Guard Up! Let Someone Know Where You Are: A Simple Self-Defense Strategy
Grand Master Evan R. Henry explains how sharing your location, checking in with loved ones and using smartphone safety tools can help protect you when the unexpected happens.
Why Sharing Where You Are Is Self-Defense
A Woman I Will Never Forget
Years ago, before I founded New Creation Taekwondo, I was serving as an assistant pastor at a church in Paterson, New Jersey. One day, a woman ran through our doors. Her clothes were ripped. She was dirty. She was terrified. And she was asking for help. The women of the church took her in, comforted her, and got her to the hospital. Here is what we learned. She had gone on a blind date. She had not told a single soul where she was going or who she was meeting. That man held her for weeks. Days went by before anyone in her life even realized she was missing.
Her words have never left me.
“I didn’t tell anyone where I was going. I didn’t let anyone know where I was to even look for me.”
After the hospital, the women of that church came to me and asked me to teach them how to defend themselves. They realized they never thought of learning to defend themselves or take it seriously until they saw a real-life situation bust into the church. Learning self-defense is not a luxury; it is a responsibility. I'll say it again. If nobody knows where you are, nobody can come find you.
Silent Movement Is Dangerous Movement
I don't care how strong you are. If you go somewhere and don't tell a soul, and something happens, the clock starts against you from the second no one hears from you, and no one knows where to look. The woman in Paterson was strong. She survived what nobody should ever go through. But being strong is not the same as being found. She lived. Others don't. Self-defense is not just about how you handle a fight. It is about how fast the people who love you can get to you.
This Is Not Paranoia. This Is Wisdom.
Some people think checking in with family is childish. That's ego talking, and ego gets people hurt. The people I know who move with the most confidence have the tightest check-in habits. Letting people know where you are is not weakness. It is your safety net.
Who Should Know
For most of us, this is three or four people. A spouse or partner. A parent or a grown child. A best friend who has your number saved and would notice if you didn't answer. Pick your people. Tell them they are your people. Then use them.
What They Should Know
Where you're going. When you'll be back. Who you're with if it's someone new. If plans change, they get a text. Not a novel. Ran late, home at eleven now. Left the party, headed home. Ten seconds. That is all it takes.
Use the Tools You Already Have
The phone in your pocket shares your location. Built in. Free. Five minutes to set up. iPhone users have the Find My app. Android users have Google Maps location sharing. Then you have Life360, which works across both platforms. None of these tools replace a phone call. But they close the gap between something going wrong and someone knowing where to look for you.
Meeting Someone New
Blind date. Dating app first meet. Business partner you just connected with. Anybody you don't already know. Tell somebody. Send the address. Send the name. Set a check-in time. If they don't hear from you by that time, they'll call and then come to your location. This is the exact lesson that woman in Paterson paid for. Do not make her lesson be for nothing. It is ok to let people know where you are going for your protection. My family always has my location even though I am a taekwondo grand master. Safety First!
Reflection
If something happened to you right now, how long would it take before someone knew you were missing? If the answer is more than a few hours, tighten up your check-in circle this week.
Guard up!
For Speaking, Seminars, or Self-Defense Training Contact: Grand Master Evan R. Henry
Founder, New Creation Taekwondo • Senior Pastor, Infinite Hope Global
Bachelor's Degree in Pastoral Leadership, Newburgh Theological Seminary
Follow @TheGrandMasterPastor on TikTok
NCT Business: (848) 217-2202
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