This is the first step in building your self defense skills. Start to learn your environment. Know where your exits and cover are. Different routes in an out of your location. Survey the people around you and constantly be aware of what's happening and how it could affect you.

If you want to get better you have to train. There's no other secret to improving your skillset. Know exactly why you're training, chose your discipline and find a trainer who can meet that need. As a certified firearms instructor I still take classes and seek out people who have already honed and masterd the skills I want to improve.

Half of all suicides involve a firearm and those suicides account for 2/3 of all gun deaths in the United States. There's a mental health crisis that isn't being acknowledge by the masses. Don't allow that to deter you from getting the help you need. Don't suffer in silence, click the link for more resources.

Safety training should be everyones first step into self defense. Regardless of the tools you decide to train with you should have knowledge of how to safely opperate them.

You have to be physically and mentally fit to be and affective protector. Your physical fitness will compliment and enhance all athe dditional training you do.

Medical and first aid training is an often overlooked part of peoples training. You are more likely to need your medical traning to save a life than your firearm. Learning how to Stop The Bleed can save a life.