subject: Defend Yourself! A Life Saving Tip To Remember When You're Learning "self-defense" [print this page] In the U.SIn the U.S. Alone, there is an assault every 17 seconds. But, before you shake your head and think that this a uniquely "American" thing, the statistics don't look that much better in other places around the globe. And in many places - they're actually worse!
If you've been studying martial arts or self defense for any length of time, you're probably aware of the problem. In fact, that's probably why you train in the first place. If you're like me, you want to be able to keep yourself, and your loved-ones, safe from criminal activity, and the brutalizing advances of someone who wants to take what you have.
But, in the midst of all of your training - while you're developing the skills of your particular form or style of martial arts - developing the so-called "self-defense" tactics, strategies, and techniques that you've collected up to now - I wonder if you have really been preparing for "Him."
No. I don't mean "God." I mean, I wonder if you're really as ready for your assailant as he's going to be ready for "You." And the reason that I wonder this - the reason that "you" should be asking the same question is because......Your attacker won't care if you know self defense! Seriously. Let's think about this for a second or three.
If you're attacker picks you as a target, do you really think that he's worried that you'll use karate or some self defense on him? After watching the stylized and "respectful" training that goes on in most martial arts schools, do you really think that he's going to worry about you?
Even if you think, or been taught, that you'll have the advantage because you'll have the element of surprise when you whip out your XYZ technique; the truth is that he will have already beat you to that because he will already be in attack-mode when he goes into action. You, however, will not be.
You will need to "catch-up" - mentally, physically, and emotionally.
What you'll also have to do is to deal with more rage, animosity, and violence then you've ever dreamed possible. You will be in a world that is so different from your martial arts or self defense classes that you might feel as though you don't know anything at all. Even myself, and everyone else who's ever "been there," and had to work through the chaos of an attack, find it very difficult to describe and make sense of it logically. Because... It's NOT logical!
So, the bottom line is this... In a real-world self defense situation - not a bar fight where you decide to go at it with another emotionally-deficient, insecure, and intoxicated child-in-an-adult's body - in the fight of your life, you are going to have to be able to use the very same tools and weapons that your attacker is using.
You're going to have to be able to be as violent, as intent, and as un-caring as him, and about him - if you want to be on this side of the grass tomorrow!
