Blog | LaBCaF LLC

Testimonial – For the first time ever, I truly believe that if someone were to break in my house, I could escape and fight to protect myself

March 25, 2016

It was 8:00pm on a Saturday night, and I was already curled up in bed reading a book. My husband is in the army and was at an out-of-state, month-long training, and, while I enjoyed relaxing nights by myself, I also hated being alone in our house. Halfway through my novel, I heard a crunching outside my window, like someone stepping on leaves. I automatically froze up and panicked. What if someone was about to break in? Where would I…

The Hammer in Your Holster

March 13, 2016

Sometimes you hear things that just kind of make you turn your head like a dog that hears something that just doesn’t compute. You know the look I’m talking about. Here’s a WAY too common example in my life: Woman: So what do you? Me: I teach an extensive course showing women how to use anything in their environment to escape a dangerous situation or to fight off an attacker. Woman: Oh I don’t need anything like that. I’m always…

It’s Self PROTECTION, not Self Defense!

March 7, 2016

Which would you prefer: Fighting your way out of a situation using self-defense techniques/tools/weapons OR Avoiding that situation altogether? We believe in avoiding the situation altogether. That is why we have dedicated so much of our information and programs to avoiding and escaping bad situations! When I think of all the tools Cranford has taught me, tools with which I can confidently protect myself by avoiding and escaping Bad Guys and bad situations, I am incredibly grateful for the Legs…

Mindset, because you’re worth it.

February 22, 2016

Mindset. What exactly does it have to do with personal safety? In our classes we focus on empowerment rather than fear. One of the ways we teach empowerment is by talking about mindset. Mindset is not about “wishing,” “hoping,” or “wondering if you will be okay.” It is about setting your mind to win! We teach a variety of ways help you avoid being targeted by a criminal and offer creative solutions to help you win if you are attacked.…

Don’t get “jacked”

February 7, 2016

In the last few weeks as I have been telling people about our self protection courses I have heard time and time again about the number of carjackings that appear to be increasing in the Birmingham area over the last few weeks/months. As women tell me about these incidents, I see the fear in their eyes, I hear the helplessness in their voice, and I remember what it felt like to feel powerless against criminals. Because these violent acts are…

The Benefits of Boldnessity

January 29, 2016

OK, before we get going here, I just want all of you to know that I made that word up. You know . . . “boldnessity.” The title could have just as easily been “The Benefits of Being Bold” or even “The Benefits of Boldness.” But using those “common” words just felt…lame. Even more so since this is an article about being BOLD! About “BOLDNESSITY!” Making up my own words and just accepting that you will accept them? Yep, that’s…

Don’t Be “In-fear-ior”

January 23, 2016

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” -Franklin D. Roosevelt I’m sorry Mr. Roosevelt, but I think your statement’s not totally true. What about a burning house you happen to be in? What about a bear climbing into your tent while you’re still in it? What about someone breaking into the home where you and your children are sleeping? What about . . . spiders? I think all of those things deserve some fear. But let’s see…

“Eye”ll be seein’ ya!

January 12, 2016

A big part of NOT being a victim of violence is to know at least some of the ways a criminal picks their targets. Criminals are looking for an easy, unaware target that won’t cause them any trouble! They want things to go smoothly with their bad guy plan. The more difficult we can make that for them from the very beginning, the less likely we will be chosen as a target. There are many things you can do so…

Doin it Right!

January 2, 2016

In our talks and programs about boundaries, we talk about coming up with a personal safety plan that has multiple layers of security. The more layers you can add, the harder it is for a criminal to victimize you. Criminals look for an easy target. The more difficult it is for them, the more likely it is they will decide to look somewhere else. Our job is to make it too difficult for them. So difficult that the criminal decides…

Fighting the Chainmaker

December 31, 2015

So what’s to worry about? What could possibly go wrong? It doesn’t take a whole lot of time to come up with some pretty good answers to those questions. And what’s amazing is just how EASILY we can come up with those answers. So easily in fact, it is almost as if it requires no effort what…so…ever! I came across a quote a few days ago and it got me to thinking. The quote, although I can’t for the life…

The HOT Button

December 22, 2015

This is the third installment about Pepper Spray (also called OC spray, remember?). See part 1 HERE and part 2 HERE. Although there are several types of pepper spray canisters, there are only a few types of triggers and safety types. The two most common safety/trigger configurations are the “turn and press” and the “flip and press.” Those aren’t the technical names, but they are pretty good descriptors, so I’ll stick with them. You can click on the pictures below…

Dangerous Meals!

December 10, 2015

“OK,” I can hear some of you saying already, “What in the world is Cran talking about now?” Well, I’m not talking about places you shouldn’t eat, like on the treadmill at your gym. And I’m not talking about calories and cholesterol, (says the guy who ate half a large pizza the other day!). I’m not even talking about a meal being dangerous to, or for YOU. I AM talking about why it is dangerous for a bad guy to…