"Word-Fu"

Welcome back!  Man, it's great to see you, it's been ages. Have you had a haircut? Looks good. 

Today I thought we could deal with that ancient art of "Word-Fu" - namely the ability to handle situations using your knowledge of vocabulary and/or language in general. Not the game you find if you Google this term, trust me, this version of Word Fu is not a game. Oh no, no indeed.

So we've dealt with body language in prior posts, so it just seemed right to work on what you're actually saying too, right?

But we're gonna get a little specific. We're gonna deal with a few people who we find difficult.

Who or what am I talking about?  

Liar's and Cheats.

Now to explain - this is not some personal crusade or revenge/frustration driven rant given parts of my life to date.  Nope, this one's far from it. Life has taught me a few things, things I reckon it would be good for you to know. This is an attempt to help you out if you're currently struggling with that odd sensation in your gut which is telling you "something ain't right here..."

We all know that feeling, it happens to everyone. 

So yep, this post is designed to be 

A beginners guide to handling liars and cheats utilising Word Fu.

Consider this an opportunity to take the wool away from your eyes. 

To begin, a liar/cheat can be defined as those people who always spout lies to either make themselves look good, to cover their asses when they've been busted/trying to avoid being busted, those who dig themselves out of a hole (that they probably dug themselves) with non-truths or who are always putting someone else down for their own personal gain. 

Yep...THEM.

This is also about those people who never apologise - even when all the facts stack up against them higher than the Himalayas. This is about those who feel the need to deceive, who often have a distorted version of right and wrong and who are just dramatically challenged and need to feed drama into their lives. 

Whoa. Yeah...I know...

That was a BIG list of who this is about but please, stay with me. 
It'll be worth the read.

Now, there are a couple of other categories which we will exclude from this post just to be clear.

1. The liar who lies due to a distinct lack of confidence - whereby due to personal circumstances (i.e. has been put down all of their lives, told they are a loser etc) an individual will bend the truth a little, but never to hurt anyone.  In these cases, dependent on the lie being told, most people will forgive them, often because the lies they tell are horrible and about as transparent as air. 

2. And our common "Little White Lies" - like Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy - they are designed to inspire your child's imagination, not to be lies to be found out and crucified for.   

This leaves us with the Liar's and cheats who lie on purpose, knowingly to deceive YOU. 

So, the first question - How can you spot them?

Well, it's actually not as hard as you think, but you have to want to see. 

How often have you been in a relationship where you've known you're being lied to, but choose to ignore it for your kids/your income/your lifestyle or some other "comfortable" reason? 

I'll bet good money I haven't been the only one.

So if you are looking, there are a few "tell's" and "types" that give most liar's away. 

But the number one rule - trust your instincts - if you feel like something is wrong with what you're being told, it often is. 

If it smells like a duck, quacks like a duck, flies like a duck, odds are....its a duck.

Remember - 93% of all communication is non-verbal.

• A liar will often look away rather than making eye contact as they are talking with you
• Holding eye contact too long (yes, the opposite of the above). This one is generally felt as awkwardness. The liar is challenging you to challenge what they are saying - they expect to be caught out.
• Distracting behaviours like touching their ears, playing with hair or clothes, changing the subject the more uncomfortable they become etc
• Speed of their voice - often liars will speak slightly faster than normal when lying.
• Too much detail - liars often pre-meditate how they will tell you something and create great detail "in case" you ask. They often tell you this detail without you asking.
• Trying too hard to sound normal that they actually end up sounding weird and false
• Deflection - re-accusing the accuser - this is a classic whereby if you confront the liar about their lying, they will accuse you of either doing the same thing or something much worse to change the focus. 
• The "Dismissively Aggressive" - ever heard the saying "doth thy protest too much?". This one is generally used by aggressive people who deep down know they have done wrong but will never admit it, often combined with the "Believer".
• You will be made to feel like everything is all your fault, often. This protects the liar by you always being the worse one. I fell into this situation once before - not a cool place to be. 
• "The Retreat" - often liars will avoid discussions where they can be found out. What better way than to just walk away? 
• The "Believer" - this is probably the most dangerous liar of all. They actually believe the lie they are telling you is true. 
• And finally (but by no means the end of any liar list) the "Clever". This is the one where you are literally baffled by bullshit. This one takes a very good talker with a high level understanding of "Word-Fu". Most politicians probably fall into this category.

Life would be so much easier if a liar's pants actually did catch on fire, right?  For sure, true story.

Now that we have a few categories and generalisations on methods a liar will use against you, the next question is 

How can you stop them lying? 

Well, bad news buddy.  You can't. 

I know, I know - not the answer you wanted, 
but unfortunately, it's absolutely true. 

It is literally impossible to stop someone lying to you.

Especially if they have something to hide.

But the saving grace is, generally speaking you will always notice (if you know the person lying to you) even if you're not being paranoid or jumping at shadows. 

You'll get that feeling something is wrong - you know the one.

This is true for cheaters too.

If you suspect a cheater - and yes, they are a special bunch, advanced liars - something will trigger for you. 

For relationships where you co-habitat - suspicions can be sparked if you notice something has been moved in your house, more attention is spent focused on cell phones, conversations are happening less, frustrations at you become higher, your items get covered up or even put somewhere else. Cheaters and adulterers are very good at mastering these skills, especially the bold ones who believe it is their right to act the way they do. 

Consider how much of a bummer it must be for them trying to work their mojo on someone else when there is a picture of you hanging up in the front room, or a whole heap of your stuff hanging around. Not gonna work too well for them, right? 

An example - a friend of mine years back was dating a detective and they'd been living together for about 5 years, she'd thought they were happy. Bad news was - he'd been cheating on her in their own home since the beginning of their relationship, moving all her stuff (putting things in drawers, hiding them away) every time he had someone come over - and there'd been many. He blamed her when he got caught (she found a picture she treasured of the both of them under their bed) and probably still does. He was an arrogant guy, full of his own importance and believed he was always right.  

Yet another person playing "alpha" male. You'll see I stated playing, because that's all they're doing, pretending to be number one.  They're not really number one by any stretch of the imagination, by putting others down they think they can elevate themselves.  
Bad news for them.

If you happen to be one of these pretend Alpha Males (or an Alpha Female) and is reading this for any insights you can use, quit it.  Now.  You're being an asshole. 

Real Alpha's know their responsibilities to others, they don't use/abuse others for their own gains. They'll do the opposite and be all good with it.

And most pretend Alpha's all end up the same too. They refuse to pull their heads in and eventually they get it knocked off. It's simple physics - action, then opposite and equal reaction. Be an asshole, get smacked over like one. 
Trust me, there is ALWAYS someone tougher than you. 

Now if you are worried about this cheating happening in your home, take note of where your stuff is and of your partners behaviours both good and bad, something will always give them away. Most cheaters aren't very smart. 

Another thing you could keep a nose out for is "smell". For example - if you get home to a smell of air freshener, they could've been either smoking weed, they've burnt something in the kitchen, have severe "wind" or are trying to mask someone's perfume/cologne. 

Awareness is always the key - as is a level head. 

You also need to appreciate that all of these things can be happening and your partner NOT be cheating on you. However, if you are suspicious and feel that something is wrong, investigate and put it to rest because it just might be real.

       Remember - if it smells like a duck, quacks like a duck, flies like a duck, odds are....its a duck.

Another indicator can be perhaps your partner is going out more and more and not wanting you to come along. If cheating is a potential, are you finding yourself in a fight just before they go out? 
It could be a way of justification for them telling you to stay home so they can go out with their friends and/or their hook up. 
Are they always encouraging you to go out and don't care where? Mmmmm. 

But hey, enough about cheaters, lets move on back to liars. They kinda go hand-in-hand with cheats anyway since isn't that what cheats are actually doing anyway?

For liars - you can always try and create a safe environment whereby they will feel they don't have to lie to you - useful especially with children and teenagers. 

I do this with our two boys and I back it up with non-confrontational methods of busting them when I catch them. I can tell when they are lying just by getting them to tell me their story whilst maintaining eye-contact.  If you know your kids, you'll know how to do this already too.

For most liars, they lie until the point they get caught out, then they scramble. 

If you believe you are being lied to, my suggestion is confront the person. You can start softly, softly such as "Look, are you sure that's what happened?  It doesn't sound quite right..." and then you can utilise a real piece of "Word Fu" that almost never fails.  

Oh yeah, this is intermediate to advanced level stuff.  

You're not using "silence" properly. 

Yep - S.I.L.E.N.C.E. 

The absence of noise, y'know, keep yah mouth shut bro', or shushit@dudeyouretooloud.co.nz or www.zip_it.com. 

So I can see your eyebrow lifting, you're not so sure on what I'm saying huh?  

I guess it does sound a bit like a misnomer.  I've been describing "Word-Fu" yet I'm talking about you saying "nothing" wrongly? 

Yeah, it sounds a bit weird even to me as I'm writing this. 

But like any of my left-field posts, hold the phone, put your feet up, park this baby in neutral and trust me. 

If you utilise this skill I'm about to teach you, you will become a better one on one speaker, listener, a better communicator and most of all - become a much better bullshit detector.​

​So what on earth am I actually blathering on about here? 

It's remarkably simple. Silence can be your best friend and a worthy Allie, especially when you are dealing with people who are trying to lie to you. 

Let me set the scene for how I learnt this little gem, handy bit of background.

I had a friend back in the 80's and 90's named Hitoshi who was a lot older than me, was my intermediate Aikido instructor and he held a fairly middle management rank in a manufacturing firm who had just started doing a bit of business here in New Zealand back when "Made in Japan" became viewed as not bad stuff at all. 
Nothing cool like electronics, no he didn't work for Sony. 

As one of only two of Hitoshi's European student's, I was always being told off for talking too much - I preferred to call it "youthful exuberance" whereas Hitoshi preferred to call it "a problem with authority".
This came to a head literally, spinning back-fist involved, when I answered a rhetorical question with a joke in the middle of a 50-strong training session. 

Turned out that my barbarian humour wasn't all that funny and I ended up with bruises from the other students just to prove how "un-funny" the sound of one hand clapping actually was. 

I also managed another few thick ears talking about cups being half empty/half full and a snide comment about "either way there is room for bourbon". 

Yes, it seemed my insight genius was not appreciated then either. 

So - somewhat flabbergasted at my lack of understanding and on the verge of giving up - Hitoshi took me along with him to a business meeting where I was to learn something or suffer the consequence of loss of face. Not literally though. My face was going to be fine.

I was introduced to the other party as an "associate", although to what I had no idea, but according to Hitoshi I was dragged along to learn something vitally important that could finally get me to understand what he'd been trying to get through "my Thrick Scrull". 

Now given I couldn't (and still can't) speak much Japanese, I figured I was going to learn about as much as "bad wind" in a rubber suit... no doubt this was going to be a painful and uncomfortable few hours.

On arriving however, I found that all the other company representatives were European and they were a happy accommodating bunch, as were Hitoshi's people. I observed the appropriate courtesies, figured my luck had changed since everything seemed nice and casual, I only slightly felt like the charity case dumb kid at the smarty pants party, but at least I figured was going to understand at least some of what was going to be said.  We were all ushered into the meeting room to begin discussions, me at the back and firmly out of the way, no dunce hat included. 

Before we headed in to sit down however, Hitoshi told me to say absolutely nothing unless I was spoken to directly. It was one of those "do as I say" moments you'd get from your Mum, y'know the ones, when she'd use your whole name including your middle name. 

Needless to say, I kept my mouth shut. 

What happened over the next hour however, changed the way I see communication forever and I'm happy I went. Hitoshi was right and I'm glad he stuck his neck out so far with his co-workers and took me along.

Y'see the Japanese have a slightly different way of doing business. Yes, gross generalisation I agree, but since that meeting I learnt it's mostly a fairly true statement. 

Both teams sat either side of a longish table, not much a view but all in all, a fairly boring venue.
The thing that had me spellbound over the next couple of hours was that there were times in that meeting where it felt like I almost had to say something, the very core of me screaming out "say something!" much like trying to ignore a phone ringing - it became almost physical pain in wanting to answer the thing. 

I swear that the silence was so deafening and so uncomfortable that the nature of the meeting quickly changed and the other party had to keep filling the gaps, they started talking up a storm. 
During particularly long silences, Hitoshi would look back to me to reinforce his message. As dutiful student I complied.  The longer this meeting went on, the more out-of-sorts the other people became. 
I kid you not, at one point it was like a competition of who speaks first loses as the Europeans started to catch on. 
At the end of the meeting however I overheard one of the exec's asking what the hell had happened in there, it seemed they'd revealed too much and been more truthful than they had been planning to be. 
They literally didn't seem to be able to help themselves but fill those silences with more and more wins for Hitoshi and the company he worked for. The other business just kept sweetening the deal with more and more offers to get Hitoshi's company on-board, an obvious assumption over why the Japanese were being so quiet.

I learnt afterward that it wasn't because Hitoshi's group weren't sure, it wasn't that they wanted more (because they didn't), it was simply because they knew how to negotiate and they simply wanted the truth. They were cautiously analysing all the information being given AND they knew before they even started that the truth would come out.  They'd utilised this tactic before.

Having read Sun Tzu's "Art of War" since this meeting, I think (although still not 100% sure) that I got more a handle on this but at the time, I - and the European group - had no idea what was happening.  

Hitoshi's group knew that most people, most importantly the European's they were dealing with, dislike silence.

Consider this - just how many times have you filled awkward silences yourself?  
I'll bet lots. We're not wired to handle it all that well. 

Y'see by saying nothing, most people who are feeling the pressure of the silence can't help but reveal their own true thoughts, it's almost as if we've been taught this way. 
Silence equals bad.

The scary thing is - it's actually quite the opposite. Welcome to Word Fu.

If you don't believe me, try it for yourself and practice. 

1. Ask a person the question you want to know the answer to - perhaps one that you know they would not tell you the 100% information for

2. Let your question hang there. A thoughtful expression will help.

3. Keep your mouth shut. You will feel uncomfortable and so will they. Keep quiet. The results will most likely surprise you. 

Word to the wise though, this is not something to be used for negative or personal gain - pretend Alpha's (male and female) I'm talking to you. 

This is simply a tool to be used so you can gain the truth from any situation whereby you would need it in order to make an informed decision. 

So welcome to the essence of Word-Fu, my friend.

Over here in the knowing side - silence is indeed GOLDEN.​ 

...That is unless you have kids...then it's just damn suspicious...

Devilskin - a band well worth going to see

A couple of mates (pals/friends for you American's) and I headed over the hill to the mighty Waikato city of Hamilton (around an hour and a bit drive from Tauranga where we live) to go see a live band that has been doing the rounds for about 4 years, but have only recently garnered critical acclaim starting to "make it big". 

For more about them, go here to their official site - http://devilskin.co.nz/

Having been a fan for about a year, I was really looking forward to heading out with the boys in Hamilton - an old stomping ground of mine. Devilskin never fails to impress!

...and no, for all you religious people out there?  Don't panic. Pretty sure they're not Satanists, their name and some parts of their video's are simply filled with images designed to "shock" the public and get them talking. 
Forget about the media machine and just listen to the lyrics and the tight music they're putting together. 

But for you NZer's, Australians, Americans, UK folk and everywhere else you lot are from who are reading my posts, keep an eye out for this band - they're up in the "we're heavier than Linkin Park" realm, and well worth a listen with steaming riffs, powerful melodies, sing along tunes, incredible drumming (from the rhythm guitarists son no less), great rhythm guitar playing, stage presence, professional and female vocals like I've never heard before - oh yeah, she has got some lungs! Very impressed. Sure, I can sing and belt out a few but Jennie could out do most male vocalists without even trying! Effortless.

Crowds are pretty diverse too - I kinda expected me and my friends to be up there in the "you's fulla's are too old bro' to be here" but nope, I'm a young 40 somethin' and there were plenty of rockers there WAY older than me!

Their concerts are charged and their stage show is tight, well eclipsing their two opening bands (can't remember the first one's name, but the second was "Fire At Will" who were good, just not Devilskin awesome). They had a great team behind them too and they openly got the crowd to acknowledge them as well. This band has that rare quality where they know where they come from and who has helped get them there. I get the feeling they won't be forgetting this fact if and when they make it bigger than big.  

They are heading to Australia soon, then hopefully they try to head further afield.  I have no question in my mind they could certainly make it in the big leagues!

If you get a chance to go see them live, I highly recommend you do. 

Be prepared not to be able to hear too well for a few hours afterward though, their stage show is epic.

Click the links below for their official music video's as a taster.

Little Pills

Never See The Light

Start A Revolution

We hit 1000 page views!!

Well, we've actually hit 1123 page views!!

Thank you to all of you from around the world who are reading the crazy stuff I'm writing in here.

I sincerely hope that the advice you find is brightening up your days/nights so that your World's not quite so dark or heavy and you're getting a bit of a laugh along the way.

Rock that positivity dude/dude-ette.

Yeah...you got this.

THE STATS

Ooooooo ouch.

That moment positivity comes to stay

Something to consider

Imagine a theater, filled with thousands of people, no one on stage.

Now imagine one guy in the crowd stands up and cracks an hilarious joke. Everyone laughs like crazy.

After a few minutes as the laughter dies away, the same guy tells the EXACT SAME JOKE. This time, a few less people laugh.

A few more minutes pass and the same guy then tells the EXACT SAME JOKE over and over again until there is nobody left laughing out of the thousands of people in the theater.

Imagine that now he stops, smiles and says;

"You can't laugh at the same joke over and over again, so why do you keep getting upset over the same thing over and over again?"

Whoa....

How to stay safe - some tips

Hi there! 

Welcome back.  Good to see you!  

Now I have a quick apology to make.  Yup, this is another long post.  Lots to cover on this topic.  It is a little bit New Zealand centered, but applicable in other parts of the world too. 

A fairly new couple of questions I find I'm being asked these days (aside from when I'm going to run some self defence classes)​, and seem to be mostly driven by the increasing media coverage about bad things becoming far more regular, in your face and comprehensive, are; 

"How can I stay safe?" and "Do you think the world is getting more violent?"

As far as I am concerned, not much has really changed locally or even nationally here in NZ. I don't know about internationally as haven't been much of an international traveler yet so have nothing to compare it to, but there has always been violence here in NZ, possibly much less than most places around the world though.  And by violence, no, I'm not talking similar to the war in Iraq where people are dying in the streets by any means, what I'm talking about is your common street thuggery and crime.  

Things that if you're smart, can mostly be avoided.

Now the main difference about violence in all shapes and forms is that now, everybody is much more aware of it.  It's in the newspaper, on the inter-web and on the TV every single day.

Now sure, I'm no expert in staying safe - I have a whole mis-spent youth I'm sure my poor Mum would be happy to regal you about with a few shakes of her head and perhaps a valium - but there are a few common rules that you can follow that will make you less vulnerable and "less of a target" for street crime.

So first - to understand it.  There are a few trends that most in law enforcement (and probably those on the other side too) know about and are well versed in.  Most crimes - violent ones included - are generally born out of something as common and obvious as "opportunity".  

Be it the opportunity to prove themselves to their mates or their gang, a misplaced view they think they can take someone out perceived as weaker than them, or maybe its just that one mean-spirited individual who has nefarious intentions (or is desperate) who thinks they can steal your cash, your smart phone, credit cards, shoes, the groceries you're carrying etc and most importantly, get away with it. 

In all cases, the person or people will wait for the moment they think they can roll you, and do it.

Now this post isn't designed to frighten you, it's designed to provide you with a few helpful tips for you to stay safe.  I kinda like having you around.  

In this piece we will deal with only crimes of opportunity, not any revenge, under the influence or anger motivated attacks - those are generally born out of something else and much less common. They also tend to be less premeditative and more emotion fueled. 

So, a few things; 

1. Don't walk around with headphones on (or in) listening to music. How many joggers listening to their iPod get attacked in parks? Yup, quite a few. Why? Because they're easy targets. Not only are you minimising your own awareness of the world by having your music blaring, but you won't notice if someone is nearby or running your way. You also won't notice traffic, or trains as have been a few accidents in recent years. Be safe, ditch the tunes when you're out on your own. 

2. Consider the time of day - wouldn't it be wise NOT to go for a run just as it turning dark? Male or female, doesn't matter. If you need to run, run during your lunch-break or join a gym. If you are going to run, take your dog if you have one. Cats don't seem to be able to keep up and they generally look funny on a leash.

3. Keep your handbag close, hold around to your front, and keep it closed - this one's specifically for you ladies (and any of you men who might use one too). If you have a handbag, make sure you have your arm through both handles, over your shoulder and it's not unzipped or open. Thieves can sidle up behind you and reach in and take your house keys, your purse, your phone etc. if it's unzipped/clasped, but with your arm through both handles and it zipped up and you carry it mainly around your front, you are less likely to be the victim of a snatch n grab n bolt. 

You'd also be amazed at how many hang-bags get snatched and then that same person's house gets burgled a few weeks later. If you get your handbag stolen containing your keys, change your locks.

4. Don't flash your cash/technology around ​- that old saying that someone is always watching you? Yeah, trust it.  Whether or not you know it or see it, there are generally eyes on you whenever you are out in public all the time. The majority of people don't "see" you and are just like you, zero criminal intent, but there will be some - if you are looking like an easy target - who will be paying you unwanted attention.

5. Trust your instincts. How many times have you been through a crisis and realised that you had the worry/fear something bad was about to happen before it all kicked off? Yup, probably many times. Very few dangerous situations happen out of the blue. There is generally some kind of a warning.  If you are paying attention to the world around you, you've got a much better chance of seeing something coming.

But the number one thing to keep yourself safe when you're in a dangerous place?

6. Don't be there in the first place.

Simple.  This one is a lot like when someone tries to punch you in the face. 

Best defence? Yup.

MOVE. YOUR. FACE.

Now this "don't be there" doesn't always work if you're travelling to a new place/new country etc. You just don't know where the dangerous places are.  However, if you are travelling, use guides, the internet or do your homework on the areas you're going to. Be smart, pre-plan. Now quick point - it's okay to be a little bit paranoid but it's not okay to let it rule your life. Find some middle ground where you're at least "prepared".

Now, an example of "don't be there"; I was recently in Oamaru in the South Island of New Zealand  - No! Wait wait! Lem'me finish! 

This is not a bad reflection on Oamaru! I love Oamaru!

Click here - All About Oamaru 

Trust me, read on. :)

So I was down there to deliver my teams performance reviews, was in a Hotel for a few nights, and I decided to go for a walk around 11:30pm since I couldn't sleep. I was heading out for some fresh air. 

And yes, it would be about now in this story that my Mum would be shaking her head and looking to make a "soothing" cup of tea. 

I headed downstairs, wandered a block or two down from my hotel, looking at all the architecture, took a couple of pics with my work iPhone and was generally acting like the out-of-town tourist that I was.  A few minutes went by and another block, when two guys came walking towards me. 

The one on the left nudged the one on the right when they saw me.  ​

The one on the right smiled.

Now, what would this simple exchange between them mean to you? 

They were about to offer me some free McDonald's vouchers since it was just across the road? Uhhhh, probably not.

Or perhaps I was about to get offered an all expenses paid round trip to the Moeraki Boulders in a limousine and a free foot-sized penguin to take home in my carry-on luggage?

Unlikely.

The exchange between them showed "plausible intent" and since we were the only 3 people out on the street and that I was outnumbered, "plausible opportunity".

As we passed each other, the one on the left actually asked me "What are you looking at?" in quite a confrontational manner.  Luckily since I had been aware of the exchange, I had already put my head down and had moved out slightly wider (beyond striking distance) as I was going around them. Thankfully, neither of them stopped to pursue the question further.

Could that situation have escalated? Sure it could have. 

I could've replied.

Now in all fairness to Oamaru, I was told later that that kind of stuff really doesn't happen there, which I absolutely believe as its an awesome chilled out place, but I wonder how many people (like I was) wander around acting like a tourist, flashing an iPhone at close to midnight and are out on a school night...

Yeah, I'm betting not many either.

But this situation illustrates just how easy it is to avoid trouble.  Did I need to go out? No.  Was I in a town I don't know a lot about - yes.  Was my behaviour risky? Of course it was.  Did I get a warning that something was about to happen? Absolutely.  Could I have turned around or even crossed the road to avoid the confrontation?  Yes.  Did I? No. Should I have? Yes. 

I can picture my Mum's eye's rolling even now...

You do always have a choice on where you go and when.  I know plenty of places that are great/safe/fun to visit in the daytime, but that I would generally avoid at night.  There are also lots of places I've been during the day where I had nothing but problems.

But - lets be realistic.  If for whatever reason you DO find yourself in a dangerous place at a dangerous time, you should first call a taxi or a friend/family member and get out. Don't wait, just do it. There are no medals for being a hero.  In the Oamaru case, I should have stayed in the Hotel.

But as life is what it is, occasionally things can go pear-shaped no matter what decision you make. 

If you have no way of getting out of a dangerous place - I recommend following the following steps to ensure you have the best chance of survival.

1. Make it your first mission to find a friendly public area and head there immediately - a Burger King, a  McDonald's etc - get to these places and ask the staff if you can use the phone etc.  In the Oamaru case, there was a McDonald's right across the road I could've gone too should things have gone pear shaped, I think it might have been closed however... 

2.  Use "safe" shadows if during night time. These are categorised as not dark alleyways or behind buildings. Safe shadows are ones you can quickly move from out into the bright open areas if you have to. Your objective using "safe" shadows is to minimise the amount you are actually seen. Use them sparingly however as sometimes not being seen can be as dangerous as being seen.

3. Blend in where you can. This is all about being less conspicuous in your surroundings.  Most people know of "dress for the occasion" - same rules apply for wherever you are going. If you find yourself over-dressed, make an effort to change that. Clothes can be replaced.

4. Be aware. If you find yourself in a place that scares the #@%! out of you, no doubt you will become hyper-aware which is a survival state brought on by adrenaline. Use it. Look for place markers like a familiar shop, or a bank so you can get your bearings if you become lost and look for landmarks to help guide you out.

5. Keep your emotions under control - lock them down as much as you can. Any of the following four pictured below will mess with your chances of getting out of the predicament you've found yourself in.

You have to be thinking as clearly as you can.

Back when I was much younger I developed a method of getting myself quickly into an appropriate mental state in order to handle whatever crisis I found myself in. 

Now listen up because this is somewhat of a secret I generally only teach to martial art students. 

I called it..........Crysis.

Yeah.  Okay. Laugh all you like.  I know it's a bit lame naming this mental state and even the name itself is quite geeky sounding.  BUT this technique does work for me and for many others I have taught it to. Call it a coping mechanism, call it fooling your "fight or flight" reflex briefly until it can become second nature.  Whatever you call it, it is a tried and tested method of bringing about control in generally uncontrollable situations. 

To explain - "Crysis" is a mix of the original word "Crisis" meaning a highly charged problem or incident and the word "Cryonics" which is the low-temperature preservation of humans. You've seen it in science journals and in movies, snap freezing someone.  Yes - this is absolutely nerdy.

It came about when I was younger and somehow managed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time far too often.  I found that by developing this state, I was able to cool down quickly (as fear heats you up), no matter what the scary situation.  Yeah, I know, sounds crazy right? But it works.  And on adults too.

So before you poke fun, have an open mind and give it a go.

As a starter, you can generally get close by following these steps and in order;

1. Remove all emotion from your thinking - see all for facts only, what it is.

2. Become highly analytical - analyse all factors quickly for risk, non risk. 

3. Ascertain what the threats are and how you can best deal with them. 

4. Remain "cold as ice" (fear heats you up). 

5. Tense muscles and relax them - you are burning off the adrenaline.

6. Become calculating in your approach - best outcome is the only outcome. 

7. Breathe slower than normal until your heart rate settles from following first 6 steps 

8. Breathe normally.

9. Know you're now "in the zone".

10. Stay there until the crisis is over.

Sure, words are great but with practice, an adept is able to enter this state almost instantly and keep fairly emotionless, allowing them to only deal with facts and detail required to get themselves (and their close ones if needed) out of any bad situation they're in. 

It was developed to help people (me to begin with) cope first with frightening problems and for in the ring when the another fighter was attempting to mess with their opponent.

I am sure that fire fighters, ambulance and police officers will all have similar methods of dealing with things mostly deemed un-deal-able. 

Above all else however, your best form of defence to any crisis/violent crime is being smart, staying calm and out-thinking your opponent and the situation, no matter what your skill level is in self defence.  

There is ALWAYS a way to improve your situation, even if its just by millimetres and walking wide​. 

And there is ALWAYS a sign something is about to happen, you just have to be looking to see it.

Like the old saying goes;

"Those who go looking for trouble, are never usually a problem for those who are ready for them"

Be ready.

And as always - questions are welcome.