| are a lot of self defense systems that claim you | | | | training aspects? |
| will be able to learn how to fight, but each and | | | | • Does the system teach verbal conflict |
| every self defense system will have a different | | | | resolution? |
| interpretation of what fight means to them. Some | | | | • Does the system practice and teach |
| systems believe that a fight is a sports orientated | | | | dirty tactics such as eye gouges? |
| match between two people, others a wrestling | | | | • Does the system practice tactics from |
| match on the ground. However, is this a true | | | | standing, knee high and on the ground? |
| reflection of what the common person is | | | | • Is the primary edge weapon and impact |
| searching for when wanting to learn how to fight? | | | | weapon defense tactic to grab the limb? |
| If you are like most people you are probably | | | | • If learning firearm defense, does the |
| looking for a RBSD (reality based self defense) | | | | trainer have any credible firearms training? |
| system that deals with grabs, punches, kicks, | | | | • Does the school train in shoes? |
| weapon attacks etc. Situations that happen in real | | | | If you have answered yes to all of these you |
| life, tournament matches. Situations that dictate | | | | have probably found a good self defense school. |
| street survival tactics not sports orientated | | | | Although you will be the final judge because these |
| techniques. Remember, sport has rules and | | | | are just guidelines. |
| boundaries, it is a fair and even playing field. In the | | | | Remember a good self defense training system |
| street there are no rules just your survival at | | | | covers all possibilities that may happen in the real |
| stake. | | | | world. This includes compromised positions like |
| Unfortunately, finding a good RBSD system can | | | | knee high and ground tactics. A good system will |
| be like finding a needle in a hay stack. I have | | | | make sure that everything is realistic and that |
| compiled some good guidelines below to help you | | | | you are attacking targets on the body that will |
| make the right choice when choosing a RBSD | | | | allow you to escape and evade the situation as |
| system | | | | quickly as possible. |
| • Does the instructor have any real world | | | | Your primary aim in learning how to fight is to |
| experience? | | | | protect yourself. It doesn’t have to look |
| • Is the teaching method easy to learn | | | | good to be effective. Always remember that |
| and logical? | | | | movies are movies and what you see there is |
| • Does the system cover both attack | | | | not a real fight. Real fights are dangerous and |
| and defense with all weapon systems? | | | | messy by nature due to all the unpredictability of |
| • Does the system keep kicking as low as | | | | the situation. Sport fights are clean due to all the |
| possible? | | | | predictability, after you both follow rules in sport. |
| • Does the system teach you mental | | | | |