When kids (or adults) are in shock, panic or under a tremendous amount of stress, even the simplest thoughts and moves are lost unless we help condition our students minds’ to react. This is exactly why only talking about “strangers” (even though most don’t look or sound strange) isn’t good enough today. So I created a fun escape “game” named Grip, Dip & Spin™ that prepares children to respond without hesitation, even if they’re confused by kidnappers or pedophiles. By John Hall

A friend of mine was telling a co-worker about Grip, Dip & Spin™ and that person asked this post headline. Which reminded me of the cartoon I watched as a kid in 1974, Hong Kong Phooey. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of martial arts training for kids, but don’t confuse techniques with preparing them to stop abductions. Even Bruce Lee didn’t by saying, “I don’t fear the man who’s practiced 10,000 kicks once, but a man who’s practiced one kick 10,000 times.” Grip, Dip & Spin™ is based on this perspective. By John Hall

Songs help us recall their lyrics because they can strengthen neural chords that transmit information to our brains. The lyrics in our “training tune” reinforces key skills from the DVD and program. It’s a rock song to get kids excited about practicing Grip, Dip & Spin™, because repetition in time develops an automatic escape reaction. Download it FREE after ordering a DVD. Posted By John Hall

Kicking, hitting, biting or whatever your kids do to fight off kidnappers won’t necessarily stop them. Why? Because adrenaline inside kidnappers numbs pain, not to mention any drugs or alcohol in their systems. Remember, a kidnapper’s MAIN goal at hello — in the first location — is to MOVE children (by enticing or snatching them) to a second, deserted place where they feel comfortable. It is this “second location” where all the damage is done. So where is the safest place to be? The first place. Now go tell your children. By John Hall

Closing my eyes, I can feel the cold concrete under my toes and sweat dripping from my forehead in my first Karate class back in 1972. So I could relate to the call from a Sensei, “I taught a stranger danger school assembly and unintentionally scared them. Parents are pulling their children out of my Little Tigers program”. A few months later we entertained 800 students in one day, and everyone is happy… Teaching tough subjects isn’t easy and I have spent 19 years figuring it out, so you don’t have too.

Picture a group of protesters, why do they sit on the ground? Because it is a lot harder and frustrating for the police to move them. After all, a protest isn’t called a “stand in”, it’s called a “sit in”. Or think about the worst-case scenario fire training if our clothes catch on fire. The longer we stay on our feet, the more we’ll burn. But don’t misunderstand, of course we should try to run away if we can, but what if your child’s a step away from his backseat? Research shows if you can delay kidnappers, chances are they will let go and move on because they have lost control. By John Hall

If you ask most kidnappers or child molesters, “What’s an important abduction secret you don’t want my kids to learn?” I bet they’d say: “Never let us MOVE your kids from the FIRST PLACE we approach them… No matter HOW nice we act, look or sound (It’s not what you say, but how you say it). Why? “Because we want your children to feel safe in the first place. We don’t want them to think we are ‘strange’ or seem ‘bad’ so it’s easy to move them to deserted locations.” By John Hall

Maybe not… But if you show your students (age 5+) Grip, Dip & Spin™ even though they can’t grasp why they should learn it (young kids can’t process adult motives) and “play” Grip, Dip & Spin™, then over time it becomes instinctive. So God forbide down the road, if your students face a kidnapper, odds are they can escape without any hesitation because Grip, Dip & Spin™ moves are stuck in their subconscious minds forever. By John Hall

I did not develop Grip, Dip & Spin™ out of fear. I am not a worry-wort or hover like a “helicopter parent”; and I don’t ever want to unnecessarily alarm kids. Statistically, “only” around 115 children in the United States are murdered by the “stereotypical” kidnapper (unknown to them, holds them overnight, moves them 50+ miles). But about 58,200 children are “only” molested by non-family kidnappers (unknown and/or acquaintance, holds them for several hours). Whatever the stats, one child is one to many. By John Hall

Master Brad Ryan, a Kung Fu disciple, full-time professional martial arts teacher, researcher and author is passionate about KID ESCAPE. From the moment he saw John Hall on Montel Williams, he promised himself he was going to do this as another way to serve the kids and parents of his community. His love for teaching kids and his compassion for life was a perfect fit to choose to get certified in KID ESCAPE. Master Ryan has been serving Houston for many years in community outreach, schools, churches, Girl or Boy Scout troops. Contact Master Brad at staff@martialarts4katy.com or 281-492-0090.