| There are as many approaches to self-defense as | | | | appropriate awareness and avoidance skills and is |
| there are reasons why people study it.What are | | | | caught off guard. Physical skills don't protect you |
| YOUR reasons and what approach are YOU using? | | | | from unanticipated acts of violence.===== The |
| How confident are you that your efforts will produce | | | | Mental Approach To Self-Defense =====The Mental |
| the results what you want?What is it about | | | | Approach addresses the "big picture" of predatory |
| self-defense that interests you?You must be looking | | | | situations. In my self-defense system for example, |
| for something or you wouldn't be reading this, | | | | there are "SEVEN" separate and interrelated aspects |
| right?Some people learn self-defense to defend | | | | of a comprehensive personal safety or self-defense |
| themselves from the violent actions of others! Duh!!!) | | | | system.The intent of this mental approach is to make |
| They want to satisfy the essential need for security | | | | you "smarter" and more capable of avoiding, diffusing |
| and control.Others are after self-confidence and an | | | | and responding EFFECTIVELY by doing the RIGHT |
| improved self-image.Then there are those who don't | | | | THINGS in a volatile situation. By the "RIGHT |
| care much about "fighting" at all. They're just looking | | | | THINGS," I'm referring to the most effective |
| for an enjoyable, functional and "cool" ;-) way to get | | | | response strategies to successfully resolve a |
| into great shape.Maybe you're after "ALL OF THE | | | | threatening or volatile situation.Fighting back with |
| ABOVE." (like me ;-) Well then keep reading friend... | | | | physical self-defense techniques is only part of |
| because I've got some thoughts to throw at | | | | staying safe.===== Benefits Of The Mental |
| ya...===== Two Approaches To Self-Defense | | | | Approach =====An accurate understanding of the |
| =====There are two broad categories of | | | | dynamics of predatory situations increases the odds |
| self-defense information. Whether they spell it out or | | | | of anticipating, avoiding, recognizing and responding to |
| not, all self-defense books, articles, classes and | | | | them. The "best" result to a violent encounter is not |
| seminars are based on one or both of two "themes"... | | | | when you manage to fight your way out of it. It's |
| a MENTAL APPROACH or a PHYSICAL | | | | when it doesn't happen in the first place!Not all volatile |
| APPROACH.The "Physical Approach" is based on | | | | situations can be solved by fighting. Effectiveness in a |
| "EFFICIENCY." It pursues physical skill development as | | | | self-defense situation allows you to assess and |
| a self-defense solution. It involves learning punches, | | | | evaluate the circumstances and select the most |
| kicks, grappling and defensive techniques. Although | | | | effective response strategy to implement to gain or |
| avoiding a physical altercation is given "passing | | | | regain control.A sense of control that accompanies |
| attention," EXACTLY how to do that is often glazed | | | | proper mental training decreases the stress and fear |
| over or not addressed at all.Whether you enroll in a | | | | associated with volatile or predatory situations. And |
| martial arts class, sign up for a self-defense seminar | | | | that increased sense of control and self-confidence |
| or join a boxing club, the focus is to teach you how | | | | can reduce the potential of being victimized.===== |
| to physically perform "fight-related" | | | | Drawbacks To A Mental Only Approach =====An |
| techniques."Fitness-based" training, such as Tae Bo, | | | | "information-only" approach does not significantly |
| Cardio Kickboxing and Boxercise also fall in this | | | | change the body language that you project to a |
| category.The assumption here is that your BODY is | | | | potential assailant. Although some self-defense |
| your weapon and the harder you train and the better | | | | instructors imply that you can "fake" non-victim body |
| you get at performing self-defense techniques, the | | | | language by walking briskly, standing straight, and |
| safer and more capable you will be to defend | | | | "pretending to be confident." That will only go so far. |
| yourself.The "Mental Approach" is based on | | | | Pretending to be coordinated, strong and physically fit |
| "Effectiveness." It is focused on "PersonalSafety" | | | | is easier said than done.Knowing the best response |
| theories, concepts and strategies.This theory-based | | | | option in a given situation, be it running away or |
| approach involves gaining an understanding of | | | | fighting back, is of little value if you can't successfully |
| predatory situations; how they happen, how they | | | | pull it off. If you haven't developed your skills and |
| can be anticipated and recognized, how they can be | | | | fitness levels by ongoing self-defense practice, how |
| avoided and how to respond if you encounter | | | | likely are you to out-run or out-fight an |
| one.Your BRAIN is considered your most powerful | | | | assailant?===== One OR The Other Is Incomplete |
| self-defense weapon, and this training (hypothetically) | | | | =====You've probably figured out by now that ONE |
| makes you "SMARTER" and more capable of wise | | | | OR THE OTHER of these two approaches is an |
| decisions in the stress and chaos of threatening | | | | incomplete approach to being able to defend yourself. |
| situations."Efficiency and Effectiveness" What's the | | | | An optimal strategy is to combine and balance your |
| Difference?Perhaps the point I am trying to make will | | | | ability to make smart, effective decisions with the |
| be clearer if we come to a common understanding of | | | | ability to carry those decisions through to a |
| exactly what I mean by these two terms. Before | | | | successful conclusion. BOTH mental AND physical |
| you read on... think for a moment and come up with | | | | elements are required for optimal self-defense |
| your own definition of these terms... Done? Here's | | | | success.Be effective first, then be efficient. A medical |
| mine...------------------------------------------------- | | | | equivalent might be to "Diagnose First The Perscribe." |
| Efficiency Is Doing Things RightEffectiveness Is | | | | To successfully resolve a volatile situation, you need |
| Doing The Right Things | | | | sound judgement to decide on the best course of |
| -------------------------------------------------Can you see the | | | | action AND the physical skills and ability to implement |
| difference? I hope so, because it's | | | | your game plan.The degree to which you pursue |
| HUUUUUUUUUUUUGE!!!! Here's how those terms relate | | | | each approach has a lot to do with your capabilities, |
| to self-defense training.===== The Physical Approach | | | | limitations and the goals you have in relation to your |
| To Self-Defense ======The Physical Approach | | | | study of self-defense.If you are smaller, weaker, |
| involves learning and practicing physical skills | | | | older for example, your emphasis should lean more |
| "efficiently." The faster, more coordinated, more | | | | toward personal safety strategies and be |
| powerful your striking, kicking, grappling and | | | | supplemented with physical skills training. If your |
| defensive techniques are, the more "successful" you | | | | self-defense goals are simply to avoid victimization |
| consider yourself.There are many self-defense | | | | and to stay out of trouble, then learn everything you |
| courses that deal exclusively with learning techniques, | | | | can about the dynamics of volatile situations.On the |
| with and without training partners, as a TOTAL | | | | other hand, maybe you are fit, athletic and skillful. |
| solution for all your self-defense problems.Now don't | | | | Perhaps you already train regularly and feel capable |
| get me wrong... I'm not criticizing this approach in any | | | | of "holding your own" if you have to defend yourself. |
| way. I teach physical skills classes and seminars | | | | If thats the case, here are a couple pieces of advice |
| myself.Learning physical skills can dramatically improve | | | | to consider:There's always someone tougher and |
| your odds of surviving and escaping a violent | | | | meaner than you are! Even highly skilled fighters and |
| situation. It can even reduce the probability of being | | | | martial artists need awareness and avoidance skills. |
| confronted or attacked.If done properly, on a regular | | | | Physical techniuqes are of little value if you are set |
| basis (which I highly recommend), self-defense | | | | up, sucker punched, or ambushed. NOBODY wins a |
| conditioning and skills training like sparring or hitting a | | | | fight. You may defeat your adversary and "still" be |
| heavy bag, will provide a ton of physical, mental and | | | | injured yourself. Also, just because you didn't |
| emotional benefits.BUT is the exclusive practice of | | | | instigate the confrontation doesn't mean that you |
| techniques a sufficient "self-defense solution?"===== | | | | won't find yourself being criminally charged or civilly |
| Benefits Of The Physical Approach =====Physical | | | | sued for defending yourself.The point I'm trying to |
| skills training is a GREAT way to get in shape and | | | | make is that the BEST approach to self-defense |
| stay there. If properly done, ongoing self-defense | | | | training is to learn to do the right thing by learning |
| training is a fun and functional, full-body workout.The | | | | everything you can about the dynamics of predatory |
| self-confidence, fitness, and athletic qualities gained | | | | situations AND engage in regular self-defense training |
| through regular self-defense training will have a | | | | so that you can "do things right" by developing the |
| positive influence on your "victim profile" (behavior | | | | skills and conditioning to carry out a desired |
| and body language) that you project to a potential | | | | self-defense strategy.===== Two Approaches? Two |
| predator. It can decrease the probability of being | | | | Resources! =====The questions I get by email and |
| targeted. (Dirt bags don't pick fights with people they | | | | in person, can be divided into two clear categories... |
| perceive are likely and capable to fight back)Unlike | | | | "What-Should-I-Do-If...questions" and |
| "single-exposure" self-defense training (where you | | | | "How-Do-I...questions." Or in otherwords effectiveness |
| learn a technique once and never practice it again,) | | | | and efficiency.It is because of these different but |
| ONGOING self-defense training is proactive.Regular | | | | complimentary aspects of self-defense that I've |
| self-defense training "rewards" you in many ways, | | | | decided to "split" the focus of my web sites so I can |
| even if you NEVER have to defend yourself.Regular | | | | address each in greater detail.I'm in the process of |
| self-defense training "defends and protects" you | | | | restructuring of my web sites to assist you in finding |
| against more probable and legitimate "threats" to | | | | the information you are looking for. will continue to |
| your life, your health and well-being. You are at more | | | | be "home base" for my self-defense articles and |
| risk from poor lifestyle habits and a lack of exercise | | | | newsletter. The site will maintain a "Get Smart Focus" |
| than you are from a mugger or rapist.===== | | | | by dealing with the Big Picture of personal safety |
| Drawbacks to a Physical Only Approach =====If | | | | concepts and will address all seven components of |
| you limit your self-defense efforts exclusively to | | | | self-defense:=> Self-Defense Psychology |
| physical skills training, you also limit your response | | | | => Self-Defense Intelligence |
| options in a volatile situation. You are limited to a | | | | => Victim Selection |
| "Fight/Don't Fight" decision. There are more ways to | | | | => Predatory Recognition |
| resolve a volatile situations than that (there are 5 | | | | => Self-Defense Response Options |
| actually). Doing the "wrong thing" well (like fighting | | | | => Prevention and Avoidance |
| when you don't have to) can get you injured, | | | | => Self-Defense Training MethodsMy new site, |
| arrested or sued.Regular self-defense training makes | | | | takes the "Get Tough Focus" of the seventh |
| you feel great. You'll feel confident, energetic and fit. | | | | component: Self-Defense Training Methods to the |
| (so how is that a drawback?) Don't make the | | | | next level. It provides specific "how-to-train" |
| mistake of over estimating your potential of | | | | resources and advice for people who want to |
| defeating an attacker and end up over your head in | | | | incorporate ongoing self-defense training for a variety |
| an encounter with someone who is tougher, meaner | | | | of reasons.Randy LaHaie |
| and more malicious than you are.Don't think that your | | | | Protective StrategiesRandy LaHaie is the president |
| weekly cardio-kickboxing class has turned you into a | | | | of Protective |
| "trained killer!"Even the "best" fighter will be dropped | | | | Strategies and has been teaching reality-based |
| like a bag of dirt if he or she doesn't develop | | | | self-defense for over 30 years. |