Four Elements of Self-Defense

While teaching grappling and use of force classes over the past few years, I have been asked many times “What is the best martial art to train for self-defense?”  While I would not consider myself close to being an expert of any martial art, or in self-defense in general, when teaching such classes you are expected to have the answers or be able to direct the student in the right direction. 

In order to answer such a question, I really needed to examine what I believe, what I have been taught and what I have experienced.  Having attended many training courses covering topics of the like and utilizing the information from them, I have answered the question with four elements of self-defense.  I realize that even situation is dynamic and unique, there can be some commonalities in many situations that can be addressed.

Please recognize that the information is mainly about physical assault not involving firearms, home invasions, and other off-beat occurrences that could happen.  The topics here are to illicit an open discussion about the topic and so we all could benefit.

Element I: Avoidance

The best way to get out of a situation that may require you to be worried about your personal safety is to avoid the situation completely.   When I speak about the avoidance elementl I often refer to my Jiu Jitsu instructor’s, Kevin Jones, reply when I asked him how to get out of a certain submission.   He simply said, “Don’t get in it.”  The same can be said for self-defense situations, avoiding the situations is often times the best solution.

I grew up in a blue collar railroad town that was known for the fist fights and copious assaults that would take place.  However, in this town, and probably like most towns, the majority of the assaults took place when alcohol was involved.  Therefore to decrease the likelihood of being involved in a situation where you may need to defend yourself, avoid places where the majority of assaults happen such as bars, nightclubs, and other places alcohol is served. 

It is clear that alcohol, mainly alcohol abuse, plays a significant role in assaults.  In a 2006 FBI report of violent assaults on law enforcement officers, 81 percent of participating offenders that assaulted an officer reportedly drank at least once a week.   (Keep in mind that these numbers also include assault with deadly weapons as well.)

Element II: Awareness

Because I realize that assaults do happen in the strangest of places such as the dog park, the McDonald’s drive-through line, little league games, and so on, and because I realize that we must live our lives, there is more to being safe than just avoiding the environment. 

First, be aware of who is around you.  If you find yourself in a bar, dog park, or wherever, scan the area to make sure there isn’t anyone that poses a threat to you or may be looking to cause trouble.  If you feel unsure about an individual or group of individuals, I would suggest that it is best to trust your instincts and find a different place to spend your time.

Secondly, when you find yourself in a situation and you feel the need to protect yourself, being aware of certain tendencies and gestures can forewarn you of what is about to happen.  They are commonly known as pre-assault indicators.  The human body is often giving off signs that can give you clues to what someone is thinking.  Non-verbal communication leaks from the body constiantly and can be obvious if you know what to look for.  Knowing these indicators can and have saved people’s lives. Here are a few easy ones to remember:

• Grooming.  If the threatening subject begins to touch his face, hair, or chin it is because of the stress of his future actions.  The most common grooming I have seen is the touching of the chin as if they were combing their goatee, or adjusting the clothing (pulling up on the pants, taking off the a hat, ect.).

• Fake Yawn.  

• Bladed Stance.

• Contacts with associates.  If the subject is with a group, the subject will often speak to his friends or gesture to them prior to acting.

• Scanning.  Many times a subject will scan the area or look over his shoulder to ensure no authority is around or to be certain that you are alone.  Or he may be scanning you up and down.

This video is from a Tru TV show, which makes me question the authenticity of the video.  However the punches look hard on the ground so we'll call it legit for now. See if you can spot a couple of the pre assault indicators.

For those of you that may be interested in ways of increasing your awareness, Roy Harris has written a great amount on developing awareness that can be found at http://www.royharris.com/tag/awareness  .

Element III:  Anticipation

If you are not able to avoid the situation or are not aware of your surroundings enough to leave prior to the incident, but you have seen and witnessed a pre-assault indicator (or even if you have not), anticipate the assault happening.  Anticipating the incident can help you prepare for what is about to happen.  However, you must be careful not to confuse anticipation with instigating. 

In a world of video cameras and a lawsuit happy public, your appearance could be very important.  I would pose this solution that was given to me by Tony Blauer a few years back while attending a S.P.E.A.R. training.  The most important thing in a fight is to protect yourself.  If you have been in a gym I am sure you have heard numerous times “keep your hands up!”  But throwing your hands up in a tense situation with your fist balled up can escalate the situation when there may still be a way to avoid the whole thing. 

Many times in a heated discussion people will have their hands down at their sides and face leaning forward in an alpha male way of invading the other’s space.  This is natural.  I will ask you to avoid nature and keep your wits about you and do what is safe.  Avoid leaving your hands at your side.  If a fight is going to happen having your hand low could be a costly mistake.  Instead I want you to raise your hands so your fingers are at about nose level and palms facing the subject in a non-aggressive posture with the head slightly leaning back and make sure your hands are closer to your face than the subject’s.  Make sure to speak calmly and softly.  Remember that the idea is to avoid this entire situation if possible.   Keep your weight on your toes with your strong foot back.  Although we don’t want this fight to happen we can’t be caught with our weight on our heels.

This stance can accomplish multiple things.  First, it could possibly defuse the situation by relaying to the subject that fighting is not what you want to do.  Secondly, this posture is not an aggressive posture and if there are witnesses and/or cameras, this is normally seen as self-defense.  Thirdly, by assuming this stance you are putting yourself in a position to best defend yourself from a haymaker punch and you are only a few short movements to a full-on fighting stance.

Since learning this nice little stance I have been teaching it to students that have inquired about such things and I have been told more than once that this stance has either saved them from a fight or saved them from getting punched. 

WE SHOULD ANTICIPATE THE FIGHT, NOT INSTIGATE THE FIGHT.

Along with the above a big portion of anticipation is running mental senarios in your head from time to time asking your self, “What would I do if (fill in the black) happened right now?”  Einstien used what he termed “thought experiments” which eventually lead to the Theory of Reativity.  Using  your own “thought experements”,like posing that question, can help provide a mental road map of and pepare your mental state for the incidents that may occur. 

Element IV:  Ability

Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting, but never hit soft.

- Theodore Roosevelt-

This is the element where the fight is on.  From this point our skill, training, and conditioning will play a factor.  This is the element where the art you chose to study and will matter. However, I would like to suggest that just because you study an art doesn’t mean that you are prepared for a street fight.  If you are not training for a street fight you may not be prepared for a street fight.  I can assure you that there are no advantage points when things get serious. 

If I have learned anything over the past decade it is that training is specific.  If self-defense is the primary concern for training an art, I feel that it’s important for you to relay that to your instructor so he can address your needs as well as others.  Bad habits ,or training scars, can be formed if you are not training how you plan to fight.  A good example of training scars can be illistrated by an incedent that occurred during a training session.  While conducting use of force senarios an officer in the class pulled guard when the senario became physical (probably not the best idea in the Arizona desert).  I am not saying it’s wrong but I don’t believe that training to be under a man that is seriously trying to hurt or kill you is the best solution to that type of problem. 

Although I’m not the foremost authority of the subject I feel that the points made above are worth considering.  I hope this has helped some with and has ignited questions and concerns.  Thanks for taking the time.

I would love to hear any comments about this.  Perhaps there are things or elements that don’t fit into these categories that I have not thought of. 

Jerome
www.fightlogs.com