The Value of Cross Training

Gershon Ben Keren

Mon 24th Jun 2019

I’ve always cross trained, and I believe this is essential, not because of what a system may be lacking in, but so that we can better understand our own system, and its approach to self-defense and fighting, even if it only confirms what we already knew/believed. I once did a security review for a company, where there were only a few minor suggestions I had regarding the processes they already had in place. After a presentation, detailing and explaining my findings, conclusions and recommendations, one manager seemed disappointed that I didn’t have more suggestions and proposals for them – my...Click To Read More

The 5-Step Predator Process Explained

Gershon Ben Keren

Mon 17th Jun 2019

About 15 years ago, I developed a framework for my corporate clients, expressing how certain premeditated acts of violence and crime are committed; I termed it the 5-step predator process (the title being influenced by similar work that was being undertaken by criminologists at the time around the stages of grooming that pedophiles take their targeted victims through) – I wrote briefly about it in this blog around 6 years ago. It’s a simple model that suggests that when looking retrospectively at certain crimes, those that commit them follow a certain sequence, some of which is conscious and some of...Click To Read More

Fear of the Dark

Gershon Ben Keren

Mon 10th Jun 2019

I recently read an article which stated that criminals like the dark, as it hides their actions, and gives them an advantage etc. At first glance this seems reasonable, and a lot of violent crimes do take place at night, however much of this is down to availability of suitable victims, and the routine activities that many violent criminals engage in, rather than the dark per se e.g. it’s not so much that criminals like the dark, but rather that their activities are engaged in during those hours because circumstances are favorable etc. In the winter months in Boston, more...Click To Read More

Attribution Errors & Biases

Gershon Ben Keren

Mon 3rd Jun 2019

We like to think of ourselves as “fair” people e.g. when we make judgements concerning the actions and behaviors of others we do so from a neutral position, considering and weighing up all the factors at play in an unbiased manner. We often believe we are being fair and accurate even when we don’t really have enough information at hand to inform our position - when we lack a context we will imagine/create one, as our brains abhor a vacuum. This can result in us making inaccurate judgments concerning things we have witnessed and even blame people for not acting...Click To Read More