Deadly techniques - are you prepared?

[gzk]

Some styles teach techniques that are considered deadly. Would you be prepared to use them? Would you trust their effectiveness? Are you psychologically ready to kill someone with your bare hands in a split-second? Do you know how much force will be required? Have you trained these techniques (albeit at reduced intensity)?

[Elky]

I would always be going for the head punch or ribs punch. If a scumbag happen to fall over and crack their head, big deal, but I wouldn't ever try to kill anyone.

[french fri25]

i agree. i would never try to kill someone in a fight. my hapkido if used effectively should allow me to control my opponent without really hurting them. but, if i was required to use striking, i would never try to really hurt someone like gauging their eyes or something like that unless if it were absolutely neccessary. if i were being attacked by a knife, or if im on my back in a really bad situation where my own life could be at stake, then i would use more brutal tactics and do whatever neccessary to escape from danger.

[bushido_man96]

The important question, I think, is do you train to use these techniques properly, in case you need to. The other point the instructor has to make is to be justified in using these techniques.

It also depends on what the attitude of the attacker is. Usually, you can tell when the two of you are squaring off outside of a bar...this is a fight. However, if you try to fight someone who is trying to kill you, you may be in for a rude awakening.

Just seeing these moves in forms, or being told what they are for, is not really enough. You have to train to grab the hair, have someone wear goggles to go for their eyes. Loren Christensen recommended a drill where your partner lays on the ground, wearing goggles, and you place a peeled orange over their eyes. You procede to dig your fingers into the orange, while your partner kicks, screams, and thrashes about in mock pain.

[ps1]

In a life and death situation, violence of action is what will save you. The lethality of my techniques would not cross my mind. I would simply take actions necessary to defend myself. When the threat is neutralized, I would stop.

I'll point out that this is a very different scenario than the "drunk guy at a frat party" that alot of people deal with. Certainly it's a potentially dangerous situation, but I would be much more careful how I handle a situation like this. I wouldn't be gouging eyes or crushing throats. I would choke him to sleep though:)

As I've said before though, if it becomes a situation where more than one person is coming at me, all bets are off. It's difficult enough to defend against two people (and a bit of luck helps) let alone trying to be nice while doing it.

[USCMAAI]

I have had to use lethal force on several occassions in my life (military/police/ and in my personal life). Although I would say that it has never come easy to me, I have never hesitated. Is there a psychological barrier that must be overcome in order to do this? Yes and No. Some of you are quite right by suggesting that if training is made realistic, and responses are taught to be automatic, a lethal technique can be performed without thought. Although this isnt necessarily desired outside of a "combat zone". All self-defense is not lethal, and I would suggest to you all that knowing Use of Force and the self-defnse lawsof your area. I have written several articles on use of force. If you would like I would post one of them sometime.

[cross]

Some styles teach techniques that are considered deadly. Would you be prepared to use them?

Definitely.

Would you trust their effectiveness?

Yes, but at the same time, if something isnt working im more than happy to completely abort it and move onto something else.

Are you psychologically ready to kill someone with your bare hands in a split-second?

Its hard to say that while sitting in front of a computer i suppose. I would never hurt or kill someone out of malice, however when you are placed in a situation where it is your life or theirs then i would be willing to do whatever it takes to go home.

Do you know how much force will be required? Have you trained these techniques (albeit at reduced intensity)?

A general idea of how hard you need to do something for it to work is important. However i believe that the unpredictability of self defense situations would make it near impossible to completely monitor the amount of force you use for each technique. This obviously depends on the level of threat and how comfortable you are with your own ability.

[Hwa Rang Warrior]

I would do what ever it took to save my life and base my actions on my attacker. If I feel that they are trying to kill me then I will do what I have to to survive. If that means ending there life because thats the only thing that will stop them then so be it. I'd like to think I could control a situation so it would never come to that but life is unpredictable and we as martial artists train to be prepared for anything.

Its better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.

[lordtariel]

Are you ready for the psychological fallout that may occur when you take a life or have somebody try to take yours? There's more to a life and death encounter than surviving, you have to be able to live afterwards. Any comments about this from LEO or military people who have had to take a life? I would say they're probably better equipped to deal with the aftermath of that sort of thing than with your average Joe.

[ps1]

Are you ready for the psychological fallout that may occur when you take a life or have somebody try to take yours?

Is anybody? There's no way to train for this. But it's better to have to deal with the aftermath than to be the tragedy.

There's more to a life and death encounter than surviving, you have to be able to live afterwards. Any comments about this from LEO or military people who have had to take a life? I would say they're probably better equipped to deal with the aftermath of that sort of thing than with your average Joe.

It sucks. Period.