As someone who enjoys traveling, but rarely does, it’s easy to assume that the concepts and techniques we have trained here in Vancouver, Canada, translate to wherever we are visiting. However, if you look closely, you may notice that there are actually significant differences in what is considered acceptable from one country or culture to another that would change how you act in many self-defence scenarios. This is very easy to forget, and something I only briefly looked into before my recent trip to Japan.
When you’re in a foreign country, you never know what kind of situation you might find yourself in. It’s always better to be prepared and know how to avoid these situations so that you are able to protect yourself and not be caught off guard.
Research Your Destination
When I travel, especially to a foreign country, I am make it a habit to research the destination beforehand. Not only do I want to know about the culture and customs, but also any potential safety concerns I should be aware of. Here are a few relevant bits of information worth looking at when researching a given destination:
Crime Statistics
One of the first things you can do is check the crime statistics for the area you’ll be visiting. Start by looking up the crime rate for the city or region you’ll be staying in. I have found NUMBEO to be a good option for this, as they offer comparisons of user ratings of perceived crime, healthcare, pollution, etc.. Now, before I go further, no, this is not the most accurate source of crime statistics, but it is a highly user-friendly option that gives you a reasonable idea of what you might be walking into. For my trip to Tokyo, Japan, we can see that it’s “Crime Index” is incredibly low with just 20.85/100; much lower than Vancouver’s 42.44/100.
Next, you should seek out more specific information about the types of crimes that are common in the area. For example, if you are traveling to a city where pickpocketing is common, make sure to take extra precautions to protect your belongings, such as a decoy wallet, leg safe, money belt, etc.. If there have been reports of violent crime, be extra vigilant when walking around at night. Or just don’t walk around at night at all.
In this case, almost every type of crime is lower in Tokyo than in Vancouver. But, since not all the possible types of crime at listed here, do a few Google searches just in case. When I did this, I found that pickpocketing is generally the main type of crime to be concerned about if you are a tourist in Tokyo. The level of violent crime is comparatively very low, as seen in the chart above.
Also, look up information about any areas of the city that should be avoided. This can be important in larger cities where crime rates can vary widely from one neighborhood to another. You wouldn’t want to stumble into the notorious Downtown Eastside as a tourist here in Vancouver. By knowing which areas to steer clear of, you can plan your itinerary accordingly and keep out yourself in risky situations from the start.
Overall, by staying alert and aware of your surroundings, you can help avoid dangerous situations. Basically, avoidance is king. But sometimes we can’t dodge ill-fated encounters. If something does go awry, it’s good to know what resources you have at your disposal.
Infrastructure
When it comes to city infrastructure, again, do your research. There are several aspects related to self-defence that you should consider. First, learn the emergency services number. Yeah, it’s not 911 everywhere… but I imagine that you knew that already. Beyond the obvious, it’s also worth looking up if the the emergency dispatch operators speak English (or another language you may know).
Additionally, in certain cities there may be specific infrastructure that could help you in self-defence. For example, in Japan there are unique safety structures called kōbans (交番), small, neighbourhood police stations for community-based policing. These kōbans are everywhere if you look for them, so if you find yourself in a situation where you are running or in need of assistance, knowing where the nearest one is can be a smart move. Attackers usually don’t want to follow their targets into police stations.
It’s also worth looking at how dense the CCTV coverage is in your destination. There are CCTV cameras EVERYWHERE in Tokyo. You can safely assume you are being filmed basically anywhere you go, unless you travel outside the city. This has both positive and negative implications. On one hand, it’s a good opportunity to “create positive witnesses” (ie. generate evidence that you didn’t start the conflict) and identifying perpetrators. But this same footage could make you look like the bad guy if the local standards judge that you used excessive force. However, depending on where you visit, these may be less of a factor to consider.
Overall, being aware of the city’s infrastructure by considering things like emergency response, safety structures, and the prevalence of CCTV cameras can contribute to how you act in a scenario. However, while these elements can assist in certain situations, it’s important to also be aware of at least some basic legal differences between your home location and the place you are visiting.
Know How the Local Laws Differ from Your Home Country
Now that you know how dangerous the area you are traveling to is, it’s time to see what you might need to do if a threating situation arises. Knowing the law on a basic level can help you avoid getting into trouble.
Most of the time, the legal research on a given country you choose to visit will trigger a shift in your self-defence training. Here’s an example of exactly what not to do. Japan actually has a legal self-defence tool called the yawara, which I know that I could probably legally use for self-defence purposes in the right circumstances. But I have zero experience with this tool, so how could suddenly introducing something that requires a great deal of training to master possibly be a good idea? That’s why it’s not really worth discussing adding weapons to your arsenal when traveling; if you aren’t already trained with them, it’s very unlikely you are going to learn how to effectively use one shortly before a trip.
Instead of introducing new techniques that require specific skills and training that you don’t have it makes more sense to take a restrictive approach. Meaning taking your existing skillset and cutting off the parts that don’t work so they fit into a new context. This also happens to be one of the very few benefits of living in a country like Canada; we have so many restrictions on practicing self-defence that there isn’t much left to cut off.
All this aside, I am obviously not a lawyer, so look up the specific self-defence laws wherever you are visiting, because you may find something worth knowing about. You can find this in penal codes, forums, or websites that discuss such topics. If you want the most accurate information, it’s probably a good idea to find a legal professional interpreting the exact penal code for you.
However, keep in mind that the courts don’t always follow the law perfectly. Sometimes the actual case law can differ from what is written. For instance, in Canada there are cases where some homeowners have been able to use weapons in self-defence without legal repercussions, while others in very similar situations have not. This is something you want to be very careful about. Nothing is guaranteed to go your way, even if on paper things look like they should.
Ultimately, preparing for self-defence when embarking on your next adventure abroad involves thorough research and understanding of the local culture, safety measures, and any important legal stuff in your destination. Being prepared and vigilant should be as much a part of your travel itinerary as sightseeing and experiencing the local culture. After all, self-defence should always be a priority, regardless of where your travels may take you.
Written by: Sean – UTKM Yellow Belt
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