There are about seven billion self defense videos, ebooks, and journals available on line. Most people seem to think that they are, by and large, a waste of time. As with most things, most people are wrong. There are self defense products that are illegitimate or ineffective, true -- but for someone willing to do a little bit of research, there are plenty of high-quality self defense videos out there. And when the time comes, trust me when I say, you'll be grateful you invested in one.

Credentials

The first thing you need to look at when purchasing a self defense video are the credentials of the teacher. There are several unscrupulous people out there who claim to have military or martial arts backgrounds that simply don't exist. Step one: Google your would-be authority and make sure he's legit. There are several websites that specialize in uncovering fakes and several more that rate self defense videos and DVDs. Even Amazon's feedback system can give you a startling amount of insight.

Realism

The second thing to look for in a self defense video course is reasonable claims. Anyone claiming to turn you into a street fighter overnight or claiming to teach you how to defend yourself from a knife with your bare hands is lying. Now, this requires a bit more caution, because some claims can be true while seeming outrageous, but by and large, if it doesn't tell you up front that you're going to have to WORK in order to achieve real self-defense training, it's not real.

A second aspect of realism is the way in which the self defense videos you're looking at approach the concept of self defense. If your product teaches that fighting is the number one option when it comes to protecting yourself, you're looking at a testosterone-laden deathtrap, not a legitimate self defense video. Self defense starts with avoiding danger, moves to de-escalation, then to escape, and only then does it rely on violence. Granted, when the violence comes, you need to know exactly what to do and be unafraid to do it, and any self defense videos worth watching will teach that part in depth -- but it shouldn't be the only thing you're offered.

Customization

Not all self defense videos are made for everybody. A four foot ten inch lady probably won't get much benefit from watching a Krav Maga video, and a six foot eight college basketball star won't really learn much watching a tiny Pencak Silat practitioner get inside an enemy's weapon and bust him up. The various self defense videos all require different levels of fitness, athleticism, focus, and investment. Be sure you know what you're getting into before you get started, and you'll end up with what you need.

Remember: self defense videos are an investment in not just your well-being, but your physical safety, so don't accept anything less than what is perfect for you.