Disparity of Force

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

It seems that a good deal of information regarding self-defense under a heading of “Disparity of Force” is about the use of firearms for self-defense. Regardless, the study of such defenses does provide clues and hints to the average citizen regarding the application of self-defense when no firearm is involved. One instance are the circumstances when attacked by two or more persons, etc. There are other factors involved with two or more attackers but that in and of itself becomes difficult in a defense dependent on other factors such as the knowledge of the attacked as to the attackers expertise, size, strength, and many others and so on. 

When you are looking at a situation in training and practice (often there is no time to do this in an attack) you need to train with the following factors in order to establish disparity of force defense for self-defense:

The factors establishing a disparity of force include:

• Age (bring with it weakness of muscle, slowed reflexes, and some loss of the aggression which once lent authority to our fists.)
• Overwhelming size
• Overwhelming strength
• Force of numbers
• Advanced skill in unarmed combat
• Males against females

Note: Who decides what “Overwhelming” means as to size and strength. Is there a number that designates force of numbers. What and who decides what is considered advanced skills and what type of unarmed combat. When it comes to age, what ages to what ages and how many years determine the type of disparity, etc.

This is a good point for this article to insist you seek legal advice from a legal professional who is well-versed in self-defense law because without such advice before training and practice using the above you may find yourself outside the self-defense square. I also advocate using the AOJ/JAM and Five Stages to make sure you are in the square and that you remain in that square. For more, see the bibliography provided. 

A couple of notes on the factors. Remember that perceptions of those in judgement starting with witnesses and carrying on with first responders, prosecutors, the entire legal system including jurors, the public who can be incited toward your situation for bad and sometimes benefit, etc. You are not just facing an attacker but a whole slew of folks who are going to react emotionally from a position, perception and knowledge base built not on the reality of conflict and violence but  that presented over lifetimes through entertainment media and events. Literally, everybody from family to strangers living clear across the country are going to be available to judge you, your actions and their perceptions as to its legality and it does not have to even be an actual law involved, just perceptions and perspectives and so on - ain’t that the shits?

Note: Remember, these are just comments from my personal perspective and perceptions, read the caveat again. Also note that just one or two of the following without very distinct differences or divides may not cut it for a self-defense defense. Also, don’t forget that all concerned parties are going to be scrutinize your side as well while doing a comparison. You cannot truly discern disparity of force, in my opinion, without such comparisons. An example is one person about your age who is about fifty pounds heavier, bigger and more muscular but you have advanced skills in unarmed combat, fighting, and self-defense that may place you in a bad light regardless - careful here, seek professional legal assistance and advice while in training and practice!

Age (Advanced age brings with it weakness of muscle, slowed reflexes, and some loss of the aggression which once lent authority to our fists.): When the age is very large and associated with distinct divide, i.e., such as a child vs. an adult, the view and perception is going to be a bit more evident and yet in some instances that alone may not drive a defense case toward a judgement of acceptable self-defense. Alone this one may need a wider chasm between the attacker and the attacked.

Overwhelming size: Size does matter but other factors are involved that make size differences either a disparity or not. This is why there are several factors and when taken along with JAM/AOJ and those five stages can and does make a difference. This will be a part of all of these factors as well. 

Overwhelming strength: Does everyone know and understand how strength works in violence. Strength is a necessary factor overall in the physical acts of a violent nature but sometimes they don’t make a hill of difference. It all depends and those other factors need to be addressed before you have to defend yourself both in a violent situation and in the conflict and violence of the legal system and processes. 

Force of numbers: Here I begin to look at how many attackers are involved along with JAM/AOJ and the five stages unless I am one of those unlucky ones who was ambushed by two or more attackers. To me, two or more healty, fit and determined attackers means I might die. The reason I add in AOJ and JAM again is if the situation is such that I can determine what kind of attack this is it might mean avoidance such as if robbery is the only goal just following that script could achieve success, i.e., living, avoiding damage and going home alive. In my understanding if this is not true then escape is my only chance of getting out of the situation alive so I may, stress may, need to increase my chances by using my environment to stop a group from attacking. 

I will add, regardless of the media presentations martial arts, etc., are not adequate to take on two or more combatants/attackers. If there is an audience that adds to the disparity because group dynamics indicate that group can become participants in this dance and survival for the attacked becomes very dismal indeed. 

Advanced skill in unarmed combat: I will focus on one example, your martial arts training. It does not matter whether it is actually viable defense ability or just a way to get healthy, the perception of martial arts regardless means all parties will look at you as the superior, capable and deadly attacker. In other words it will be even more difficult to convince anyone you are not the aggressor  but victim, it will make your attacker look like a victim unless that attacker holds a higher level of capability in the force applications involved. 

Males against females: In my understanding, females are viewed by a lot of professionals and the more dangerous when it comes to violence. Men tend to be socially driven into the proverbial monkey dance where grave bodily harm and/or death are more unintended rather than a goal. When it comes to women, when they go physical they are usually all in and going for the gold, damage. Women from social conditioning are still viewed by most as the weaker sex. Even when you see women in MMA, Cage matches, etc. with skills and aggression equal to and far above that of the male counterparts society still assumes that is an anomaly rather than the norm. If you are attacked by a woman, does not occur often enough in most case so far, or a group of women society will still make that assumption that as a man you are superior in size, strength, and skills. Life sucks!

Again, this article is not about provision of definitive answers but rather a very big “HINT” that self-defense martial arts are complicated and that any practitioner of martial arts and/or self-defense MUST research, study and practice to achieve self-defense, i.e., getting in, staying in and achieve self-defense, in the SD Square. 

Bibliography (Click the link)