Smart Defusing

If you are eager to go ahead and start learning Self Defense techniques, then you probably have in the back of your mind a very good reason for starting. This could be a number of things, your self confidence may be low, you might have been bullied or maybe you are still are, you might feel you need to shape up and learn new skills, or there could well be another reason. What ever the reason you have for Leanring Self Defense, the most important skill you could ever learn is that self defense doesn't always mean you have to end up in a fight. An intelligent way to look at self defense, is Self Preservation, or the concept that if you don't want any harm to come to you, do not put yourself in a position where you can be harmed. Now obviously, without living your life out in a padded bubble, this is not always possible, but in theory it is actually easily achievable.

Intelligent Self Defense

When most people decide to learn a Martial Art for Self Defense, they often get caught up in the obsession of wanting to learning how to strike, punch or beat up your opponent, and while this may have its uses in Self Defense, this entire concept is actually the opposite to the key principles of Self Defense, which should always be about protecting yourself and not always about been able to bash or beat the life out of anybody who happens to start on you.

Intelligent Self Defense would always have a PRIMARY focus on escape. For example, you are in a nightclub and a fight breaks out, instead of jumping in, stay well clear. If the fight has nothing to do with your friends, yourself or your family then stay away, leave if possible. If you are not there, you wont get beat up. Another example could be the school bully, if he's waiting at the corner of the field to give you a good clout, stay away from the corner of the field!

But what if you can't avoid been caught up in a confrontation? If you can't escape or you find yourself in that situation that's already starting to heat up, the first thing to do is not to lose your own cool. Keeping calm is a crucial first step in defusing a situation. Keeping quiet is the next step, don't be silent, just don't raise your voice any louder than you would talk normally. Raising the volume level of your voice will not only encourage the aggression but it also shows that you are providing a reaction to the situation, and this is something we should be looking to avoid.

Keep a close eye on how the situation is aggression but don't try staring down your aggressor. Remembering that the priority is avoidance, or escape, keep an eye out for any opportunity that allows you to walk away or escape. Don't get out your phone or any other belongings, such as wallets or keys etc.. keep all your valuables out of sight.

Try to calm down your aggressor by asking them in a low voice what is wrong, how they are, what you can do to help them, try to get them to explain their grievance, give them the look of genuine concern. Understanding why a situation is about to breakout is over half way to solving it without violence. Remembering again that if an opportunity arises to get away, take it.

So stay calm, don't rise to the occasion, focus on leaving or avoiding, be alert but don't stare, talk in a socialising manor, if necessary sympathise and keep the conversation flowing, leave or avoid at any opportunity.

If an aggressor actually poses a direct threat to you, or physical violence is imminent, then we will have to be prepared to physically defend ourselves.