| In the world of self defense & martial arts | | | | Please keep in mind that these are only concepts. |
| instruction, there are literally a ton of techniques | | | | You will have to learn how to effectively do these |
| being taught to do any one thing to your assailant. | | | | things so that you can have the most effect |
| But, how do you know which one to use in any | | | | without placing yourself in more danger. |
| given situation? While it's impossible to explore | | | | In a self defense situation against a brutal |
| every variable within the context of this article, | | | | attacker who is trying to punch, kick, or grab you |
| what I can do is to offer you the four basic | | | | - you can: |
| strategies that all of these mechanical techniques | | | | 1) Hold your ground or use natural, walking |
| fall into. This way, you can find those techniques | | | | footwork to slip or "block" his incoming limb. From |
| within your own training which fit into each | | | | this "commanding", in-charge position, you can |
| category. You can also take charge of your self | | | | then employ the strategy of using strong points |
| defense training and determine which tactics you | | | | against weak, crushing his attack and taking him |
| might be missing and therefore add additional | | | | to the ground. |
| options to your arsenal of techniques. | | | | 2) Pull your body back and away, using long-range, |
| You will find that each martial arts style or self | | | | defensive angling, and punish his incoming limb with |
| defense system tends to gravitate toward one | | | | a strike of your own. From here, you can then |
| or maybe even two of these basic strategies. | | | | crash back in with full body power, directing your |
| However, in the realm of real world self defense | | | | attack at his most vulnerable point. |
| training, you do not have the luxury of having | | | | 3) Quickly move inside the arc - into the space - |
| "favorite" techniques or preferred ways of doing | | | | created by his attack. In this way, you take the |
| things. | | | | fight to him and attack his vulnerable targets at |
| While you may have techniques that you think | | | | the same instant that he is busy "missing" yours. |
| your attacker can't get out of, the truth is that, | | | | 4) Use turning, evasive, body shifts that avoid his |
| unlike your training partners in class - he won't let | | | | attacking limb - allowing it to slip by harmlessly - |
| you get that technique on him! | | | | and simultaneously position you in a flanking |
| To effectively apply any given technique - | | | | position beside him where he will have a very |
| favorite or not - you must first neutralize the | | | | difficult time getting at you. |
| force of the initial punches, grabs, or kicks that | | | | While most martial arts focus on one of these |
| he's throwing at you. If you can't do that, quickly, | | | | strategies, Ninjutsu - the Ninja's self defense |
| easily, and effortlessly... | | | | training art - uses all three (and more!) If you are |
| ...it won't matter how many powerful techniques | | | | to be successful at anything, including protecting |
| you know! | | | | yourself against aggression, you need as many |
| So, here are the four basic strategies for | | | | options as possible. |
| defending against an incoming punch, grab, or kick. | | | | |