Just How Simple is Self-Defense

Just How Simple is Self-Defense?

Self-defense isn’t really as simple as some would have us believe. It is not a subject that is set in black and white. Self-defense is a whole lot of gray as we have seen in recent court cases and media covered events. In order to make good sound decisions as to when to defend, when to avoid, when to just walk away, and when to intervene we need all the knowledge and experience we can gain. Study everything you can in physical skills and mental preparedness. Train as often as you can. Self-defense and carrying a gun, knife, stick, or even empty hands techniques for the purpose of defense should not be taken lightly. “Carrying a weapon isn’t for everyone.”

Over the years the advent of the in car camera, battle cams, cell phone cameras, security cameras on every wall and post, and now today’s body camera we are learning more and more about what to expect and how we react in a life threatening situation that we can’t get away from. We get a first hand look into what happens to us and what we do naturally and how a trained individual  has a better chance of survival and maintains better control over the untrained. We also get to see those incidents of poor judgement and unjustified acts. The videos are watched and studied meticulously by experts and trainers everywhere. Today we have dozens of organizations that are dedicated to studying self-defense, combat, and violence. We have a profound number of experts to give us answers and incite into the act of violence itself and what causes it and where it comes from. Experts that are dedicated to the physiological and psychological of what happens when we are faced with violence, the act of self-defense, and the aftermath of such a life changing event. These experts take the time to interview those who have survived such an incident and came out the winner. We are taking note and learning from the experiences of others that have been there. With all of this information and knowledge available to us today there is no reason not to make good use of it to arm and prepare ourselves. It’s important to our day to day safety, survival and our mental well-being.

Things have changed over the years. I have changed my mind on the way I train, what I teach, and what works most effectively and efficiently. After being with other instructors, hearing and paying attention to what the experts have to say as they break things down and my own experiences. By poring over the studies when they become available. Everything from techniques, tactics, ammunition, gear, to mental preparedness the thoughts have changed. Some of the studies of the past and the terms that came from them are now being proven flawed and outdated. That is not to say that some of the ideas are not still applicable to a certain extent. The old ideas of the K.I.S.S., Weaver vs Isosceles, O.O.D.A. Loop, Hicks Law, The Heart Rate Chart, Color Codes of Awareness, The Loss of Complex Motor Skills, and The Tueller Drill have all been looked at in new light as they apply to defense, training, and effectiveness. Some have only seen minor changes in presentation to increase effectiveness. Others have seen complete overhaul and possibly even been proven completely wrong as they were presented in the past. You still see old  ideas come up from time to time and touted as the new big idea. We still see old things taught in the old light. Look at a couple of those I listed. Some people who carry a gun have never heard of any of these terms or phrases. Many are only interested in the physical training and not driving concepts behind why we do what we do and why we move the way we do…… There is more to it than just “How To”. There is “Why” and ” When to”.

Loss of complex motor skills; Yes, we can see a deterioration in complex motor skills in a critical situation. Your level of training will have a dramatic affect as to what extent complex motor skills are lost. We can still perform and maintain very complex motor skills if we properly prepare and train.

K.I.S.S.; The idea that we only need or should learn a handful of responses to an attack because too many will overload us mentally. To many choices? The human brain can make distinction to what is and determine the best response in milliseconds. Training in many responses can make us more efficient and effective defense. One response DOES NOT fit all attacks. This is also in the Hick’s Law. A computer study from the fifties that somehow became applied to defense and response decision making.

The Heart Rate Chart; Here we are told that, at 175 beats per minute, alone, will make us freeze up and loose everything. Loss of gross motor skills, bladder and bowel control, Rational thinking and control, become submissive. Not entirely true. Things like level of training, emotions, chemicals, even prior meals and drink  added to heart rate will affect reactions. A high heart rate alone is not enough. We have seen outstanding performance in individuals who’s heart rate was quite high. Above 180 beats per minute. Many factors affect this not just heart rate. Fit the Color Code of Awareness “Black” here as well.

The Tueller Drill; In this experiment it was determined that a person with hand on weapon and aware of a possible attack would take 1 ½ second to draw and fire a weapon. It takes a 1 ½ second for an attacker to move 21 feet to engage with an edged weapon. Virtual tie. These are averages. Today we have expanded the response bubble to about 30 feet to allow time for the defender to deploy his/her weapon and fire it effectively to stop the attacker to reduce the chance that injury will result. Now consider the time it takes to deploy a weapon from concealment. So when do you prepare to draw and defend as a concealed carry holder? How far out should you be looking?

When it comes down to it, there are also a lot of myths and misconceptions when it comes to training, self-defense, violence, and dare I use the word combat. Yes, I said it because at some point combat is part of self-defense. After all it’s a fight for survival in a life or death struggle. A fight is a fight but at a certain point it can become a self-defense situation because of the change in the level of force used by one of the participants. It can become a self-defense situation when overwhelming numbers are involved. Say you start with one and then suddenly face multiples.

Is Self-Defense simple? NO! If you are in a place where personal protection is a concern. If your job duties place you in that place. If you own a firearm for defensive purposes, in home, business, or concealed carry. You, are obligated to train and have the greatest amount of knowledge and preparation as you can possibly afford. Learn where violence comes from and it’s causes. Training, information, and techniques are becoming more available and evolving all the time and there is only one way to stay up to date. Old studies are being shown in a new light because of technology and science. Start basic! Study! Learn as much as you can! Get Advanced! Build confidence in your ability to defend yourself and innocents!