetrators are those who do not “look the part.” The old saying about not judging a book by its cover is still very sound advice.

Remember this the next time that “nice young man/woman” approaches you to offer assistance, buy you a drink or escort you to your car, home, apartment, etc. It’s the face that can often times throw you off. Look beyond the cover and learn to read the book.

Jeff McKissack
Defense By Design