Self Defence ?

[Rotten Head Fok]

I was reading another post and was thinking of what your opinions were on self defence. If I am being attacked when I'm thinking of defending myself, blocking, redirecting, or moving out of the way come to mind and the least violent .........? Least violent is what I'm getting at I guess. My personal thought is that at the initial onset of the attack a block or side step will probably(meaning I might do something else depending on the attacker) be my first reaction but followed by a quick intentional offencive counter-attack to inflict as much damage as deemed necessary to stop the attacker from further intanglement with myself or others. I don't want to get into a debate about fighting, just a simple scenario, your walking along and you are attacked. Would you choose defensive moves or launch an attack ? Which to me the latter being a defence in and of itself.

 

Also damage to an opponent can be controlled to dislocations vs. breaking bones etc...but like I've said it depends apon the situation. My primary concern is to stop my attacker as soon as possible from causing either of us any further injuries.

[Luckykboxer]

I guess it would depend on the intent as i view it from the attacker..

 

If the attacker is coming at me with hands and feet only im probably going to block him and try to talk him down......

 

If he is coming at me with a weapon then i am going to block adn counter attack to remove the weapon(club, stick, etc)

 

If he is coming at me with a gun or knife and has it ina position to kill me, then i will act accordingly, to block, remove the threat as quickly and safely as possible to me and any other bystanders....t aht doesnt always mean i have to try to kill the person, and most of the time my first move wont be to kill them, but if it were to become apparant i couldnt stop him i would have no qualms about ending his life to protect mine or innocent bystanders... but that would be an extreme last case scenario, and only when the rest of my options failed

[Shorinryu Sensei]

I'm a very defense oriented fighter and prefer block/move/counter techniques as opposed to aggressive, offensive techniques. As to the amount of force used, that would depend on the situation. If the opponent is larger or stronger than me, I would use more force. Same with multiple opponents, massive aggression, or if weapons are apparent.

 

If it's just some drunk that can hardly stand on their own two feet without falling, I won't do much other than misdirect their force and drop them on their butt a few times.

 

I have no desire to hurt anybody if it can be avoided, but I won't hesitate to drop someone if the situation warrants it.

[delta1]

I recomend training an offensive mindset. Your defense should be an offense. Attack the attack! Take the initiative from him.

 

This doesn't mean you have to hurt him. If the scenario calls for it, you may simply subdue him, redirect or upset him. But don't get caught in a situation where you are on the defensive and he still has the initiative. Even a frail, 90 yr old drunk can get lucky, given enough chances.

[seanwilliam]

Ok, heres a response from a fledgeling MAst, someone who has yet to even find a school--so take it with grain of salt.

 

I suppose you survive, period.

 

Hopefully all your training will pay off, and you will be able to walk away unharmed.

 

IMHO there is only who you are, what your made of--what you've made yourself to be--in the moment of attack there is only YOU--there is no deffense/offense, there is only what you are. If you are strong then your defense will be strong, if you are weak... If you are agressive then your defense will be agressive, if your passive...

 

In short, who you've made yourself to be, will determine how you handle the situation...think away, but your thoughts in 60 seconds can not change a lifetime of development, you are you and it will be YOU that fights.

 

I hope that makes sense.

 

(Also, I do believe techniques play a huge role...but only through YOU)

[zerohour]

My primary concern is to stop my attacker as soon as possible from causing either of us any further injuries.

 

That's a good statement - but, personally, my primary concern would be to stop my attacker as soon as possible before causing ME, or bystanders, further injuries. Not causing him further injuries would be alot lower on my list. I would rather face charges of assault for defending myself than have my skull cracked by some scumbag.

[White Warlock]

Good posts all.

(Also, I do believe techniques play a huge role...but only through YOU)

I feel that training is what gives you your options. If you train only to cause serious damage, that's your only recourse in a confrontation.

 

As to the degree of threat... it is subjective, i agree with Lucky there. On the other hand, confrontations are dynamic, and what you may one moment think is a non-lethal threat, could turn into a lethal one in a split second. Therefore, i'm inclined to perform maximum stopping power at all times.

 

That is not to say i would perform a lethal counter-attack. By stopping power, i mean act in a fashion that will give me the best assurance that the confrontation will end immediately. The longer it continues, the larger the degree of threat posed. After all, we are human... our assailant is human... and we learn, therefore they learn.

 

I prefer not to give the assailant an 'opportunity' to learn.

[Red J]

I feel that training is what gives you your options. If you train only to cause serious damage, that's your only recourse in a confrontation.....

 

.....By stopping power, i mean act in a fashion that will give me the best assurance that the confrontation will end immediately. The longer it continues, the larger the degree of threat posed.

 

Good points here. I would try to respond with a defensive manuever followed quickly with an offensive response to neutralize the attack. Of course the response depends on numerous factors that have been mentioned by the other posters. The thing that I see as crucial is to end it immediately as WW said. The longer it goes the more chance for injury.

[gcav]

There are too many variables to answer. But if someone attacks me, I attack back.

[Jerry]

Self defence has a lot to do with your current state of mind when the situation arises. At times you might attack the attack (as said above) and at other times you would merely want to block it off, showing the guy that you can kick his butt, but don't really feel like doing it.

 

What we do is we have seperate classes for self defence and we train to the extend that you are always in a certain state of mind when attacked/provoked. So maybe it's better to train for a situation rather and know what you will do at all times instead of relying on your state of mind. Sure, a drunk guy that can barely walk, need only be helped on.

 

The thing comes in when you are fighting someone who can stand and fight for some time. Now this is the guy you would rather want to take out under a minute than have to stand risk of having your skull cracked (I see this is a common fear ). How do you know which is which when attacked? Well in my eyes you don't and that is why I feel that you have to be ready for it and always have a game plan.

 

Trust that this might be some food for thought ... ????