It’s rare to find both practical self defense skills and emergency thinking tips presented in a rock’em-sock’em, adrenaline-pumping format. Last Tuesday night my husband and I happily discovered a new TV series that does just that: Surviving Disaster on Spike TV.
Series host and former US Navy SEAL Cade Courtley speaks to his viewing audience, clueing them in to advice, pitfalls, and strategy. Then he plays out his plan of action in a realistic simulation of disaster that leaves you riveted to the screen.
Image © Spike TV
In the series opener, terrorists hijack the plane carrying Courtley and his fellow passengers. Taking charge, the former SEAL leads his quickly assembled team of passengers through key survival steps they need to take to wrestle back control of the plane. They must perform their plan before hijackers dive the plane into the ground or US fighter jets shoot them down.
Courtley takes his audience along in Man vs. Wild style — sweat and all.
Because the show teaches survival skills anyone can perform, I give it a huge Think Like a Black Belt Thumbs Up.
Here’s why the show is a winner:
Empowering
Courtley doesn’t get bogged down in details or overload the audience with structured rules. He points out potentially deadly mistakes and gives enough information to steer someone through the survival process. After a few minutes watching, you will start thinking, “Hey, I could do that if I had to.”
Coolness factor
In the first episode, you learn:
- Why you don’t take action too early in a hijacking
- How to create a simple distraction technique
- How to pick the right passenger to fly the plane
- How to treat a “sucking chest wound”
- Why you want to memorize the radio frequency 121.5
Oh yeah, and:
- How to land a large jet
Plus, the show is laced with cut away interviews with people you sit up and listen to — the general who can order an American passenger plane shot down and a Miracle on the Hudson survivor.
It doesn’t get more cool.
Self defense
I enjoyed Coutley’s advice on taking out the hijackers, who in this case are armed with deadly sharp, non-metal knives. He advises:
- Use a cushion or computer bag as a bit of improvised body armor to fend off the blade
- Move in teams of two so people don’t get in each other’s way
- When attacking, use yells to pump up the adrenaline and psych yourself and others up
- Attack the throat as the primary striking area with any improvised weapon or with the fist
- Include gagging, blindfolding, and hog-tying to effectively restrain and incapacitate subdued hijackers
The true-to-life and gritty scenario, along with Courtley’s compelling and motivating delivery, applies a strong dose of survival knowledge in an exciting hour of television. Watching it, like reading this blog, can save your life. Remember –people with even a small sense of control over their situation perform better that those who believe they have no control. When you realize you have options, you are enabled to take more effective action.
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Thank you for visiting and learning about self defense.
If you think others can benefit, please pass it on!
Lori Hoeck
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
We had two very similar programmes over here in the U.K. Both by the same guy; former SAS soldier Chris Ryan.
The shows were called: How Not to Die and Terror Alert: Could You Survive.
The former dealt with violent muggings, burglaries, that sort of thing. The latter was about disasters such as nuclear attacks, flooding and, I believe, a plane hi-jacking.
Very riveting, very empowering. I just wish there were more shows like it.
Hi Marc,
“How Not to Die” — great title.
I agree, more shows and resource materials need to be out there!
The Show’s not bad for cable TV.
It’s definitely 10 pounds of info in a 5 pound bag, and takes the rewind button to sort it all.
Good information and inspires folks to examine personal security, and risk strip their environment for safe solutions!