Many people seem to think of martial arts primarily in terms of physical fighting skills. While we should not hold romanticised or otherwise unrealistic views about martial arts, it has to be said that traditional martial arts often aimed at developing the student in much broader ways than just physical capability. If two opposing forces are equally matched in physical and circumstantial terms, who is at the greater advantage? Likely, the side that has more strategic or intellectual capability. There is a place for strategists and tacticians—and an important one, at that.
When we consider martial arts for self-defence purposes, we should think of far more than just physical capability. Self-defence can involve protecting yourself (and your loved ones) from non-physical forms of assault or crime, and one important aspect these days is to protect your personal information. Issues such as privacy and confidentiality are critically important, particularly where compromises in information can lead to threats to your physical safety, financial security, or other essential aspects of your life.
Ray Shaw at Cybershack has recently published some advice on protecting yourself from cybercriminals and criminal gangs. I would highly recommend that you read through his article. Even if you think you live in a fairly safe area, it is good practice to be aware of what is happening around your home, and of common strategies that criminals use to find out more about you—and how best to rob or otherwise harm you. Better to stay alert, live wisely, and try to prevent or avoid trouble, than to have to recover from a dangerous situation. As the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure.”