Today's Flash Back Friday comes from Episode 98, from July 2012. With a growing wealth disparity across the U.S. as the middle class moves out of expensive states or is significantly reduced to poverty in other areas, there comes ripe ground for a battle between the “haves” and “have-nots.” It is becoming more and more important to protect oneself and family from rising crime. Jason Hartman is joined on this episode by self-defense expert, Alex Haddox, to discuss best practices in self-defense. The first point that Alex addresses is awareness and avoidance, which are key to survival. Based on the military alertness color code, there are five levels of awareness, white, yellow, orange, red, and black. White is a total lack of awareness and black is being stunned and unable to react. Listen at: www.HolisticSurvival.com for Alex’s life-saving advice. Alex talks about the importance of women’s safety, high vulnerability situations, particularly bars, and stresses avoidance is the best solution. Jason and Alex also discuss home security, with lighting being the first step in deterring a home invasion. Alex goes on to explain other security steps homeowners can take, but most importantly, once again stressing awareness as the best defense. Alex Haddox took his first martial arts lesson at age ten. He has over sixteen years of combined traditional martial arts training in multiple styles including American Kenpo, Hapkido and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. He has studied under world-renowned masters including: Grand Master Bong Soo Han, Grand Master Larry Tatum, Senior Master of the Art Mohamad Tabatabai, Master Bill Green, Master Eric Friske, Master Danny Cruz, and Jim Wagner. Mr. Haddox teaches both traditional martial arts and Jim Wagner’s Reality-Based Personal Protection system. He believes there are a place and a need for both in today’s complex and often dangerous environments. Each type of training offers their own benefits and equally valid point of view to the student. In a previous career, Mr. Haddox was the Product Manager and co-founder of the Symantec AntiVirus Research Center (SARC). He was considered one of the world’s leading computer virus experts, traveled worldwide on speaking engagements and appeared on national television programs, including Good Morning America, CNBC, the Discovery Channel and Fox News Network. His work and personal life have taken him all over the globe including countries in North America, Europe, Africa and South America. He has seen some of the world’s greatest cities and walked the streets of some of the most underprivileged. His experience has taught him that safety starts with knowing how to conduct yourself and what to be aware of, not necessarily where you are. Website: www.PracticalDefense.com