A one page quick breakdown of Marc MacYoung's Pyramid of Personal Safety. The Pyramid provides the blocks of defense between you and violence. Once you understand and can identify the Five Stages, they are countered with the Pyramid.

1. Pyramid of Personal Safety*
Crime is a process; it has both a goal and easily identifiable stages. What you “think” you know about
crime will kill you. Think of it this way; if you where to drive to a friends house, there are many routes
to your destination but as you get closer the more you have to turn or go straight at certain points.
Crime happens in a similar vein, there are things that he has to do before he can commit the crime.
The inherent beauty of the Five Stages system is that it gives you an external way to evaluate and check
someone's behavior. Any one element could be misinterpreted or explained away but all the elements
will NEVER happen accidentally. Once you are aware of the Five Stages, they are countered with the
Pyramid of Personal Safety.
•If it gets to here, the situation has been forced and
you are justified to do what it takes to stop him.
•Being assertive, not aggressive. Communicating
that you are aware of the situation and are
committed to defending yourself.
•Includes not only the obvious meanings of these
terms but also the knowledge of how you think and
how you come across.
•Identifying the potentially criminal act before it is
too late and positioning yourself away from the
situation.
•A blend between habits and knowledge; how a
crime really happens and the habits to forewarn you
of potential danger areas.
•Repetitive daily actions taken to ensure your safety,
not difficult and become habitual within a few
weeks.
•Things you do once and walk-away from, security
measures that serve as both deterrent and
safeguards.
The foundation level of the pyramid is the
knowledge and understanding of how criminals really operate and how a crime actually happens. This
is the most basic level and the most important, without this level the rest of the pyramid with not be as
affective.
The best way to apply this pyramid is to start at the bottom of the pyramid and work your way upward.
If you applied pieces of the pyramid, your defenses would have wholes that would allow a criminal to
invade your life. Do not let one class or one book make you believe that you have all the skills to be
safe in any situation.
* Pyramid of Personal Safety is copyrighted by Marc MacYoung and can be found on his website,
www.nononsenseselfdefense.com and in his book “Safe in the City” from Paladin Press. Used by
permission.