The youtube video in Demeere's post really pushes home the essence of avoidance and defense. First, these guys allowed things to escalate but they also allowed themselves to enter into this monkey dance scenario. Second, they allowed a person running on the monkey brain to enter into their safety zone and more important their strike zone, i.e. the uchi-ma.
It drives home the importance to remain aware and in control, i.e. as much as any adrenaline driven situation goes with fear and anger involved without some method to keep it within controlled limits. Awareness should have triggered a defensive posture and this is the main topic of this post.
I train to defend but in layers. First, if someone is approaching with body language that triggers my "spidey sense" I am going to assume a natural defensive posture while my mouth is going to try and deescalate the person approaching.
When I practice waza, kata and goshin-kumite I automatically raise my hand in a somewhat submissive/defense position. I stand naturally with a slight drop at the knees and my hands come up with palms facing toward the approaching person close to my chin/face on each side. I am NOT going to remain stationary and waiting for him to reach my or his striking range, this is stupid. I will be backpedaling or better moving to either side off his center and continually moving and talking - in the monkey dance that is but in a predatory attack it changes drastically. Even if you have your hands up and ready if your mind is on arguing or whatever by the time the punch comes it is most often to late.
Again, first recognize your in trouble and start moving and protecting "BEFORE" he reaches striking range. When he enters your safety zone, i.e. your toh-ma, start moving to keep your distance. Better yet, don't let your stupid ass get into a group dynamic like many of these short clips show for that is a good way to get into trouble.
Crap, you know what, all this means that you failed to learn about violence and all it entails and you allowed your stupid self to get in to a dynamic that leads to the fight and your going to get hurt. (why I write as the process pulls up more common sense as you go :-) Here is my story and what I did to avoid getting clocked even tho my stupidity as a youth let me get into the fix in the fist place - lessons, life is about lessons.
Ok, another point I missed here, once I get in a defensive posture and start moving I must also act if the guy persists and enters the striking range - his, not necessarily mine. Once he strives to enter into my uchi-ma (strike zone/range) I better take action or I am reacting instead of acting. Remember also that what your saying will go a long way as you talk to the attacker for witnesses and video's (cell phones are there you bet) that can go a long way for your defense of self-defense. Never, ever wait till the fist is flying and the guy is in the strike range - often, too late dude.
I remember as a young person when I was going into a stupid situation where this guy who outweighed my by about one hundred pounds decided he didn't like the way I looked at him and began to approach. I back peddled, assumed this hand posture and actually talked my way out of being punched in a way that I am sure would have knocked me out and caused some sort of head and brain injury. I would have assumed that once down and out this guy would have continued and my death could have resulted. Oh, why do I know this - drug deal gone bad is why. In my youth I tried to purchase some grass from some very nefarious folks - stupid, stupid, stupid (lets not even begin on the stupidity of smoking grass).
See how complex this can get by my comments and the post by Demeere Sensei. You really gotta get the right information and training to deescalate, avoid or fight with fight a last resort.
This reminds me of my days as a physical security officer, you have to have security in layers. No one security method does the work, it takes a good, solid and well thought out layered plan to get the right security for the level necessary to protect the assets. In this case, your ass is your asset. You have to have layers of security to properly protect your ass and what I propose is not a total security plan but rather enough to get you thinking. You need layers to make it work. Think about this ... !
Security strategy might have been better if: one, you recognized the situation as volatile and either didn't enter into it or left it quickly.
Second, if you are still stupid and stay then recognize the signs as people do go through stages to reach the punch, mostly.
Third, keep your mouth closed so you don't antagonize possible antagonists.
Fourth, if they start to approach you then assume the posture and then talk, talk your way out of it if possible but be careful what you say as that can both deescalate or escalate the conflict.
Fifth, start moving to keep the antagonist out of his striking range in relation to you. Move to a safe place assuming you actually looked for avenues of safe exit and safe zones (then again if your aware of this you should have avoided the site anyway unless you just happened to stumble into it - really?)
Sixth, if the antagonist moves into his striking range for you "ACT." You will see it coming if you know his range and yours. If he is moving and his range is larger you need to ACT quickly to reach yours and strike. Don't move straight in but move off center and then in quickly to take advantage, if you can.
Sixth-n-a-half, as an alternate and if you can do so assume a dracula pose (see Rory Miller's blog for a description of this one) and get the hell out of dodge.
See, layers, practice for layers. Find your own security posture or strategy and make it work in training so it is instinctive in tough situations - if you can. It sounds simple in writing but it is not and that is the real point. Nothing in the world of violence is simple - just the way it is in my perception.
Anyway, Demeere Sensei really drives home a point and it is worth the time to visit his blog and read his post. Read it here, "How Not to Block a Punch!"
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