SafeguardTM

Almost 800,000 individuals are reported missing in the United States each year. Of these, 85-90 percent are juveniles, equaling nearly 2000 missing children daily. Between 1997 and 2006, there was a 25% increase in crime reported by the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. In 1997, Santa Clarita Valley was listed as one of the top ten safest cities in the country. In 2006, Santa Clarita DID NOT even rank on the top 25 list. Currently, there are 172 registered sex offenders in the Santa Clarita Valley. This information is available to any parent on the Megan’s Law website. The numbers are listed by zip code, so you can find out how many registered sex offenders are living in your neighborhood. This research gives parents necessary information so that they can make informed decisions about protecting their children. This is a call to action for parents in any growing city. As parents, we can no longer be complacent. We need to give our children the tools to empower themselves.

Safeguard™, a program offered exclusively at Shin’s Martial Fitness Center™, was developed specifically to address two important issues. The first is the issue of child abduction. Throughout the curriculum, the child is introduced to the most common lures and tricks used by child predators and taught how to respond appropriately. This program incorporates real life scenarios where children learn to react instinctively to an adult attacker. The instructors wear fight suits so that the child can fight back effectively if they ever face a child predator. The lights are extinguished to simulate attacks in the dark. Besides various physical responses, Safeguard™ stresses the importance of awareness, intuition and instincts as the greatest weapons for personal safety. This program is necessary for both boys and girls. The second issue Safeguard™ addresses is the ever growing problem of bullying in the schools. From name calling to physical threats, the child is taught how to “talk” to bullies, how to avoid bad situations and if needed how to protect themselves. Please remember, knowledge IS NOT power, applied knowledge is power. Traditional martial arts are pretty but not practical. Accept NO substitutions. Safeguard™ kids are more confident, more informed and better prepared.