Martial Arts Professional Magazine

For most martial artists, the most challenging aspect of self-defense in the real world is to know when to use violence. I must tell you that the hesitation that comes from fear, confusion and the denial of truly aggressive behavior can often preempt the use of any self-defense skills or training. As instructors, we have an obligation to prepare our students for this very real problem.

In any athletic contest, both participants know why they are there. In a martial arts tournament, they both know they are there to “fight”. This is not the case, however, in a real fight. The predator or aggressor alone knows that he intends to find a suitable victim to pound or maybe just verbally humiliate. The potential victim is not usually aware of the predator’s intent before the fact.

Most people are not prepared for direct stand up, in-your-face aggression, especially from a stranger. Their minds cannot make sense of it. They may think, “What did I ever do to this guy to make him act so hostile and aggressive to me; I’ve never even seen him before”? This type of thinking is simply a form of denial of the reality of the hostile intent of the aggressor.

The predator will recognize such a display of denial and confusion as weakness and this brings him one step closer to executing his “attack the suitable and safe victim program.”

The easiest point in time to win a fight is long before any blows are thrown. As a good, general rule, the aggressor will not throw his first shot until he is either provoked or he thinks it is safe to do so. Consequently, the first technique we teach our self-defense students is the strong and authoritative Verbal Boundary Drill. If a student’s voice level, inflection, body carriage, etc. sends a clear message, totally and congruently, then most bully types will simply walk away and look for more passive “game”.

Understand that the verbal boundary also serves to ramp up the student’s mental preparedness to employ violence, when and if, there is no reasonable alternative. The student must respond to the first verbal “woof” at the same level of intensity. If the student’s intensity level is higher, then he may seem provoking to the bully. If his verbal intensity is too low, then he seems too passive, and this invites the bully to go further.

I will present a drill that involves air shields, the woof and striking and shouting by the student. It is essential that you understandthat most people are socialized against the use of violence. Hence, you must create a social support group to support your students’ decision to use violence, as required in their self-defense class. This is very important. No matter how hard or fast you can strike a blow or kick, it won’t mean much in an actual fight if you don’t have your mind right. You must develop your self-defense students’ “minds right.” Their class group will accomplish this in large part.

First, we repeat the “Time-To-Go-Off Drill”. All the students stand in a line on one side of the mat. The instructor says words to the effect, “Many of us are not used to the idea of using violence, but we are all here because we know the time may come when effective violence may be the only way we can protect ourselves, our children or other loved ones. We want to make sure that all of us really know when it is time to strike the enemy. When you feel it is time to strike the aggressor, then everyone shout loudly, ‘NOW!’” The instructor then “woofs” on the co-instructor and moves around him to the ideal range and position to throw a sucker punch. When you reach that ideal position, you may be surprised at how quickly everyone in the class shouts loudly and in unison, “Now!”