| Contrary to what many online "experts" try to tell you | | | | conventional logic. But, I disagree. Paying attention to |
| when they're trying to sell you their latest, greatest self | | | | the types of punches, kicks, and even the way he |
| defense product - self defense is a very complex | | | | grabs, goes a long way toward using his own logic and |
| subject. There really is no one, single, killer technique | | | | strategy against him. Does he use light, quick, bouncy |
| that will work in every situation. Sorry. That's just the | | | | footwork and movement? Is he a quick jabber, or |
| way it is. | | | | does he favor big, slow, but powerful wind-up |
| But, that's not to say that you cannot master this | | | | punches? If your training is really designed around |
| complex subject and become an expert yourself. | | | | giving you strategic options for dealing with different |
| What it does mean is that you're going to have to | | | | types of "attacker-logic," and the attacks used by |
| shed your beliefs, illusions, and prior programming that's | | | | each, you'll be able to meet any attacker - dicipher the |
| causing you to look for that magic secret that will allow | | | | keys to winning - and do just that! |
| yo to avoid the time, effort, and expense of getting | | | | 3) Where are you? Location can often play an |
| good, solid, reliable knowledge and skill. | | | | important role in how you do what you do. Being |
| The inescapable fact is that, step-by-step, physical | | | | prepared for situations that are public and your every |
| techniques - while important - are only a small piece of | | | | move may be scrutinized, or get the attention of his |
| the formula for successful self defense in a real world | | | | friends - or those where you can take advantage of |
| attack situation. More than this, you will need to | | | | environmental aids like furniture, possible weapons, |
| develop some critical thinking abilities, and make sure | | | | natural barriers, and the like, is a major factor in |
| that you can recgnize and manage the variables that | | | | defending easily and with least anount of |
| exist which make every attack situation unique, in and | | | | wear-and-tear on you. |
| of itself. | | | | 4) Does he have back-up? You must remember that |
| Unlike the safe, controlled, and predictable training in the | | | | you're not in a sport contest. A self defense situation |
| martial arts dojo, or the self defense class, a brutal | | | | can begin one way and suddenly you can find yourself |
| attack on the street is marked by intense emotional | | | | in a very different mess. Always ask yourself: "Does |
| stress, confusion, and chaos. To be successful, you | | | | he have allies here, and if so, how can I resolve this |
| must be able to respond effectively to a wide variety | | | | without triggering their involvement?" And, if you can't |
| of attack situations. You must make sure that your | | | | do this, then you must be prepared with techniques, |
| training is diverse enough to prepare you for whatever | | | | tactics, and strategies that will allow you to |
| may come your way. | | | | successfully defend against multiple attackers. |
| As a place to begin your training in this area of | | | | 5) Is he armed? Just as with the question about allies, |
| strategic thinking, the following is a set of questions | | | | you must remember that, just because he is not |
| that, when answered clearly, will give you the keys to | | | | brandishing a weapon in the beginning, that one can |
| defeating him. They will also, when used as guides, | | | | come into play anywhere in the encounter. Either way, |
| allow you to take control of your training, and make | | | | if the answer to this question is "Yes," then we must |
| sure that you are as prepared as you think you are! | | | | answer the follow-up questions of "what type of |
| Strategic Thinking Questions For The Serious Self | | | | weapon," "how is he holding it," and others. |
| Defense Student | | | | 6) What policies laws, or regulations are you limited |
| 1) Why is he attacking you? Attack situations are not | | | | by? Do you have a job that has set policies and |
| all alike. The attacker's intention plays a huge part in | | | | guidelines for what you;re allowed to do? Generally |
| determining what you'll have to deal with, and whether | | | | speaking, the civilian defender only has to worry about |
| or not you can effectivelly prevent things from going | | | | the law of self defense. But, police officers, those |
| physical. Is this someone who's had too much to drink? | | | | working in mental facilities, and others have an |
| Is it an angry friend who is acting out of character. Or, | | | | extensive set of restrictions which govern their |
| is this a street attack, mugging, or workplace violence | | | | decision-making process when it comes to self |
| incident? | | | | protection. |
| 2) How is attacking? A punch is a punch, so says the | | | | |