Technique Teaching of Self-Defense

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When a person first encounters the self-defense world in this modern society it usually comes from the martial arts communities. When entering the dojo the very first, and almost always the only venue, self-defense training received is the model, “Technique teaching of self-defense.” What does this mean, it means that the instructor tries to assign specific techniques to specific attack techniques, techniques often learned, passed down and taught by persons who have no experience in actual self-defense. Even more often that technique teaching is created without the research into sources with experience. 

If your attacker does this then you do this . Here is the crux of it, it is not reality, real life or self-defense. 

Martial arts are taught most often as “Person-to-Person” fighting. Technique teaching is more about what the instructor thinks or perceives as a hands-on attack where all the other aspects to conflict and violence such as awareness and avoidance are simply not taught, ignored or forgotten completely (even if the instructor even is aware of self-defense).

Person-to-person fighting is mutual, often social violence oriented, and therefore “Illegal” and both parties will find that they may answer legally for their actions especially if it involves grave bodily harm or death (you get angry, you strike out, other guy falls and hits head, goes into coma and/or dies - ops). 

Technique over principles is a very narrow teaching model when it comes to combatives, fighting and especially self-defense. Remember, combatives and fighting are illegal and frowned upon in modern society. Self-defense is strictly and closely monitored and governed by societies laws, etc. creating a self-defense square that is very small and easily breached when in a self-defense situation (thanks to Mr. MacYoung for the square analogy).

Look at technique teaching models as the “Easy Way” to teach something that will more often than not get you deeply into the legal quagmire that will swallow you up like quicksand sucks you down till you head disappears leaving the surface clean and without any sign of your passing. 

The teachings of self-defense start on that road many, many miles before any such technique is taught. In SD most times it is not about any particular technique but a group of principle based actions that stop a threat. In modern martial arts that divide between technique and principle based teachings may be the most difficult concept to see, realize and accept. It is tantamount to the difference between basic math, i.e., 1 + 1 = 2, and (axiomatic) geometry where concepts and principles apply (or maybe calculus?). 

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