When people talk about self-defense, typically they think of defending themselves from an attack. They might think about martial arts, or guns or awareness and avoidence strategies. If someone then cares further about self-defense, they’ll start to study these areas in preparation for an event that hopefully will never happen, but if it does you want to be prepared for it may mean your life.

However, did you ever consider more mundane things that threaten your life and daily well-being?

How about your general good health? Can you touch your toes? Can you walk a flight of stairs and not get winded? How much flab are you carrying around on your frame? Heart happy? Does the doctor give you a clean bill at your annual physical?

How about falls? More people die each year from falls than gunfire. Do you know how to fall correctly? This was a great thing I learned in my martial arts study is how to fall correctly so as to minimize injury.

These things are also self-defense. Defending yourself against pain and injury, against medical bills, and the effects of aging.