by Jeffrey M. Miller
Director
Warrior Concepts Int'l, Inc
Many women, including karate and so-called self-defense experts really don't know where to begin when it comes to mastering the ability for protecting yourself against a real-world street attacker. This article takes a look at the two-fold approach that I share with clients who are serious about winning a brutal attack.
To look at the conventional world of martial arts and self-defense instruction, the typical approach seems to be to just learn a bunch of preset, receive some rank or maybe a certificate of some sort, and you're all set to go. Right?
If that's the correct course, then why are so many trained individuals losing on the streets? Why, if this stuff works in the dojo or self-defense class, are these infallible skills failing horribly on the street, when dealing with real-world attacks thrown by brutal, real-world attackers?
There are a lot of possibilities but I think the primary one is that, for the most part, these classes are simply a matter of the blind leading the blind. What that means is that individuals, who lack the experience with dealing with violence, are attempting learn something from self-defense instructors who, themselves, lack the necessary background and experience for dealing with and winning actual street attack situations.
So, what is needed to survive a street self-defense situation?
My unique take on the whole self-defense learning curve, and what I teach my students, is double sided.
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To begin with, learn as many options as possible so that you can act in different situations and against different aggressors.
Next, in the moment, when an attack is happening, target must be able to react to and handle the violence itself - no matter where it comes from or what's behind it.
Like a double-edged sword, each side is needed if the practitioner is to be truly successful. The first side, your physical training should arm you with not just physical techniques, but an understanding of the critical principles and concepts that are being passed-on by the technique models. That way, you won't have to depend on the standardized techniques themselves, but instead be able to operate in the moment, not against a classroom attack but, against whatever your attacker is throwing at you. A few of these basic ideas include:
- 1) Cover
2) Defensive angling and positioning
3) Rhythm and responsiveness
4) Right use of space
5) and others
The second is connected to attitude, or "heart." No matter how tough you are, or feel in class with your friends, peers, and junior students, what matters in a real self-defense situation is how you act and deal with the raw, animalistic aggression being thrown at you by a serious, angry, and violent human being who isn't pulling his attacks and couldn't care less about your well-being at all. Will you do what you must or fold? The only thing that matters right then is what you do when the moment is upon you.
This reminds me of the airplane ride I found myself on to the tiny island of Grenada when I was in the Army all those years ago. While I sat there, staring at the other side of the plane and thinking about what I would do when I found myself in a deadly combat zone (assuming we didn't get blown out of the sky first), I heard other guys farther back in the aircraft actually crying. Ironically, these were the same "heroes" who, during training exercises where we "played" war, ran around as-if they were Arnold Schwartzenagger, acting tough and telling everyone that they were ready to "kill a commie for mommie" right now. Well, here we were - here was their chance - and they were the least-prepared to deal with the pure reality of the situation.
Your training must make sure that you can deal with both the assailant's physical attacks, whatever they may be, and you must have the ability commit yourself to winning by dealing with the rage and raw brutality that is a natural part of protecting yourself. Opposite sides of the same coin. Both necessary for success.
So, review what you've picked up up till now, and insure that you do so with the eyes of a critic, not a blind follower. Check out the news. Ask some police officers, bouncers, or even military personnel who have seen combat what you'll experience inside a real fight situation with someone who wants to beat, break, or kill you. Then, all preferences aside, begin to learn what you'll need to fill in the knowledge and skills sets to make sure that you'll come out on top, and not end up flat on your back!
Do you want to learn the critical lessons needed to survive? Then I recommend the brand new online e-course to self-defense mastery, "Foundations of Self-Defense Mastery"
Download it free here: Self Defense Course
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Jeffrey Miller empowers individuals, organizations, and martial arts instructors how to not die or become a victim in a brutal attack situation. Jeff says "If you have a serious desire to learn the critical lessons to be a master of self protection, I can teach you how to perfect the skills necessary to successfully protect yourself against any attacker, guaranteed"
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