| Most martial artists get it all wrong when it comes to | | | | off. I know this from experience in bouncing. You'll |
| self defense. They think they can wait for someone | | | | end up badly beaten up or rolling around the floor |
| to attack them and deftly handle that attack by | | | | with the possibility of your opponents mates showing |
| using one of the many techniques they have been | | | | up to help kick your head in. |
| taught to do at their dojo, techniques that work so | | | | In a street self defense situation it is much easier to |
| well in practice but in reality will most likely not work | | | | strike your opponent and then make your escape if |
| anywhere near as well. | | | | possible. At the very least, taking the initiative will |
| The reason these techniques don't work is because | | | | allow you to put in a few more strikes to finish an |
| dojo fighting and real fighting are two completely | | | | opponent while they are still dazed from the first |
| different things. The arenas are different, the | | | | strike. But as I say, it's always best to run from the |
| participants are different and most important of all, | | | | situation if at all possible. Why hang around to attract |
| you are different. | | | | more hassle? |
| Live situations are vastly more pressurised and | | | | Your pre-emptive strike should be one which you are |
| dangerous affairs and they contain many more | | | | comfortable with and well practiced in. My preference |
| variables than one can hope to replicate in the dojo, | | | | is the right hook or the right cross to the jaw, both |
| which is why, when it comes to street self defense, | | | | of which will knock an opponent out if done correctly. |
| it pays to keep things as simple as possible. | | | | At the very least it will daze them enough for me to |
| In fact, I'll go one further and say that it pays even | | | | run. |
| more to pre-empt an opponents attack with one of | | | | To give yourself a further advantage, ask your |
| your own. Hit them before they hit you in other | | | | opponent a question before you hit him. "How's your |
| wards. | | | | mother doing?" or something along those lines will do. |
| And before we go any further here, I know what | | | | The idea is to engage their brain and distract them |
| you're thinking: What about the law? Won't I get | | | | from what is coming next, which is your strike to |
| prosecuted for initiating an attack? The short answer | | | | their jaw or slap to the face, whatever you wish to |
| to that is no, not usually. The law these days is very | | | | use. |
| open to the concept of pre-emptive attack, as long | | | | Whatever technique you choose, make sure you are |
| as you can show that an attack on your person was | | | | well practiced in it. Spend a lot of time just honing |
| indeed imminent. Generally, if you can show that you | | | | that one technique and getting it right so you will |
| tried to calm the situation with dialogue and did all | | | | have the power to knock an opponent down when |
| you could to dissuade an opponent from persisting | | | | the time comes. |
| with their aggression, then you should be okay in the | | | | You have no reason to wait to be attacked if that |
| eyes of the law. | | | | attack is inevitable. Take the initiative and get in a |
| At the end of the day, it is extremely unwise to wait | | | | well-timed pre-emptive strike, then dart away in the |
| for someone to attack you before you put up a | | | | confusion. |
| defense. When you allow an attack to happen you | | | | In a street self defense situation, the pre-emptive |
| not only loose control of the situation (because you | | | | strike is usually the wisest choice, certainly against |
| have given your attacker the advantage) but you will | | | | waiting to be attacked it is anyway. |
| also find it very difficult to defend once things kick | | | | |