Self defense is an interesting study in that it is both complicated and simple. The complication in self defense comes largely from the enormous variance of attackers, environments, situations, levels of danger, and unknowns. The simplification comes from fighting technique. While being an expert in one particular style or art can definitely help provide specific advantages, being an expert in self defense is more about being able to assess the danger and respond quickly and appropriately across the variance of possibilities. It is more advantageous to be an expert in responding simply and assuredly to that variance. The techniques used don’t often need to be intricately designed. In fact, in a given scenario it is best to know just a few proven options really well than to spend years of focus on complicated variations and variations to the variation. Self defense is not often the chess match of competition or tactical warfare; it is more like seeing the triple jump instead of the single jump in a checkers match.
Here is an interesting take on martial arts cross training for hands on use of force from a law enforcement officer that freely admits to being no expert or black belt in any specific art: Police Training
Jerry Wetzel does a good job considering the variance of possibilities in common self defense situations. In this video on responses to being grabbed while wearing a jacket, he offers some great options that highlight some of the same self defense concepts I have discussed in recent articles.
Clothes Matter!
It bothers me to no end when people say practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Sambo, or any of the arts that incorporate knowledge of the gi (offensive or defensive) cannot be applied to real life. As I stated in my article Self Defense and Jiu Jitsu 2.0, I live in Chicago and it is cold (or cool) more than it is hot. Self defense situations are extremely likely to include making or, in this case, breaking grips. In the study of self defense, certainly understanding how clothing may come into play. Getting “jersied” doesn’t happen only on the ice.
Options Matter!
Next, Jerry talks about options. There are many options in a self defense situation. Some are good, some are better, and some are not so great. This is what the study of self defense is more often about. Here Jerry discusses not reacting instinctively to the grab (which is often to simply pull away and plays into the aggressor’s attack). Back in November, I talked about utilizing Push/Pull Theory in BJJ and it applies to self defense as well. Understanding push/pull theory allows you to respond with a better option than the expected reaction.
Much like the philosophy I preached in Taking Control and Creating Options, Jerry likes to utilize leverage and position to get to a point of dominance that allows for escalating or deescalating the violence as required by the level of danger and situation in the moment. I also stress the element of surprise in any self defense situation. Absolutely some quick striking can help to surprise and distract the aggressor and assist in getting to the advantageous position. However, I must agree with Jerry that being dependent solely on squared off strikes is not always a practical option. In many cases, an attacker may simply be too large, powerful, or overwhelming (as in the video) to allow for or fall to one or even multiple strikes. As Jerry points out, pain alone is not usually enough. Even if an attacker is not so completely overpowering, he or she may be on substances or in a mental state that offers superhuman pain tolerance and renders a pure striking defense ineffective.
Practice Matters!
Last, and definitely not least, Jerry mentions practicing with increasing levels of aggression to get a real world sense of what you might be able to do. I am a firm believer that if you are not actively sparring in self defense, you cannot expect to respond correctly in the real world. If your goal in self defense is to walk around safer in the unfortunate case of attack, please train across a wide variety of situations, utilizing simple effective response options, and practice enough and with enough intensity that your will replace reaction with response when needed.
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