| If you were to look around at all of the martial | | | | really perceive the actions as a threat. Even when |
| arts schools and self defense training programs, | | | | presented with a serious attacker, the response is |
| you might come to the conclusion that all that is | | | | strength and confidence. Those who are able to |
| needed for effective self defense is to learn a | | | | remain in this mode hold their ground and are able |
| few moves or techniques. However, true self | | | | to respond to the attacker's moves quickly and |
| defense is so much more than that. Without | | | | efficiently. |
| considering the mental side of the defense | | | | Direct and Committed. In this mode, the victim |
| scenario, you will be unable to act in a dangerous | | | | fights back quickly with direct, committed actions |
| situation, even after taking self defense courses. | | | | prompted by either fear or anger. In this mode, |
| Many martial arts-based self defense classes are | | | | we take a direct approach, "going for it" no |
| missing the key factor of the mental fight. The | | | | matter the consequences. This can be an |
| strategies taught in such classes may or may not | | | | effective self defense mode, although it can result |
| work under pressure, when your life is on the line. | | | | in overly reckless actions. |
| If you are evaluating potential self defense | | | | Defensive and Emotional. Far more often, the |
| strategies, don't make the error of neglecting the | | | | person being attacked is overwhelmed by the |
| important issue of emotions and your natural | | | | aggression displayed by the assailant. The body's |
| emotional response to the stress of an attack. | | | | natural response will be covering vital targets and |
| While it's pretty easy right now to rationalize that | | | | fleeing to a safer distance, perhaps by literally |
| you'll be able to keep your calm in the heat of the | | | | jumping backwards at the sight of the attacker. |
| moment, the truth is that humans are emotional | | | | Evasive and Avoiding. People in this mode tend to |
| beings. Before you can even think of a potential | | | | avoid conflict at all costs. The first impulse will be |
| way out of an attack, you must overcome your | | | | to naturally create distance between ourselves |
| body's natural response to the stress. This is | | | | and our attacker. Those who are in this emotional |
| often described as the "fight, flight, or freeze" | | | | mode at the time of the attack will duck or |
| response. It is perfectly natural, but it is a very | | | | evade the assailant's blows, but probably won't be |
| dangerous thing at a time when seconds can | | | | able to land any punches of their own. |
| mean the difference between life or death, | | | | Even in similar circumstances, our emotional states |
| especially if you're not expecting your body to | | | | are constantly changing to reflect the situation. |
| respond in this manner. | | | | The emotional state in which you find yourself |
| Although your personality type can have an | | | | during an attack can be affected by the situation |
| affect on your body's response in a time of panic, | | | | surrounding the attack, as well as the actual |
| there are four general response possibilities | | | | assailant you're dealing with. Your body may |
| recognized by experts. These responses come | | | | respond to one attack with confidence, while |
| not from thinking about the predicament but from | | | | remaining evasive or defensive during another. |
| primitive instincts hard-wired into the brain. The | | | | The important point is to train yourself to be able |
| four recognized response modes include: | | | | to fight back effectively regardless of your |
| Confident and Relaxed. In this mode, we don't | | | | emotional response to the situation. |