Hey everyone, Randy King here. Today, we’re talking about manipulation—the subtle and not-so-subtle ways people steer you into situations where they benefit and you lose. These tactics don’t always come with raised voices or balled fists. In fact, some of the most dangerous manipulation happens with...

Community is a forgotten part of our self-protection strategy. If you've been following our work at 80:20, you know we look at the whole picture of self-defense—not just the physical part. One of our most important proactive training concepts is threat assessment. This includes situational awareness...

Victims of crime often feel helpless and alone. They may search for any possible way to protect themselves in the future. Some may even turn to martial arts thinking it will give them an edge if they are ever attacked again. Unfortunately, evidence does not support this idea.

There have been multip...

Hey folks, Randy King here. Let's dive into a crucial aspect of self-defense that's often overlooked: reading body language. Understanding non-verbal cues is a game-changer, allowing you to anticipate and navigate potential threats before they escalate. This concept aligns with the principles outlin...

Self-defense isn’t just about reacting when danger explodes in front of you. It’s about understanding the entire arc of a conflict—from the subtle cues before anything kicks off, to the critical decisions during, and the often-overlooked aftermath. Every stage shapes the outcome. And unless you unde...

Self-defense doesn’t start when someone throws a punch. If it gets to that point, you’ve already missed multiple opportunities to steer clear of the problem entirely. One of the most overlooked—and most valuable—self-defense tools is your ability to pay attention: to the people, the energy, the envi...

Welcome back to Most Common Self-Defense Myths, where we cut through the clichés and half-truths that hold people back from real safety. If you've been following the series, you know we’ve already tackled:

• Myth #1: You won’t know your attacker

• Myth #2: Fighting back always makes it worse

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Welcome to the final post in our Most Common Self-Defense Myths series. Over the last four blogs, we’ve broken down some of the biggest misconceptions in the self-defense world—from the myth that your attacker will be a stranger to the belief that violence is completely random. Now we’re finishing s...

Welcome back to our blog series Most Common Self-Defense Myths, where we peel back the layers of hype, fear, and fantasy that often cloud real conversations about safety. Myth #1 tackled the false belief that your attacker will be a stranger. Myth #2 challenged the idea that fighting back always mak...

A Modern Guide to Understanding Real-World Personal Protection

Let’s get right to it—what is self-defense?

At first glance, this seems like a simple question. But spend five minutes in a martial arts forum or scroll through a few viral self-defense videos, and you’ll quickly see that the answer is...

Was this the holy grail story self-defense instructors needed—or a cautionary tale we misunderstood?

It’s been a few years since UFC fighter Anthony Smith made headlines after a violent home invasion shook his household. And while every “reality-based” self-defense coach rushed to use this story as...