Here is a bold statement; self defense is not rocket science. In its most simple form it should be a natural flow of simple yet devastating strikes and movements. No matter what you hear from the up-teen million experts on the subject it breaks down very simply. Protect your life at all cost necessary, using the most devastating forms of hand to hand that you can. You can dress it up however you would like but that is what it takes to protect you and yours! It would be nice if we had 10 years to train in Kung Fu and a red pill to take to become a combination of Bruce Lee and Neo from the Matrix easily rendering our aggressor harmless while gliding through the air. However, that is not reality, and it never will be, no matter who you are.
Violent encounters require that you flip a switch and become someone else for 3-5 seconds (with trained aggressors and it could be 15-30 seconds). You must now become the conqueror, a warrior that does not accept defeat. Here is a good mental note to take with you in your training. Whenever you go for your self defense training, go into it with a gladiator’s mindset. This means you must train with intensity! When you go through a mock attack (it is a must to find an instructor that trains in this manor) go through it like you are really being attacked. This will allow you to, essentially, download this info to your hard-drive. So if the worst case scenario did happen you are prepared.
Students should be taught that when your aggressor is determined you use an “offensive” defense to control the attacker. You do this by understanding the biological giveaways from the aggressor that are always presented to us before an attack. Such as: clinched jaw, clinched fist, overall body posture, close of distance, verbal aggression and so on. Once you determine these signals you unleash preemptively with a barrage of debilitating strikes. This next point is vital; a violent attack must be met with a violent response greater than what was delivered by your attacker. This will ensure that your attacker knows you have a “do not go gently” policy and in fact you have turned the tables and you are now the aggressor. This is psychologically defeating for the attacker.
Here is a simple formula the author created to take with you in life: The A.D.D. formula. This was developed for easy processing of external situations in our environment. It is as follows: (A) Avoid all potential compromising situations. Be aware of your surroundings. (D) Dissuade any potential aggressor with proper life skills using such techniques as verbal commands and body language. (D) Decimate your aggressor with devastating strikes.
Remember this: there is no cheating when it comes to life or death, so when the time has come for you to engage, give it everything you have. Find an instructor that teaches this mantra. One who teaches to manipulate the body’s vulnerable areas such as, the eyes, ears, throat, neck, groin, etc., as their basis in what they teach, and when you do, train like you mean it!
Core Principles in self defense that are a must:
• Avoid injury – You can not protect you or others when you are injured
• Do not place yourself in compromising situations
• Determine your aggressor by biological giveaways
• Once aggressor is determined use an offensive defense principle (strike first)
• Use natural movements of body
• Use the most devastating techniques to the vulnerable areas of your attacker
• When attacked be the conqueror – Have a warriors mindset
When you were deciding what you wanted to do in life you more than likely prepared yourself for it. Whether it was College, self education, finding a mentor, you prepared yourself for the future. Take this same life principle and apply it to your education in self defense. You will be surprised how little time it takes for you to protect your most valuable asset.
Expect the best in life but be prepared for the unexpected!
