If you are a martial artist then you have become familiar with the terms yin and yang. Lets take the yin and yang concept to help explain what some authors of books like, “In the Name of Self-Defense,” say is mostly not taught in self-defense classes, i.e., what I call the “go-no-go” concept. The author uses the “shoot and not shoot” decision making concept.
I use the go-no-go term because I am an empty hand martial arts oriented practitioner. It comes from a technical concept where you use a gauge to determine of that device can either go, as into full working status, or no-go, as into a failed deadlined state. The author makes this statement, “When is it time to go or, more importantly, when is it time to NOT go.”
This is necessary to remain within the circle of self-defense knowing anywhere outside that circle means some very bad things like go to jail, do not collect $200, do not pass GO and so on. It is about learning what to see or to be aware of or to look for that says you have to act, to go, in order to stop the threat but it also means knowing what you don’t know, what you need to see, to be aware of and to look for so you can no-go, i.e., not act or stop acting in a particular way, so as to remain within the SD circle.
Then add in articulation, i.e., knowing this allows you to also articulate why you did something and what the adversary did do, could have done and should have done to avoid violence. The author states, “What did you see the adversary do to justify your actions as well as those options that would have prevented you from acting in that way, etc.”
If you know both sides of that coin, what to look for as pre-attack and attack indicators as well as those back-off indicators then you can articulate both when answering such questions that may arise from the situation. Example: is he charging at you with a knife, growing, yelling and hell bent on telling you how he is going to cut your ass up or did he suddenly stop, turn and run away type thing. If you are looking for both the go and the no-go indicators and can articulate them when needed you stand a whole better chance of staying within the self-defense circle.
Yin-n-Yang, complementary opposites and all gradiants in between. They exist and they are not always taught in self-defense. You know this so you know that these types of things are prerequisite to signing up for training. If the yang is missing then you have lost the balance and like many things, if your balance is disrupted you fall and gravity is a real pisser.
Think appropriate levels of force but also remember, first, avoidance is better than physical violence.
Primary Bibliography of Self-Defense:
MacYoung, Marc. "In the Name of Self-Defense: What It Costs. When It’s Worth It." Marc MacYoung. 2014.
Miller, Rory Sgt. "Meditations of Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training & Real World Violence" YMAA Publishing. 2008.
Secondary Bibliography of Self-Defense:
Ayoob, Massad. “Deadly Force: Understanding Your Right to Self-Defense”Gun Digest Books. Krouse Publications. Wisconsin. 2014.
Goleman, Daniel. "Emotional Intelligence: 10th Anniversary Edition [Kindle Edition]." Bantam. January 11, 2012.
Miller, Rory. "ConCom: Conflict Communications A New Paradigm in Conscious Communication." Amazon Digital Services, Inc. 2014.
Miller, Rory and Kane, Lawrence A. "Scaling Force: Dynamic Decision-making under Threat of Violence." YMAA Publisher. New Hampshire. 2012
Miller, Rory. "Force Decisions: A Citizen's Guide." YMAA Publications. NH. 2012.
Miller, Rory Sgt. "Facing Violence: Preparing for the Unexpected." YMAA Publishing. 2011.
Elgin, Suzette Haden, Ph.D. "More on the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense." Prentice Hall. New Jersey. 1983.
Elgin, Suzette. "The Last Word on the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense" Barnes & Noble. 1995
Morris, Desmond. “Manwatching: A Field Guide to Human Behavior.” Harry N. Abrams. April 1979.
Elgin, Suzette. "The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense" Barnes & Noble. 1993.
Elgin, Suzette. "The Gentle Art of Written Self-Defense" MJF Books. 1997.
Maffetone, Philip Dr. “The Maffetone Method: The Holistic, Low-stress, No-Pain Way to Exceptional Fitness.” McGraw Hill, New York. 2000
Strong, Sanford. “Strong on Defense_ Survival Rules to Protect you and your Family from Crime.” Pocket Books. New York. 1996.
and more … see blog bibliography.
My Blog Bibliography
Cornered Cat (Scratching Post): http://www.corneredcat.com/scratching-post/
Kodokan Boston: http://kodokanboston.org
Mario McKenna (Kowakan): http://www.kowakan.com
Mokuren Dojo: http://www.mokurendojo.com
McYoung’s Musings: http://macyoungsmusings.blogspot.com
Martial Views: http://www.martialviews.com
Shinseidokan Dojo: http://shinseidokandojo.blogspot.com
The Classi Budoka: https://classicbudoka.wordpress.com
Wim Demeere’s Blog: http://www.wimsblog.com
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