| When thinking about self defense and personal | | | | which is very rare and can usually be pre-empted |
| protection I think it's important to be really clear | | | | if you keep a strong awareness of your |
| on what your objectives are. | | | | surroundings. |
| Too often we attempt to rationalize that we will | | | | It's important to also write out a checklist of |
| have to develop the mind set to explode in a | | | | what a self defense altercation will look like. |
| rage to take out a violent attacker without first | | | | Anything you can walk away from is NOT self |
| breaking down and analyzing what we are really | | | | defense. In other words, If you can walk away |
| after and what the likelihood of certain events is | | | | from the situation then any violence that |
| as well as the awareness necessary to often | | | | transpires, you are taking part in and NOT |
| avoid those events. | | | | defending yourself in the eyes of the law. |
| Personally, I feel that inner peace is the foremost | | | | A self defense situation is one where you truly |
| priority on my mind. I therefore do everything in | | | | have no choice but to be violent against someone |
| my power to become a force for peace by | | | | in order to protect your physical safety, that |
| taking an objective look at my surroundings and | | | | violence can only be enough to stop the violence |
| especially situations that arise. If ever involved in | | | | from the other party, that is to say, when the |
| an emotional situation I find it's best always to not | | | | other person is no longer capable of inflicting |
| get emotionally involved in the situation and try to | | | | damage, you have to do your best to get out of |
| maintain a calm but strong demeanor. This is | | | | the situation or alert authorities. Anything else can |
| especially true early on in an altercation and | | | | be seen by the eyes of the law as you assaulting |
| serves to de-escalate or prevent the situation | | | | someone else. |
| from escalating. By refusing to take an emotional | | | | I think anyone thinking about complete self |
| part in an altercation you can be the stronger | | | | defense needs to think about these factors and |
| force. | | | | develop the inner qualities necessary in self |
| Keep in mind that violence rarely occurs | | | | protection, and that has a lot more to deal with |
| spontaneously and usually has a build up, the only | | | | then just fighting mindset. |
| real exception to this is is you are ambushed | | | | |