Contradictions

When discussing, training and/or practicing self-defense one might perceive many contradictions. Example is today at one blog the author wrote that in self-defense, when it goes physical that is, you have to hit hard, hit fast and hit often. The contradiction comes from the aftermath when you try to convey to students that there are limits to what you do in self-defense that can result in a perception of aggression over defense. If you are hitting hard, fast and "often" the the often might be construed as aggression and therefore fighting which is illegal. 

So, what do you do? You have to discover those contradictions and address them in your training, practice and most important in the application of self-defense. No one truly will say that self-defense is easy because it is hard. It is the stuff outside the physical practice of techniques and tactics as the more cerebral or mind-set is where it gets really tough. Anyone can take a class on how you do this technique to combat that attack technique but will it work when the violence hits? 

Being able to address the various and often chaotic realities to violence in self-defense are those concepts that lead to a perception of contradiction. You can and should still, when avoidance fails, hit hard - very hard - and hit fast and hit often - until the threat is gone and you stop. 

Address those contradictions in training so you won't have to freeze with contradictions in the street.