| Self defense training - especially in Today's often | | | | factors present in any self defense attack. Each |
| violent world - has to be less about your own | | | | factor contains what I call "option sets" - variables |
| personal preferences, and more about what you'll | | | | that simultaneously cause each situation to be |
| need to survive. | | | | unique, and... |
| While they say that they're looking for effective | | | | ...allow you to choose from all of your skills, |
| self defense training, far too many people take up | | | | strategies, and tactics, the best ones to get the |
| the study of martial arts or enroll in a self | | | | job done! |
| defense program for one of three basic reasons: | | | | The Situational Factors/Control Sets are: |
| 1. Convenience. The school or class is being held | | | | 1. Environmental. This includes not only location but |
| close to their home or job. Heaven forbid, we | | | | also range and surroundings. Are you indoors or |
| wouldn't want them to have to go out of their | | | | out? Are you in the middle of a parking lot, |
| way to learn how to not die! | | | | between cars, or being pinned up against a wall or |
| 2. Preference. Often a self defense training | | | | piece of furniture? |
| program is chosen, not because it's effective, but | | | | 2. Emotional. Contrary to the way most martial |
| because the student likes the "style" or approach. | | | | arts and self defense programs are taught, we |
| People who like wrestling will naturally gravitate | | | | human beings respond to stress in exactly the |
| towards martial arts like Judo, Jujitsu, etc. Others, | | | | opposite way from the way we learn. Your self |
| who prefer the stand-up - knock-'em down | | | | defense training program must present the |
| approach will look for karate, boxing, and Tae | | | | information in a do - think - feel manner that |
| kwon do, to name a few. I just hope that they | | | | matches the way your learn... |
| will end up with an assailant who "plays fair" and | | | | ...while simultaneously teaching you how to |
| comes at them with something they "like!" | | | | respond to a threat in a feel - think - do manner |
| 3. The "Buddy-vote." Instead of going against | | | | that matches how we respond to danger. Each |
| popular consensus, often we might make a choice | | | | emotional response "mode" will effect us |
| to do something, not because we like it, agree | | | | physically, mentally, and at our core. |
| with it, or believe in it - but because all of our | | | | 3. Attacker-Control. This involves having different |
| friends are doing it. Funny how we're still doing | | | | options, tactics, and strategies for different types |
| things mom yelled at us for when we were kids, | | | | of attackers. It involves understanding everything |
| huh?! | | | | from attacker-logic to knowing which targets to |
| Unfortunately, getting the right self defense | | | | hit with your different body weapons. |
| training is not the same as choosing a movie or | | | | Knowing which program is best requires that you |
| deciding where to hang out on Saturday night. It | | | | first know what you're dealing with and what you'll |
| will be way too late to blame your friend, the | | | | need to be effective and ultimately successful. A |
| program, or the teacher after you find out during | | | | good program will cover both physical and |
| an attack that you made a bad choice! | | | | non-physical methods. And, above all, it will |
| The following 3 self defense tips are the minimum | | | | advocate avoidance, escape, and de-escalation |
| requirements for an authentic self defense training | | | | tactics over physically having to fight your |
| program that can teach you what you must | | | | attacker off. |
| know to survive a brutal attack - or worse! | | | | If it doesn't, I recommend that you look for |
| These requirements cover the three situational | | | | another program! |