Self-defense is NOT about winning. You’re not in the dojo, on the mats, in a training hall, participating in a competition, rolling on the floor. Self-defense is about survival.

 

Posted by ADAM CARTER on JAN 03, 2024

Self-defense is NOT about winning. You’re not in the dojo, on the mats, in a training hall, participating in a competition, rolling on the floor. Self-defense is about survival.

 

I have been writing articles for several years now and a misconception about self-defense continuously runs through the comments I receive.

Let's attempt to clarify things.

Self-defense is NOT about winning. You’re not in the dojo, on the mats, in a training hall, participating in a competition, rolling on the floor.

Self-defense is about survival.

Pride and dominance have no place here. Engaging in unnecessary fights out of pride can get you hurt, and the root of such a mindset often lies in misguided training.

If your dojo only teaches fighting as self-defense, that's a problem.

Survival is at the core of self-protection. It is crucial to recognize that self-protection is not a matter of pride, dominance, or a relentless pursuit of victory. Approaching conflicts with this attitude may lead to unnecessary engagements in fights that could be avoided.

If the primary focus of your training revolves around fighting first as a form of self-defense, it signals a fundamental issue with practitioners and instructors being delusional about the true purpose of their training.

It's not uncommon to encounter martial artists, and it doesn’t matter which style you practice, advocating striking as the sole solution for every situation.

This is both socially and legally irresponsible.

True self-protection focuses on avoiding conflict, not putting your hands up in a high guard and inviting the fight. Fighting skills are a LAST resort, not a first line of defense. You should be investing in proactive strategies first to keep yourself safe.

In the realm of real conflicts, consequences are real, and the outcome may involve someone getting seriously hurt or, in the worst-case scenario, losing their life.

It boils down to survival - and surviving such encounters introduces medical, legal, and psychological ramifications.

The critical factor of success or failure in realistic situations lies in the actions taken at the earliest possible stage. Understanding that self-defense initiates long before physical contact occurs is pivotal.

This early stage, often referred to as the pre-confrontation or pre-fight stages, is where effective personal safety training begins.

Can you protect a loved one, a partner, your children, while you’re engaging in an unnecessary fight? Can you maintain composure under threatening conditions?

The instinctive fight reaction tends to surface when faced with threats, but cultivating composure is an essential aspect of training. It's not about mindlessly taking an attacker down with a barrage of punches and kicks; rather, it involves consistently practicing how to handle threatening situations until you can remain calm and rational.

De-escalation and avoidance tactics become crucial elements of this training. In the unfortunate event that de-escalation and avoidance prove ineffective, self-defense training shifts towards preserving well-being.

While fighting may become necessary, the primary objective should always be to escape and get away safely. Contrary to common misconceptions, you should only using force when force IS justified.

Relying solely on striking as self-defense is a superficial approach. If striking is all you know, you really are unprepared for what may come your way.

Yes, fighting might be necessary, but your primary goal should always be escape and safety.

Think of martial arts, fighting, and self-defense like siblings: same roots, different paths. They're all related, but their goals and how you get there are totally different.

Focusing solely on a single style, even those renowned for tournament success, can create a false sense of security in self-defense. Real-world effectiveness requires a broader skillset and adaptable training.

Choose realistic training, not marketing myths. Prevention is the bedrock of effective self-defense, not fighting.