We sat down with local personal safety expert Robert Webre, owner of Silverback Self Defense. Read on as he tackles common misconceptions, reveals crucial skills, and details the common mistakes to avoid when it comes to self-defense and personal safety.
What are the most important self-defense principles every person should know?
Awareness is the foundation of self-defense. Most dangerous situations give warning signs before they ever become physical, but people are too distracted to notice. Cell phones, headphones, and being mentally checked out in public make people vulnerable.
We teach people to recognize risk early, avoid being selected as a target, use verbal de-escalation when possible, and take action only as a last resort. Distance, positioning, and decisiveness matter far more than complicated techniques.
What are the most common misconceptions people have about self-defense?
One of the biggest is; "I never thought it would happen to me." Another is the idea of "stranger danger." In reality, most victims know their attacker in some capacity before an incident occurs.
People also think self-defense is about fighting ability, strength, or flashy techniques. It's not. Effective self-defense is about awareness, confidence, boundaries, and decision-making under stress — knowing how to respond early before a situation escalates.
Which self-defense strategies are most effective for women, teens, and older adults?
As mentioned earlier, staying off your phone and being present are among the most impactful things a person can do. Move with confidence and purpose, understand basic boundary setting and de-escalation, and where appropriate and legal, carry a personal protection product.
If a situation becomes physical, know simple, high-percentage techniques that are easy to recall under stress. Training should be ongoing when possible — repetition builds confidence, awareness, and muscle memory. At a minimum, seek training at different life stages as risks and environments change.
What should someone look for when choosing a self-defense class or instructor?
Understand the instructor's background, experience, and approach. Not all programs are the same, and training for a child dealing with bullying should look very different from training for a teenager heading to college, a woman living alone, or an older adult.
A good instructor teaches awareness, avoidance, de-escalation, and practical physical skills in a realistic, safe environment. Ongoing training provides the greatest long-term benefit. Private training is an excellent alternative when ongoing classes aren't possible — it allows for individualized instruction tailored specifically to your lifestyle, schedule, and personal concerns, and can cover more ground in less time. We offer private sessions for individuals, families, and groups, as well as corporate training for organizations looking to invest in the safety and awareness of their team. Seminars are also a practical option for foundational exposure to awareness, avoidance, and basic defensive skills.
In a real-life confrontation, what are the most common mistakes people make — and how can they avoid them?
The most common mistake is missing or dismissing early warning signs. People ignore their instincts because they don't want to seem rude or overreact — and that hesitation can be costly.
Distraction is another major factor. Predators look for people who appear unaware, isolated, or mentally checked out. The other critical mistake is freezing when action is needed. That reaction is normal, which is why training matters. Make the decision ahead of time: if forced into a situation, respond aggressively enough to create an opportunity to escape. Mindset and willingness to fight to get away can dramatically impact the outcome.
Anything specific you want readers to know?
Most people don't think about personal safety until something happens - and by then, it's too late to prepare. Personal safety should be viewed as part of overall life preparedness. We encourage parents to treat it like teaching kids to drive or manage finances - practical skills that prepare them for the real world.
Parents especially need to understand that teens face peer pressure, dating situations, and online dangers that previous generations simply didn't. Social media introduces risks that didn't exist a generation ago, from predatory behavior and grooming to dangerous challenges and cyberbullying that can escalate into real-world situations. Taking an active role in their child's safety education is one of the most important things a parent can do.
Self-defense training should evolve throughout a person’s life because the risks change at every stage. Children may face bullying and need the knowledge and skills to protect themselves and respond appropriately. Young adults face the risks that come with increased independence, social media, dating, and college life and need the knowledge and skills to protect themselves as they navigate new environments. Older adults are often targeted for scams, theft, and physical crimes due to perceived vulnerability. At every stage of life, people benefit from having the knowledge and skills to protect themselves and move through the world with greater awareness and confidence.