layers of self protection. How many do you have?

[goshinman]

We as martial artists spend a lifetime training to be prepared to protect ourselves should the need arise. Belive it or not, most martial artists will probably never use their skills in a real altercation. I mean lets face it, once you graduate from high school, most responsible adults won't end up in a fight unless they work in a high risk occupation such as law enforcement, bouncing, and other high risk vocations. I myself have only had two altercations since I graduated high school in 1997. One involved hand to hand and the other involved use of o.c. spray to resolve the conflict.

I have since learned many things about self defense and offense. One lesson form my jujitsu instructor was called the barriers of personal protection. The barriers are basically intended for use in an actual conflict so they don't include fight avoidence advice and stuff like that. The barriers are basically three personal protection devices that you can deploy before having to resort to hand to hand combat. The first being o.c., mace, or pepper spray. Then a knife, and then a blount force object such as a kubotan or flashlight. And then finally, hand to hand combat.

The theory goes as such. Let's say that a conflict has gone well past the point of argument or a stare down and is getting ready to get physical. The three personal protection devices serve as barriers or obsticals that your opponent has to overcome before they can get to you. He comes toward you, you warn him off in a stern voice and then hit him with your pepper spray. A good quality spray should give you about 10-15 ft. of distance to reach out and touch your opponent. The burning and stinging he is experiencing should give you enough time to bail out, but if for some crazy reason he isn't deterred, you can deploy your kubotan or flashlight to use as a blount force object and apply leverage techniques with them. If you are using a flashlight I recommend the Surefire e2d with the scalloped edges. That little beauty can really change someones attitude very quickly. And in a worst case scenario you can deploy your knife if it gets really crazy.

Of corse you have the freedom to deploy any one of these devices in any order that the situation calls for. For example if I were getting jumped by 3 guy's I would probably go for the knife first. Ideally the only scenario in which hand to hand would come into play would be if I were ambushed or caught off guard somehow, or if by some crazy turn of events I was disarmed of all three PPD's. Alrighty, feel free to discuss and critique as you all wish.

[niel0092]

So what about before it ever even gets to that point? Awareness, avoidence, deter, delay? Your senerio seems to jump strait to the last 2 steps of self defense, disable and destroy. If we count the first 4 I have quite a bit of barrier, more than enough most of the time (I hope!). Otherwise, I do carry a folding knife so that would be one level of protection given your senario. I carry it more for work than self defense though. The repercussions of using a weapon are too severe in my opinion for all but the most dire need.

[McNerny]

I don't know if I would go to the knife unless my life was threatened or if my attacker had a weapon of his own. I would imagine that most fights after highschool would probably be ego driven ones with alcohol involved. In this case, I would feel the reprecussions of using a knife too severe. I would rather get punched a couple of times while stopping the assault rather than whip out my knife and stab my the guy. However, in a more serious situation such as an assault with a weapon, a car jacking attempt, someone trying to get in my house etc. would warrant the use of a knife. Oh by the way, the pepper spray and the kubotan in my opinion would be much more appropriate than a bladed weapon, and it is sensible that you have listed those two before it. Hope this post makes sense.

McNerny

[BLOWN]

I dont know. I probably wouldn't do any of the stuff you said. If by talking the problem can't be resolved, I would simply just try to walk away. If the guy INSISTS on going physical, I would simply warn him and advise him to let things be and not fight. If he decides to attack...I would go for a quick blow to the nose. Once people see blood they usually freak out and stop what they're doing. Then carry on with the situation from there.

I wouldn't walk around with pepper spray everywhere I go or a knife. In the state of Maryland, it's illegal to carry a blade more than 3 inches long. If you were to get into a fight and they're unarmed and you use your blade on them, chances are that you'll get more of a punishment.

So in my case, I would resolve the problem as adults. If things get frisky I would walk away. If the person decided to take it to a physical level i'd give a warning. If warning fails, a quick effective blow that would hopefully make him stop. Then carry the situation from there on out depending on the circumstances.

A Male Carrying mace and knife everyday seems rather ridiculous in my opinion. Unless you work in an area that has a reputation of robberys, gangs, etc.

But to each there own.

-Ray

[Whitefeather]

Well, I carry around a knife, but that is only for utility. I have nowhere near the knife-training that I would need to be effective with it and to not cut myself up in the process of defending myself (something I think would happen to most people who tote around a knife and think it makes them invincible). My one "Layer", so to speak, is my mind. The human mind is the most incredible weapon and "Layer". Period, no debate.

-Dave

Edited February 24, 2006 by Whitefeather

[ovine king]

this line of thought isn't always applicable to all styles of martial arts. There are some styles that see things very clearly between fighting and not fighting.

this is how i have always been taught.

fight or don't fight.

if i fight, i should be willing to do what is neccesary. These layers will only interfere with what is already a mess of a situation in terms of my martial art. The style itself already has various layers as you call them but they all just happen to work from the same range.

To start, if i am confronted and attacked (ignoring any pre-emptive act on my part) the my first layer is to grapple/lock/push/clear or otherwise subdue. The locks that I have trained with leave me on my feet and them at least on a knee, giving me space.

The second layer would be to actually strike (punch/kick/knee/elbow whatever)

the third layer is basically the second but to the extreme and is esentially about the choice of targets.

in short, if attacked i try to control, if i can't i hit, if hitting doesn't wotk, hit harder and at different places. This all tends to happen during the "scuffle".

one moment, one exchange (albeit possibly a long one).

the reason why the options that you pose do not work within my style is that it removes certain options:

de-escalation (pull a weapon = fight)

surprise (pull a weapon = show of intent)

some styles work by being "instant" and act in the moment. Break that moment into different layers kinda removes you from the original intention: hit hard, hit first, finish it quickly.

in a slightly different note though, i'd say that carrying a pepper spray would be a sensible choice but it is one that falls outside of this idea of barriers/layers. For a start it is a semi-ranged, offensive but non-deadly weapon that minor training can get you efficient in executing. if it is too late for that then martial arts training comes in and you should try to finish it quickly using whatever means.

[innocui]

You talk about using weapons, but your a martial artist, you don't need material weapons. theres avoidance, reasoning, attention grabbing (always a good one if your in a dark alley) the good old stare-down. And then, if they still want to attack, use your body.

Something like a sidestep and knee to the solar-plexus/stomach is very good...then RUN LIKE THE WIND. never stay for a fight. and there are improvides weapons. keys, shoes, glossy magazine, rolled up tight...that one really hurts!!!

Anyway, you don't need knives, pepper spray, kubotans etc.

[Cybren]

Where does "gun" fit into those barriers?

I don't have one, just curious (a handgun that is, i'd imagine a rifle would be cumbersome to carry for self defense)

[BLOWN]

You talk about using weapons, but your a martial artist, you don't need material weapons. theres avoidance, reasoning, attention grabbing (always a good one if your in a dark alley) the good old stare-down. And then, if they still want to attack, use your body.

Something like a sidestep and knee to the solar-plexus/stomach is very good...then RUN LIKE THE WIND. never stay for a fight. and there are improvides weapons. keys, shoes, glossy magazine, rolled up tight...that one really hurts!!!

Anyway, you don't need knives, pepper spray, kubotans etc.

Exactly.

-Ray

[UseoForce]

Please go look at the last 4 pages or so of "What weapon do you actually carry" in the Weapons section if you really feel this way.