Here are four basic rules to start you on the path to creating a wise and reasonable self defense plan.
1. Walk away if you can. I cannot stress this one enough. Do not get into a fight just because you have learned a few self defense techniques. Avoid conflict if you can. Any conflict carries with it risk no matter how skillful you are. Your life and health are too precious to waste on proving a point or avenging some slight to an imaginary thing called honor. For years I had people ask me what I would do if someone came up and insulted me or my mother or America or whatever. I always answer: laugh and walk away. Life is too short to defend concepts. If there is a real physical threat, by all means defend yourself but if someone is insulting you just let it go. So to reiterate if you can walk away do so.
2. Don't argue with guns and knives. This is really a no brainer. This is not TV. Knife and bullet wounds suck horribly. You often won't survive an attack with one of these implements. Just do ask your attacker says and let them go. This works in cases of robbery. Just give them the wallet. your wallet is not more valuable than your life. The big exception to this rule is if your attacker tries to take you somewhere. Your chances of survival drop significantly if you are being taken to a new location. In this case some knowledge of firearms and blades is your best bet. Know what you might be facing and you can make an informed decision on your plan of action.
3. Don't make threats. This is just really stupid. If someone bumps into you, cuts you off on the freeway, or in some other way damages your calm simply ignore it and move on. First, you never know what that person is capable of if insulted. They could have a concealed handgun, a knife, or be just plain old reckless and homicidal. Second, if you are going to fight someone it is tactically a huge mistake to say: I'm gonna kick your ass. This gives them a warning and any tactician will tell you that 99% of warfare is deception.
4. Be prepared mentally, physically, and tactically. Have a plan for self defense situations. Learn self defense scenarios and play them out with a friend and then mentally over and over and over. If you practice a lot then every practice reduces the panic reaction you can have when dealing with an attacker.
These four simple rules are a good start to gaining streetwise self defense. You can protect yourself if you learn the rules and back them up with action. Learn how to punch, how to kick, how to aim for targets and how to escape from holds. You don't have to get a black belt but you do have to do some work. The work of learning to protect yourself is work well worth doing.
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