Most people, including martial arts and self-defense teachers really don't know where to begin when it comes to mastering the ability to protect yourself against a real-world violent attacker. This article takes a look at the two-fold approach that I recommend to anyone who's serious about surviving a real-world attack.
To explore the conventional world of martial arts and self-defense instruction, the conventional approach seems to be to just learn a bunch of tricks and techniques, earn some rank or maybe a certification of some sort, and you're all set. Right?
If that's true, then why are so many trained individuals getting their butts kicked in the real world? Why, if everything works in the dojo ("martial arts school") or self-defense class, are these "unbeatable techniques" failing miserably on the street, when dealing with real-world attacks thrown by brutal, real-world assailants?
There are lots of reasons but I think the primary one is that, for the most part, these classes are a simple case of the blind leading the blind. What that means is that students, who have no experience with dealing with violence, are trying to learn something from instructors who, themselves, have no real world experience at dealing with and surviving real world attack encounters.
So, what is needed to survive a real self-defense situation?
My take on the whole self-defense approach, and what I teach my students, is two-fold.
1) First, be trained in as many options as possible so that you can act in different situations/against different attackers, and...
2) In the moment, when an attack is taking place, the defender must be able to respond to and deal with the violence itself - regardless of where it comes from or what's behind it.
Like a double-edged sword, each side is important if the practitioner is to be truly successful. The first part, your physical training should arm you with not just physical techniques, but an understanding of the critical principles and concepts that are being taught by the technique examples. This way, you won't have to depend on the preset techniques themselves, but instead will be able to operate in the moment, not against a stylized attack but, against whatever your attacker is throwing at you. Some of these foundational concepts include:
1) Cover
2) Strategic angling and positioning
3) Timing and flow
4) Proper distance
5) etc.
The second relates 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 encounter is how you act and deal with the raw, animalistic violence being thrown at you by someone who isn't pulling their punches and doesn't care about your well-being at all. Will you focus or fold? The only thing that will matter is what you do when the moment is on you.
Reminds me of the airplane ride I took to the tiny island of Grenada when I was in the Army all those years ago. While I sat there, staring at the far side of the plane and thinking about what I would do when I hit the ground in a real combat zone (assuming we didn't get shot down first), I heard other guys farther back in the aircraft actually crying. Ironically, these were the same guys who, during practice field exercises where we "played" war, ran around like John Wayne and Steven Seagal, acting tough and reminding everyone that they were ready to "kill a commie for mommie" right now. Well, here they were - here was their chance - and they were the least prepared to deal with the shocking 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 be able to focus and commit yourself to winning by dealing with the rage and raw brutality is a natural part of combat. Two sides to the same coin. Both necessary for success.
So, review what you've learned so far, and make sure that your do so through the eyes of a critic, not a blind believer. Watch the news. Ask some police officers, bouncers, or even combat veterans what it's really like inside a real situation with someone who wants to beat, break, or kill you. Then, all bias aside, fill in the gaps to make sure that you'll come out on top, and not end up flat on your back!
Do you want to learn more about the way I do it? I have just completed my brand new online ecourse to self-defense success, "Foundations of Self-Defense Mastery." Download it free here: Self Defense Course.
What if you could learn in hours, rather than months or years, more than the average karate or self-defense student without all of the filler, formalized kata, or military-like atmosphere? How? By following this simple, proven system for self defense success: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com.
Jeffrey Miller teaches individuals, organizations, and martial arts teachers how to not die or fall victim in a violent situation. Jeff says "If you have a a serious desire to learn what you must know to be a survivor, I can teach you how to master the skills necessary to successfully defend yourself against any attacker, guaranteed."
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