| There are as many approaches to self-defense | | | | skills and is caught off guard. Physical skills don't |
| as there are reasons why people study it.What | | | | protect you from unanticipated acts of |
| are YOUR reasons and what approach are YOU | | | | violence.===== The Mental Approach To |
| using? How confident are you that your efforts | | | | Self-Defense =====The Mental Approach |
| will produce the results what you want?What is it | | | | addresses the "big picture" of predatory situations. |
| about self-defense that interests you?You must | | | | In my self-defense system for example, there |
| be looking for something or you wouldn't be | | | | are "SEVEN" separate and interrelated aspects of |
| reading this, right?Some people learn self-defense | | | | a comprehensive personal safety or self-defense |
| to defend themselves from the violent actions of | | | | system.The intent of this mental approach is to |
| others! Duh!!!) They want to satisfy the essential | | | | make you "smarter" and more capable of |
| need for security and control.Others are after | | | | avoiding, diffusing and responding EFFECTIVELY |
| self-confidence and an improved self-image.Then | | | | by doing the RIGHT THINGS in a volatile situation. |
| there are those who don't care much about | | | | By the "RIGHT THINGS," I'm referring to the |
| "fighting" at all. They're just looking for an | | | | most effective response strategies to |
| enjoyable, functional and "cool" ;-) way to get into | | | | successfully resolve a threatening or volatile |
| great shape.Maybe you're after "ALL OF THE | | | | situation.Fighting back with physical self-defense |
| ABOVE." (like me ;-) Well then keep reading | | | | techniques is only part of staying safe.===== |
| friend... because I've got some thoughts to throw | | | | Benefits Of The Mental Approach =====An |
| at ya...===== Two Approaches To Self-Defense | | | | accurate understanding of the dynamics of |
| =====There are two broad categories of | | | | predatory situations increases the odds of |
| self-defense information. Whether they spell it out | | | | anticipating, avoiding, recognizing and responding to |
| or not, all self-defense books, articles, classes and | | | | them. The "best" result to a violent encounter is |
| seminars are based on one or both of two | | | | not when you manage to fight your way out of |
| "themes"... a MENTAL APPROACH or a PHYSICAL | | | | it. It's when it doesn't happen in the first place!Not |
| APPROACH.The "Physical Approach" is based on | | | | all volatile situations can be solved by fighting. |
| "EFFICIENCY." It pursues physical skill | | | | Effectiveness in a self-defense situation allows |
| development as a self-defense solution. It involves | | | | you to assess and evaluate the circumstances |
| learning punches, kicks, grappling and defensive | | | | and select the most effective response strategy |
| techniques. Although avoiding a physical altercation | | | | to implement to gain or regain control.A sense of |
| is given "passing attention," EXACTLY how to do | | | | control that accompanies proper mental training |
| that is often glazed over or not addressed at | | | | decreases the stress and fear associated with |
| all.Whether you enroll in a martial arts class, sign | | | | volatile or predatory situations. And that increased |
| up for a self-defense seminar or join a boxing | | | | sense of control and self-confidence can reduce |
| club, the focus is to teach you how to physically | | | | the potential of being victimized.===== |
| perform "fight-related" techniques."Fitness-based" | | | | Drawbacks To A Mental Only Approach |
| training, such as Tae Bo, Cardio Kickboxing and | | | | =====An "information-only" approach does not |
| Boxercise also fall in this category.The assumption | | | | significantly change the body language that you |
| here is that your BODY is your weapon and the | | | | project to a potential assailant. Although some |
| harder you train and the better you get at | | | | self-defense instructors imply that you can "fake" |
| performing self-defense techniques, the safer and | | | | non-victim body language by walking briskly, |
| more capable you will be to defend yourself.The | | | | standing straight, and "pretending to be confident." |
| "Mental Approach" is based on "Effectiveness." It | | | | That will only go so far. Pretending to be |
| is focused on "PersonalSafety" theories, concepts | | | | coordinated, strong and physically fit is easier said |
| and strategies.This theory-based approach | | | | than done.Knowing the best response option in a |
| involves gaining an understanding of predatory | | | | given situation, be it running away or fighting back, |
| situations; how they happen, how they can be | | | | is of little value if you can't successfully pull it off. |
| anticipated and recognized, how they can be | | | | If you haven't developed your skills and fitness |
| avoided and how to respond if you encounter | | | | levels by ongoing self-defense practice, how likely |
| one.Your BRAIN is considered your most powerful | | | | are you to out-run or out-fight an |
| self-defense weapon, and this training | | | | assailant?===== One OR The Other Is |
| (hypothetically) makes you "SMARTER" and more | | | | Incomplete =====You've probably figured out by |
| capable of wise decisions in the stress and chaos | | | | now that ONE OR THE OTHER of these two |
| of threatening situations."Efficiency and | | | | approaches is an incomplete approach to being |
| Effectiveness" What's the Difference?Perhaps the | | | | able to defend yourself. An optimal strategy is to |
| point I am trying to make will be clearer if we | | | | combine and balance your ability to make smart, |
| come to a common understanding of exactly | | | | effective decisions with the ability to carry those |
| what I mean by these two terms. Before you | | | | decisions through to a successful conclusion. BOTH |
| read on... think for a moment and come up with | | | | mental AND physical elements are required for |
| your own definition of these terms... Done? Here's | | | | optimal self-defense success.Be effective first, |
| mine...------------------------------------------------- | | | | then be efficient. A medical equivalent might be to |
| Efficiency Is Doing Things RightEffectiveness Is | | | | "Diagnose First The Perscribe." To successfully |
| Doing The Right Things | | | | resolve a volatile situation, you need sound |
| -------------------------------------------------Can you see | | | | judgement to decide on the best course of action |
| the difference? I hope so, because it's | | | | AND the physical skills and ability to implement |
| HUUUUUUUUUUUUGE!!!! Here's how those terms | | | | your game plan.The degree to which you pursue |
| relate to self-defense training.===== The Physical | | | | each approach has a lot to do with your |
| Approach To Self-Defense ======The Physical | | | | capabilities, limitations and the goals you have in |
| Approach involves learning and practicing physical | | | | relation to your study of self-defense.If you are |
| skills "efficiently." The faster, more coordinated, | | | | smaller, weaker, older for example, your |
| more powerful your striking, kicking, grappling and | | | | emphasis should lean more toward personal |
| defensive techniques are, the more "successful" | | | | safety strategies and be supplemented with |
| you consider yourself.There are many | | | | physical skills training. If your self-defense goals |
| self-defense courses that deal exclusively with | | | | are simply to avoid victimization and to stay out |
| learning techniques, with and without training | | | | of trouble, then learn everything you can about |
| partners, as a TOTAL solution for all your | | | | the dynamics of volatile situations.On the other |
| self-defense problems.Now don't get me wrong... | | | | hand, maybe you are fit, athletic and skillful. |
| I'm not criticizing this approach in any way. I teach | | | | Perhaps you already train regularly and feel |
| physical skills classes and seminars myself.Learning | | | | capable of "holding your own" if you have to |
| physical skills can dramatically improve your odds | | | | defend yourself. If thats the case, here are a |
| of surviving and escaping a violent situation. It can | | | | couple pieces of advice to consider:There's always |
| even reduce the probability of being confronted | | | | someone tougher and meaner than you are! Even |
| or attacked.If done properly, on a regular basis | | | | highly skilled fighters and martial artists need |
| (which I highly recommend), self-defense | | | | awareness and avoidance skills. Physical techniuqes |
| conditioning and skills training like sparring or hitting | | | | are of little value if you are set up, sucker |
| a heavy bag, will provide a ton of physical, mental | | | | punched, or ambushed. NOBODY wins a fight. You |
| and emotional benefits.BUT is the exclusive | | | | may defeat your adversary and "still" be injured |
| practice of techniques a sufficient "self-defense | | | | yourself. Also, just because you didn't instigate |
| solution?"===== Benefits Of The Physical | | | | the confrontation doesn't mean that you won't |
| Approach =====Physical skills training is a GREAT | | | | find yourself being criminally charged or civilly sued |
| way to get in shape and stay there. If properly | | | | for defending yourself.The point I'm trying to |
| done, ongoing self-defense training is a fun and | | | | make is that the BEST approach to self-defense |
| functional, full-body workout.The self-confidence, | | | | training is to learn to do the right thing by learning |
| fitness, and athletic qualities gained through regular | | | | everything you can about the dynamics of |
| self-defense training will have a positive influence | | | | predatory situations AND engage in regular |
| on your "victim profile" (behavior and body | | | | self-defense training so that you can "do things |
| language) that you project to a potential predator. | | | | right" by developing the skills and conditioning to |
| It can decrease the probability of being targeted. | | | | carry out a desired self-defense strategy.===== |
| (Dirt bags don't pick fights with people they | | | | Two Approaches? Two Resources! =====The |
| perceive are likely and capable to fight back)Unlike | | | | questions I get by email and in person, can be |
| "single-exposure" self-defense training (where you | | | | divided into two clear categories... |
| learn a technique once and never practice it | | | | "What-Should-I-Do-If...questions" and |
| again,) ONGOING self-defense training is | | | | "How-Do-I...questions." Or in otherwords |
| proactive.Regular self-defense training "rewards" | | | | effectiveness and efficiency.It is because of these |
| you in many ways, even if you NEVER have to | | | | different but complimentary aspects of |
| defend yourself.Regular self-defense training | | | | self-defense that I've decided to "split" the focus |
| "defends and protects" you against more probable | | | | of my web sites so I can address each in greater |
| and legitimate "threats" to your life, your health | | | | detail.I'm in the process of restructuring of my |
| and well-being. You are at more risk from poor | | | | web sites to assist you in finding the information |
| lifestyle habits and a lack of exercise than you | | | | you are looking for. will continue to be "home |
| are from a mugger or rapist.===== Drawbacks | | | | base" for my self-defense articles and newsletter. |
| to a Physical Only Approach =====If you limit | | | | The site will maintain a "Get Smart Focus" by |
| your self-defense efforts exclusively to physical | | | | dealing with the Big Picture of personal safety |
| skills training, you also limit your response options | | | | concepts and will address all seven components of |
| in a volatile situation. You are limited to a "Fight | | | | self-defense:=> Self-Defense Psychology |
| Don't Fight" decision. There are more ways to | | | | => Self-Defense Intelligence |
| resolve a volatile situations than that (there are 5 | | | | => Victim Selection |
| actually). Doing the "wrong thing" well (like fighting | | | | => Predatory Recognition |
| when you don't have to) can get you injured, | | | | => Self-Defense Response Options |
| arrested or sued.Regular self-defense training | | | | => Prevention and Avoidance |
| makes you feel great. You'll feel confident, | | | | => Self-Defense Training MethodsMy new site, |
| energetic and fit. (so how is that a drawback?) | | | | takes the "Get Tough Focus" of the seventh |
| Don't make the mistake of over estimating your | | | | component: Self-Defense Training Methods to the |
| potential of defeating an attacker and end up | | | | next level. It provides specific "how-to-train" |
| over your head in an encounter with someone | | | | resources and advice for people who want to |
| who is tougher, meaner and more malicious than | | | | incorporate ongoing self-defense training for a |
| you are.Don't think that your weekly | | | | variety of reasons.Randy LaHaie |
| cardio-kickboxing class has turned you into a | | | | Protective StrategiesRandy LaHaie is the |
| "trained killer!"Even the "best" fighter will be | | | | president of Protective |
| dropped like a bag of dirt if he or she doesn't | | | | Strategies and has been teaching reality-based |
| develop appropriate awareness and avoidance | | | | self-defense for over 30 years. |