Wellness Positive

Self Defense Part I: Analyzing Situations and Traps

This section covers how to think and act in a hostile situation. Effective self defense and martial arts instruction begins with training the mind before we even begin to train the body. The martial arts as applied to self defense FIRST concentrate on putting you into the right mind-set - on training and instruction that will enable you to have a cool, clear head in a bad situation. This is the essence of this section. Read on to learn more...

Looking at a situation realistically, and recognizing traps for what they are:

  Now for some simple, obvious, practical advice. You must look at a situation and see if you are really in danger.

  LOOK at your enemies, read the signals all humans send off - see if they REALLY pose a danger.

  If a mugger is going to be satisfied with your money - GIVE IT TO HIM. Money isn't worth putting yourself in danger, IF he's going to take your money and leave you alone. Try to 'read' him.

For practice:

  Get together with a friend and practice transmitting and recognizing these subtle signals. Think 'I am going to attack' or 'I am not going to attack' (among other things) and get your friend to try to 'read' these signals - then change places with your friend and let your friend 'transmit' and you try to 'read' his or her intentions.

Avoiding Traps:

  UNDERSTAND that there is a line you MUST NOT allow your attacker to cross.

  ABOVE ALL, don't let anyone even suggest that they tie you up, or tell you to get in a car so they can take you elsewhere - the moment they say that, they've crossed the line, and you HAVE TO FIGHT AND/OR RUN.

"Don't get trapped"

An Example: A girl is sitting on a bench in a park with no one in sight. Suddenly three men come up. One sits on one side of her. Another sits on the other side. The third stands behind the bench, behind her back. Is this a trap? OF COURSE IT IS. THESE THREE MEN HAVE ALREADY CROSSED THE LINE.

  This is an obvious trap. If you want to give them the benefit of the doubt, then RUN AWAY AS FAST AS YOU CAN. Don't bother with talk - this is a TRAP. FIGHT OR FLEE, but NEVER allow a trap to close.

  Incidentally, the trap described above (with those three men, and the girl on the park bench) HAS NOT CLOSED YET. She can still escape. Or she can even fight, with methods we will teach you in later lessons. She can prevent the trap from closing.

  Now you'll say to me - how do I know it's a trap. Won't I look foolish running away if it isn't? Well, I say to you - this is a real incident I described. The girl was real, the men were real. She didn't try to run. She didn't try to fight. She tried to talk her way out of it. And she was dragged to some nearby bushes and raped.

  It WAS a trap. Learn to recognize a trap, and NEVER tolerate one.

An Inspiring Episode.

  Now, let me tell you about something that illustrates what an aid even the right mind-set can be.

  There was this old lady in the UK who had just collected her pension - as she was leaving the post-office three men stopped her and demanded her money. And this old lady lifted her walking stick and attacked one of the three with such ferocity that the other two men fled in terror - she actually broke his ribs, then, when he collapsed, she sat on him until the police took charge!!

Now THAT'S an attitude.

"That woman is a tigress if I ever saw one, and you see what happens to the wolves when even an old tigress meets up with them!!"