Self Defense

Self Defense
If awareness of a situation passes one by so that avoidance and evasion are no longer options; one must act to survive. How does one defend against an attack? A number of different possibilities enter the picture. Choices made before the attack now come into play. One main choice involves training. For now examine physical unarmed engagement of the opponent. That action can be separated into four parts, or as Grandmaster Villari states, four ways of fighting. Striking, kicking, trapping or grappling, and felling represent the choices now available. (Grand Master Fred Villari)

Striking involves the use of body parts above the waist, while kicks involve using body parts below the waist. It represents an easy way to divide up response types, while not getting into a semantic thought circle. Holding, seizing, and locking define trapping. The same moves also define grappling. Location provides the distinction; one stands while trapping, and remains prone or semi-prone while grappling.

The most suitable of the four, for the beginner, are striking and kicking. These do not require any excess training to improve. These techniques also build fundamental skills that allow a person to learn advanced techniques. Hit the opponent hard and hit them where that strike affects the opponent most. When someone attacks a person, the attacker does not want to make nice with the defender. The attacker wants something; this could be money, jewelry, etc. If the attacker wants power, control, revenge, or to victimize the defender; the situation now changes.

One may not have the time or inclination to delve within the opponent’s psyche, childhood, or adolescence. The defender’s job requires the defender to use all means necessary to make the attacker stop. Do not “wing it,” please train in an art that provides one with the ability to affect the attack. One’s main goal remains survival. If survival means talking to an attacker and living, then do so. If survival means restraining an opponent with techniques designed to do so, then do so. If survival means an all out concerted effort that takes the opponent and injures the attacker or even worse, then do what you must to survive. As with all things, there are consequences to one’s actions. Those consequences vary by country, state, locality, circumstance, and training. But for right now lets focus on the attack and its immediate response.

The immediate response remains to act; not to be cunning or to have some response that equates do a then b with c. Self defense demands solid technique and practice, but that practice allows the practitioner to be their best. This statement comes from one of my teachers Ruth, “Don’t think, do. Don’t do, be.” This post will be the first and not the last concerning this subject.

Evasion

Self Defense and Evasion
To evade, escape, get away or run all become viable options, when an opponent makes it impossible to avoid a situation. The possibility of evasion manifests itself differently, depending upon the situation. One can use their wits to evade a situation. But in most self defense situations, one must evade the use of physical force. An attacker may attempt to strike, kick, restrain, harm, or kill. Preparation, training, the physical and mental environment provide options of evasion. Evasion starts with recognizing that something must be done, to ensure one’s survival.

A few things must happen for evasion to be a suitable option. The situation tends to deteriorate between one and a possible attacker. This deterioration can occur quickly or slowly, again depending on circumstances. If escalation between two people occurs in a public or private place, it may occur slowly or quickly. This can happen over a conversation, argument, or any type of disagreement. Or the deterioration can happen, when an attacker attempts to attack quickly, when one becomes unaware of physical and mental surroundings.

The opponent must decide to carry out the attack mentally. This can be done from a planning stage. A robber or mugger stands out as an individual that decided to attack.
The person with “beer muscles” also stands out as this type of opponent. The “beer muscled” individual develops a plan as well. The only two differences are that one may be a professional and the other may act as an amateur and filled with liquid courage. The injuries that the attacker may provide should motivate one to train and train hard.

A fire drill and “stop, drop, and roll” give a real live example of evasion planning. A fire now resides on one and one must act to remove it. Drills assist one in effective survival. If an attack starts, then use resources in the environment to escape. A tipped chair or other object between one and the attacker may provide breathing and thinking room. Then get to a door and close it. Locked doors provide more breathing room and may end the attack, if the attacker is not persistent. Do not look to engage the attacker, look for escape options. Hopefully this small reference provides a way to think about the subject.