Rule number 1: There are no rules!
There are no rules! In the street when faced with an attacker who has already made the decision to hurt or kill you there are no rules. These people are breaking the law and doing so with forethought. They will stop at nothing to accomplish their set task. You have to make the decision to throw the rule book out the window. Remember, you are dealing with the unknown. The attacker or attackers may be carrying weapons or have friends waiting to assist. Maybe they want to hurt or kill you. Maybe they want to hurt or kill your family. The rules are gone; and don’t worry about the law. “You were in fear for your life and the life of those around you.” No judge in their right mind would jail you for that.
Rule number 2: Expect to get, hurt cut or shot!
Expect the worst. When you are in the heat of combat expect to get hit, cut or shot. This thought process is necessary in order to set fear aside and bypass the shock effect of when you actually do encounter the damage and you will take some damage. This is the mind frame that soldiers, mercenaries and professional fighters have adopted since the beginning of time. I used to carry a note to loved ones that was handed to my closest team mates when I was in combat in the Special Forces. After the operations they would give the envelope back to me. I made mental preparations for the worst and embraced the possibility that I may not return. This allowed me to transcend myself to a higher level of operation and not be concerned with the mortality issue of war. Although the average Joe or Jane may not need to go to the extreme of writing a death letter, they should definitely prep for the worst. Preparing for the worst can also aid in lessening the shock of being struck, stabbed or shot. Shock can completely shut someone down physically and mentally. Often times in combat it is shock that kills.
Rule number 3: Everything is a weapon!
Weather you are on the beach and throw sand, beat the attacker with a rolled up magazine or simply bite and spit; anything can be used as a weapon to help you gain operational momentum. One of my favorite movies is the Bourne trilogy based on the Robert Ludlum novels. The hero Jason Bourne is a CIA top spy and is highly trained to adapt to his environment using everything from letter openers to a rolled up newspaper for a weapon. You don’t have to be an intelligence operative to know how to pick up anything and use it as a weapon. Whenever you are sitting around with nothing to do grab the nearest item and begin to practice using it as a weapon. If you are a martial arts or self protection instructor center an entire class on expedient weaponry. You’ll be amazed at what you might come up with.
Rule number 4: Growl, snarl and bite!
It is proven that in a street confrontation that audibles can aid in fostering self doubt and fear in your attacker, by subconsciously creating a more dangerous picture of yourself. Audibles can also aid in creating what is known as the affect of sensory overload. Sensory overload concentrates on overloading your enemies senses by attacking physically, visually, mentally and audibly. Sensory overload can aid in putting your adversary in a hyper suggestive state of shock. Coincidentally this is the same state one undergoes in hypnosis. You want to create the mental image that you are more than human and an uncontrollable wild force.
Rule number 5: Don’t think just do!
Stop thinking and be more spontaneous. If you see that a hostile situation is imminent; get out or lash out. Don’t take the time to figure out which one of O’ Sensei’s magical techniques you will use. Just go with the flow. Fighting is not pretty and technique does not always apply. Don’t forget Techniques are like opinions, everybody has one; they all stink and some smell worse than others.
In the end its on you
When it all comes down to it you can try to train and prepare yourself for anything. ultimately it is up to you. Will you be a sheep or will you become a wolf? It takes a wolf to kill one, and sometimes it takes a wolf to protect the sheep. You may have to revert to something very brutal and primitive to protect your life or the life of those you love. In the end do what you can live with.
Andrew Curtiss is an Army veteran of 11 years. He is author of Combat Application Techniques: Principles Of Destruction (book on Knife and Hand to Hand Combat). Andrew is the former 1995 American Independent Karate Association Men’s black belt champion in Kata, Sparring and Weapons. Andrew holds a 2nd dgree black belt in Tae Kwan Do and Shurite Kenpo Karate. He is a former kickboxer and current professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter.
His Websites: http://www.unarmedcombat.zoomshare.com
http://www.myspace.com/andycurtiss
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