Combat-style training makes him feel safer

“I work with a trainer on reality-based self-defense. It’s not for competition or anything like that. It’s more about being prepared for what you might face out there on the streets. I just think the world is getting crazier and crazier. You never know what kind of situation you might find yourself in. So you need to be prepared both physically and mentally.

“We do combat-style training using things like submissions and jiu-jitsu. We train with knives, bats and all that good stuff. We also do stick fighting. People talk about carrying concealed weapons. But what if you don’t have your gun with you one time, and you’re attacked while walking in the park? If you can quickly find a stick or something else, at least you’ll know how to use it. And it’s not only for you. What if you had your daughter with you, and they were trying to abduct her or something? You’re going to do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“It’s not like you’re out there looking to fight someone, though. You want to de-escalate situations whenever possible. You don’t want to get hurt. But as somebody who knows how to fight, and knows the damage you can do to someone else, you don’t want to see them get hurt if it’s not totally necessary.

“I think that knowing this kind of stuff increases your chances of survival. Maybe it’s just by 5%. But in a world of probabilities, that’s something.”

— Erick Ponce