When the Enemy Comes, Greet Him with a Smile.

 

Posted by ADAM CARTER on JUL 06, 2025

When the Enemy Comes, Greet Him with a Smile.

(Approx 1 minute 35 second read)

A reminder that the real fight is often won in the mind.

For those of us interested in self-defense, awareness is key – being aware of yourself, your surroundings, and your environment.

But what does that really mean?

It’s about spotting pre-incident indicators, practicing good positioning, and reading verbal and non-verbal cues to defuse trouble early. Awareness is the starting point.

Everything happens in your training – or it should. Your goals and the context you train in make the difference.

If you train only to be the toughest fighter in the room, your skills may only switch on when the fight does. Your awareness probably only kicks in when you’re squared up with someone, ready to go – because that’s what you’ve drilled.

As I’ve said countless times, it’s all about context.

We talk about de-escalation a lot, but some people claim it doesn’t work. Yes it does. It’s about managing situations before they escalate – spotting early signs: facial expressions, hand movements, eye contact, tone of voice, or how someone positions themselves.

Realistic scenario training helps you respond in a measured way, not over the top. Paying attention to what’s happening around you makes all the difference – it sharpens your ability to spot those subtle cues.

If you’re taught only to fight, that’s what you’ll be ready for. Simple. You respond how you train.

If you don’t practice reading those early signals, you won’t spot them when it matters. Most martial arts classes skip this part, unfortunately. So it’s up to you to practice them outside of the dojo.

So be clear about your goals – fitness, fun, or competition are good reasons to train. But if you want real self-defense, your training must match that aim.

Back in the UK in the 1970s, the ‘Green Cross Code’ was something that taught kids to cross the road safely: Stop, Look, Listen, and Think. The same applies here.

Stop to assess the situation. Look for subtle cues. Listen to what’s said – and unsaid. Think before you act.

Awareness keeps you one step ahead – whether crossing a road or avoiding a fight. Train and practice to see it coming – and avoid it altogether.

Written by Adam Carter – Shuri Dojo