Surviving Altercations: Dtac Krav Maga Asheville
20 principles
RWD: Surviving Altercations:
Following these principles is an aggressive approach that will help you to safely deal with violence.
End it before it begins!
#1. Recognize the threat. Understand that in a real threatening situation good self defense should emphasize Offense! Dominate the situation.
Note: perceive the assault: check it or move as the opponent moves
#2. Focus, Commitment, Sheer Will. Using a tactical de escalation approach can be a great equalizer. Keep your emotions and ego in check
#3. Move towards the threat on any assault that “mirrors the numbers on a clock.”.
Note: against a much bigger attacker or long blade, you can compensate by taking a diagonal step towards the opponent in the direction the weapon is moving as you face the weapon.
#4. Defending against most straight attacks especially if a weapon is involved, negate then move to attack and control.
However if being rushed or a weapon has the advantage of reach, (I.e. machete or pole) in which you are the “target”, move offline-diagonally forward as you commit to your solution. Remember that we go neither backwards nor sideways.
#5. Give the Crazies and/or Homeless space! Think safety first.
#6. All strikes are A to B. Be willing to cause pain. Know the five directions.
#7. Keep your responses to violence simple and direct. Once you begin stay in motion.
#8. Tactical de escalation done properly will give a potential attacker three choices: he simply attacks, moves away perhaps calling you names, or he comes in closer while threatening you. All these offer you the opportunity to control the situation. Regardless of which outcome, control your ego, control your emotions, words said are not personal. Focus on the threat.
#9a. Core elements of surviving an altercation: Awareness (be alert) = Observe (look but don’t stare), Assess (do you feel threatened), Perceive (what is the real danger), Set up (improve your position but neither take a fighting stance nor appear confrontational. Your behavioral response is important), Countermeasures: Negate – Attack – Control and attack – Disarm. Disengage.
#9b. Short version (engagement inevitable): perceive, set up, react. Have the foresight to disengage
#10. Do not get into a confrontational conversation. if you feel that you must verbally respond, use simple questions like “why are you…”.
#11. If you are comfortable with your abilities during an assault, you have the option to force a response. Be prepared to react accordingly.
When a weapon is involved, you can focus on the weapon and RESPOND, but you may not stare at it and do nothing.
#12. Some of the worst responses to a threat within striking range are for you to do nothing, stepping back, checking their forward movement without striking, extending your hands out in front mimicking a stop.
Their rage will imbalance them. A quick aggressive response on your part can take advantage of this factor.
#13. Motion creates motion. Sometimes your response might create a second situation. Stay focused and respond accordingly.
#14. Negations require you to attack. Strikes can be negations. Solutions are a learned response. All solutions require a negation. Not all negations require a solution.
#15. Learn to perceive the signs of a frontal attack. (I.e. stance, hand gestures and positioning, an aggressive attitude).
Negate the entry (360, inside, double hammer, dive, checking , brushing, butterfly 2&1) and most frontal assaults will never succeed.
Realize that defense relies on reaction rather than action. Offense is a simpler approach. Don’t be so caught up in what you think you can do, that you let someone threatening you get within striking distance (especially if they have a blade) and then wait for them to act first.
#16. Simultaneously negate / control and attack:
360, dive, checking , wraps, plucking.
All other negations: negate, then move to your attract.
#17. Practice and get comfortable with combining negations. This method will help your ability to adapt.
#18. Hit when checking (weapon involved) / check when hitting (negate potential retaliatory action).
When you use checking, both hands have a job as always, and your body and feet must move. Understand the situation. Prioritize.
#18. Hit when checking (weapon involved) / check when hitting (negate potential retaliatory action).
When you use checking, both hands have a job as always, and your body and feet must move. Understand the situation. Prioritize.
#19. When in doubt, hit. If your solution is compromised hit. Easier to ask forgiveness than permission.
If violence begins, turn off the part of your brain that thinks, just react.
#20. Everybody wants results but not everybody wants to do what’s necessary to achieve that.
Bottom line: if an altercation goes physical, be quick and keep it simple. Attack in such a way as to actually hurt the source and leave. No words needed.