Self Defense

What is self defense? One definition of the term is, “actions taken by a person to prevent another person from causing harm to one's self, one's property or one's home”. Another is, “Using whatever means necessary to quickly end a situation that offers you grievous bodily injury”. While sounding relatively simple and straightforward, there is a very fine line between what is considered self defense, or simply fighting. Knocking out the closest assailant of a group of 4 or 5 so you run away is self defense. Shooting a knife wielding assailant is self defense. Talking yourself out of a confrontation is self defense. However, the best self defense is to never put yourself in a bad situation to begin with.

With a general idea of what self defense is, it would be helpful to discuss what fighting is. Fighting is a participatory event. As defined in a legal context, it is "mutually agreed upon combat." That means you are actively engaged in the conflict and you are half the reason that it escalated. Fighting is illegal, self defense is legal. If you are walking down the street and are unexpectedly assaulted by six thugs who demand your money and then attack, defending yourself is self defense. Standing there, nose-to-nose, calling the guy all kinds of nasty things so he takes a shot at you is NOT self defense. It is fighting. Here is another interesting scenario that I came across that helps to define this further:

“If you are honestly trying to withdraw from physical danger and -- without provocation -- you are assaulted, that is self-defense. However -- and this is a big however -- backing away, while proclaiming that the guy has an amazing resemblance to various anatomical items, is *not* looked upon as being attacked ‘without provocation’. That is still participating and escalating the problem. Your may have been backing up, but your words were still attacking. In fact, some states have laws that state you cannot say certain things and then claim he attacked you for no reason”.

I went back to our assignment from December 2006, “Martial Arts & The Law”, and found the following:

Self-defense: It is generally a legal defense to a charge of homicide, assault, or battery to show that you had reason to believe that you were about to become the victim of serious bodily harm. However, you must simultaneously prove that you tried every other reasonable way of avoiding the situation. This includes running away and calling 911. You also lose this right to self-defense if you started the fight, chose to engage in mutual combat, or committed the defense solely in the protection of property. Errors in judgment don't count, either. So if you get into a fight on behalf of someone else, and that person is later found to have been the legal aggressor, then you become the aggressor's accomplice, and risk conviction for assault, battery, or manslaughter, as appropriate.

Deadly force: In North American jurisprudence, deadly force is defined as being an amount of force that can be expected to cause death or serious bodily harm. This includes the use of improvised weapons such as skillets and hammers as well as the use of obvious weapons such as firearms and knives. Attacks by boxers and other trained martial artists are generally construed as being sufficient to cause death or serious bodily harm. Courts usually allow people to use deadly force in self-defense when all three of the following conditions are met:

• All means of non-violent and non-lethal means of self-defense have failed.
• Death or serious bodily harm will result if you do nothing.
• The use of deadly force does not significantly increase the risk of injury for innocent bystanders. This third requirement usually precludes the use of firearms.

Excessive force: Excessive force refers to the use of more force than a judge decides was necessary to have caused an altercation to end. While this involves considerable armchair-quarterbacking, most judges consider it excessive if you keep hitting someone after he or she has fallen to the ground, or if you use weapons or unarmed combat skills in response to simple assaults. And as most criminal trials are ultimately tried by a judge without recourse to jury, the judges' opinions matter a great deal.

As an addition to our assignment, we were asked to take the 5 characteristics of an athlete and list them in our personal order of proficiency. The characteristics (in no particular order) are:

· Speed

· Strength

· Balance

· Endurance

· Flexibility

For myself, I would rank these in the following order:

· Strength – For the last two years, Sensei Robinson has been training me resistance and weight exercises that have resulted in a very noticeable increase in overall strength and power.

· Balance – This used to be number one for me before beginning training as I’ve always had a natural sense of balance. However, as fatigue sets in, balance becomes more difficult.

· Speed – My hand speed and reaction time is faster than my whole body propulsion speed, but I’m aware of it and try to use it to my advantage during kumite.

· Endurance – This one is a close tie with speed and for me is dependant on the activity. For aerobic type activity, I have definitely improved over the last several weeks because of the addition of cardio training outside of karate. For upper body exercises, my endurance is pretty good but as soon as my legs become involved, I tire quickly. It is because of this that I rank this as number 4 and I attribute some of this to my weight, which is currently 210lbs.

· Flexibility – This is the one that I continue to struggle with as I continue my training. It is definitely MUCH improved from when I first started training, but needs much more work.

This self assessment would have been impossible without the benefit of training on a daily basis and discovering these strengths and weaknesses. I believe that effective self defense incorporates the knowledge (and repetitive training) of effective techniques, along with the awareness of the situation and finally, knowledge of what our personal abilities and strengths are to quickly determine the best course of action in any given situation.

Luis Santana

Triangle’s Best Karate

April, 2008

Paper #15: Self Defense

Self defense is a concept that has been around since the beginning of time. In its simplest form, self defense is the act of protecting one’s self from a threat until that threat has been absolved. As times have changed so have the types of threats (or attacks) that people are confronted with. Therefore, the art of self defense has had to evolve at the same time and pace to remain viable option. Each situation in which some form of self defense is called for will have factors which dictate what type of response is appropriate; thus, the perception that one type of defense will be effective in all situations is naïve. In modern society we are faced with threats from, for example: highway snipers, road rage, suicide bombers and terrorist attacks, as well as from gangs, angry parents, bullies and thugs. For each of these aforementioned examples one’s actions to defend themselves would be dramatically different. For the purposes of this assignment the focus of this paper will be on close-proximity confrontations.

Today, the basic U.S. legal definition of self-defense is: allowing a person attacked to use reasonable force in their own defense and the defense of others. A person may use physical force to prevent imminent physical injury; however, a person may not use deadly physical force unless that person is in reasonable fear of serious physical injury or death. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-defense_%28United_States%29) The definition, in its complete form, includes the right to defend of one’s property, as well as a duty to retreat if possible. An individual can use self-defense up to the point where the threat from assault has been abated; otherwise, the continued use of force in the act of defense becomes an assault itself.

Putting aside all of the subtleties of the legal definition, there are several important points to note in the above description and expectations of self defense that apply to the actual act of effective self defense versus the legal definition. The word “imminent” implies that a person is able to perceive a threat from a potential attacker. This perception is a key element in mounting an effective defense. Being caught off-guard can dramatically alter the playing field between two opponents, a change which usually favors the aggressor and is a detriment to the victim. Therefore, situational awareness is of vital importance at all times. The phrase “to retreat if possible” conveys the idea that if a person can avoid a physical confrontation they should. Retreating should not be taken to only mean leaving or running, but also to mean being able diffuse the situation – to take away the threat. Swallowing one’s pride or admitting a fault, even if untrue, just to avoid a conflict can be a better alternative to a physical confrontation. The final point concerns judgment, specifically about how much force is permissible in the given situation. The person being attacked has to be able, at any point during the confrontation, to evaluate the level of the threat posed to them, thus potentially altering their method(s) of defense. Ignoring whether “deadly force” is called for or not, the point is that the victim has to constantly be focused and adapt as necessary as the situation evolves.

The points raised in the previous paragraph are important in understanding some of the mental aspects of self defense. Being able to accurately assess the situation is as important as the physical application of force.

Turning to the physical side of self defense, one has to consider what the necessary qualities are in order to best protect against a close-proximity threat/attack. Each of the following qualities has a direct affect on one’s ability to defend him or herself:
• Speed
• Strength
• Timing
• Endurance
• Flexibility
• Balance
• Agility
• Mobility
• Resilience
• Reflex

The above list represents a wide variety of capabilities, and thus it takes a tremendous amount of training in order to improve all of these. Working out in a gym (or similar type of exercise), or playing sports can enhance some of these qualities, such as strength, endurance and speed, but there are few activities which incorporate, to some degree, all of them including the mental aspects. Training in martial arts (depending upon the school and focus) can cover most, if not all, of these qualities. In addition, martial arts training exposes students to situations which require both the physical and mental aspects of defense, which is something you cannot get from a gym or a playing field. However, in the real world when it comes to an attack there are no rules, no legal and illegal, and no right or wrong. Anything goes; therefore, the person being attacked has to be prepared that anything can happen, and to respond and adapt quickly and decisively.

Speed – encompasses many aspects of physical movement, including: executing a block, kick or a strike, movement between positions (e.g. tai sabaki, enter/retreat), rate at which multiple techniques are delivered, and reaction. This is one of the most important qualities, as it is directly related to the ability to effectively direct an attack against an opponent. Without speed all techniques will be easily evaded by the opponent. Furthermore, speed, or more accurately acceleration, is one component in the generation of force. Higher speed, more acceleration, more force. For some individuals fairly high levels of speed come naturally, but there are limits. For others speed is something that has to be developed. In Shotokan karate speed is developed by: utilizing only the muscles required for the movement, increasing the ratio of fast-twitch muscle fibers to slow-twitch, and through relaxation during the movement until the point of impact/completion.

Strength – this particular quality, like speed, has a broad influence, specifically on technique delivery. To effectively and explosively execute a technique, strength is required for the technique itself, a kick for example, but also for supporting the body during the execution and impact of the technique. A strong kick without a strong stance is ineffective. Strong stances start from the ground up, and require not only leg strength but also a solid core. This quality should not be measured by how much someone can bench-press, but as an evaluation of overall musculature fitness and control. In karate we train kihon to improve overall muscle tone.

Timing – this attribute applies to both defense as well as offense. With proper timing, one can adeptly block or diminish the effectiveness of an attack with the possibility of eliminating the threat altogether. A counter attack is most effective when delivered when an opening is available, which is usually not for a very long period of time, therefore, being able to execute instantly is of utmost importance. In karate, like most martial arts, training with partners on timing drills enhances the ability to create openings and time attacks. Proper timing is a quality that comes naturally to some, but for most it requires extensive training become adept.

Endurance – this quality is not limited to the physical fitness of the person being attacked. Adrenaline, which will most likely be flowing during an assault for all parties involved, can increase the ability to sustain a prolonged encounter. However, physical fitness, or more specifically the fitness of the cardio-vascular system is key. Without good fitness even an adrenaline rush cannot be sustained for long. Efficient utilization of oxygen by the body, by means of good muscle tone, means that someone can maintain a high level of activity for long periods of time. However, in most attack situations, the people involved are most likely, during the actual physical portion of the encounter, in an anaerobic state. Endurance for anaerobic situations can be attained but requires non-traditional training methods. In Shotokan karate we aim to end encounters quickly, ideally with a single attack; this is not always possible so we train both aerobically and anaerobically. Kihon training, depending on the drill(s) will be either; kata is usually anaerobic which is why we focus heavily on this aspect.

Flexibility – being flexible has many benefits to an individual, including having the ability to attack any point on a target, as well as avoiding injury. Flexibility can be broken down in two ways: static and dynamic. Static flexibility refers to the ability of someone to stretch slowly in a particular direction. Dynamic refers to the range of motion of a particular movement when moving quickly, such as when kicking. Both are important and each can be improved over time. Our karate training places strong emphasis on this quality as it allows us increase our range of motion which is vitally important for both attacking and defending. We end our training, which is when our muscles and tendons are most warm, with stretching so that we can reduce the lactic acid buildup and so that our muscles “remember” the top end of their range.

Balance – this is probably one of the most important elements because, without proper balance, a person can not make effective movements, whether executing an attack, a block, or changing position. Not being able to maintain your balance leaves you vulnerable to an attack because your ability to move has been diminished. Moreover, improper balance when executing an attack can reduce the power that is able to be generated. Like many of the other qualities some people have natural balance, others have to work at it by understanding how their bodies move and what correct and incorrect body positions are. In karate we strive to always maintain balance through proper stances, positional relationship of the hips and shoulders, and controlled contraction and expansion of movements.

Agility – this quality refers to ability move smoothly and quickly, either when evading an attack without having to block (such as by “slipping” sideways), or when attacking for a fast strike and then immediately retreating out of “critical distance”. Relaxation is vital; being still will reduce a person’s agility. Having good agility improves other qualities such as timing and mobility. Karate training, in its most basic form, teaches that we block and then counter an attack. As we advance in our training, we learn that we don’t have to be so rigid.

Mobility – being able to move effectively, efficiently and quickly is essential in any physical encounter, whether you are countering an attack or attempting to flee. In the case of a physical exchange being able to move linearly (forward, backward, diagonally), side-to-side, and in a circular motion increases a person’s ability to avoid an attack as well as find and create openings. In Shotokan karate linear and side-to-side movements are predominate; however, in our school we also train to move less-traditional ways which increases our options in any given situation.

Resilience – in any given encounter even the best participant is likely to get hit. Being able to withstand a blow (kick, punch, strike, cut, hit with an object) is very important so that you can continue or flee the encounter. However, not every blow can be tolerated, but one can train their body to endure a significant amount. And this does not only apply to being struck, but also to the act of striking also. When counter-attacking you might not always hit a soft target, you might punch an elbow or kick a shin/knee, so your body has to be trained to be “harder” than your opponents, so that you can withstand these possibilities. While training karate we work to strengthen our bodies (hands, feet, forearms, shins, abdomen, etc.) to be able to endure being struck and offensive striking.

Reflex – having good reflexes adds to almost every quality listed. Reflexes are developed through repetition, so that motions are executed without thought, thereby dramatically increasing speed. Having fast reflexes requires that you are able to observe clearly what is happening or about to happen and then adapting instantly. In Shotokan karate kihon and kata training focus on repeating movements and motions over and over again until they become a reflex. Thinking about a punch or a kick will slow it down, so we perform high numbers of repetitions in order that someday these techniques will become a reflex.

Not included in the list of physical qualities or in the several points concerning the mental aspect of self defense are two additional items which need to be addressed: evaluation of the opponent and surroundings, and the commitment on the part of the person being attacked. Understanding (or evaluating) the situation you are in is extremely important to how and what you can do to defend yourself. All of these factors, such as: location & terrain, time of day, weather, attacker(s), on-lookers, your own physical state and situation, weapons (both to be used against you or by you), etc. are independent variables which, when taken into account, help dictate how you can and should react. Your reactions to these independent variables are the dependent variables, which could include submission, fleeing, or defending. In the case the choice is defending, the independent variables will also affect your options, creating more dependent variables, such as how do you defend against a weapon or multiple attackers, or someone who clearly dominates you in size and/or strength. It is important that you are able to quickly assess the elements of the encounter so that you understand the factors which will influence your actions (dependent variables). Furthermore, when choosing to defend yourself you have to determine your level of commitment to that act. Your defense will be ineffective if you cannot commit to fully eliminating the threat by means of (potentially) causing physical harm to the attacker.


My personal evaluation (on a scale of 1-10):
• Speed – 5 to 7 depending on the technique. Punches/strikes and mae geri at the higher end (7), body shifting and blocking (6), stepping forward and back (5).
• Strength – good (6), but could be better. For someone of my size and experience I would expect more both from a muscle point of view as well a technique delivery perspective.
• Timing – inconsistent, so it’s hard to say. Some days it seems really good, other days I can barely get out of my own way.
• Endurance – fair (5), but my recovery is lower (3).
• Flexibility – static is not very good, especially ankles, but is slowly getting better (3), dynamic is better but I need a bit of warm up of my hips to reach my current max for side/roundhouse kicks (6).
• Balance – this has always been a problem for me, ever since childhood. I struggle with this every day in training (3).
• Agility – Not a good quality in me, I tend to get stuck in place (3).
• Mobility – Again, certain aspects are better than others, but on average I would say I am middle of the road (5).
• Resilience – This is one area where I feel I am better than average, especially in the heat of the moment (7). I generally don’t notice painful things until I have had a chance to relax.
• Reflex – average, and getting better (6). The more I train, the more repetitions I do, the more I notice certain things happen without thought.


Conclusion:
There are a myriad of potential situations in today’s world where someone may have to defend themselves or others. No one can be prepared for all of them and no one kind of training alone is best. However, by training or practicing to improve the 10 physical qualities outlined in this paper, a person would be benefited in a physical encounter. If you add to that self-defense training and/or combative training, such as karate or other martial art styles, you will greatly increase your options. Furthermore, keen awareness of the situation, quick thinking and commitment also play an important role in determining the outcome.

Craig Lawton
Triangle’s Best Karate
April 6, 2008

Instructor Training Experiences

Instructor Certification Course
March 15, 2008
Experiences

Wendy Mach


People join the Instructor Training Program for various reasons. My reasons were probably different from most people. I didn’t necessarily want to become an instructor, and I didn’t want to become a better fighter. I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the principles of the art of Shotokan karate. And more importantly for me, I wanted to face and conquer some of my own fears. I had the quest for knowledge, but not necessarily the quest to pass on that knowledge.

There is an expression, “Every day do something that scares you.” The first few Instructor Training classes scared and intimidated the living daylights out of me. Did I really think that in my mid forties I could keep up with the other trainees? It has been decades since I have been in school and written papers for a class. Would I be able to write something intelligent that would contribute to someone else’s knowledge? Would anyone be interested in anything that I tried to teach them? After the first few classes I would drive home literally shaking from the intimidation factor that I had placed on myself.

It took me a little while, but eventually I felt more comfortable during class and while writing my assignments. I have learned something new from each class and my knowledge of the principles of Shotokan karate and the principles of body movement has become greater and deeper. In one class Shihan McClary talked about the fact that you can look at a student’s stance and see that it is structurally correct, but you cannot tell if he is using his muscles correctly. This was something that I had never thought of before. It is exactly why we need to test our students periodically to determine that their stances are stable, that pressure is moving forward into the target, and that the body’s muscular structure is supporting the technique.

There have been a number of times in class that we have worked on how to “load” the rear leg so that it can drive forward into the target providing maximum support to the technique. Each time that this subject has been reviewed, my understanding of the principles of body movement has increased. By working on this in my own personal training, I have been able to improve many techniques, and improve the flow from one technique to the next. In many cases the ending of one technique automatically provides the “load” for the next technique. After learning how this works and feels in my own body, I have been able to notice deficiencies in other student’s movement. Then I have been able to both demonstrate the proper physical movement to the student, and to explain the mechanics of the movement on a level that the student could understand.

When I first started the Instructor Training Program, I thought that I would be learning how different people learn, and learning how to teach. I was surprised when these subjects were not addressed directly. What I have discovered is that we trainees have been indirectly learning how to teach. The Instructor Training classes have involved learning higher level skills and principles and having the trainees “perform” various techniques and katas working to improve small nuances of movement. After we learn these skills within our own bodies, then we can demonstrate and teach them to others. This has been an interesting discovery for me. I have not been learning how to verbally teach. I have been learning how to teach by demonstration.

Imitation is one of the first ways that infants and toddlers learn how to do things like walk. So it is very natural for karate instructors to use the “watch and do” teaching method. Students can learn more in 2 minutes of watching someone perform a kata, than they can learn in 30 minutes of an instructor telling them how to perform the kata. I am the first to admit that I had watched Sensei Deshi’s hips for years and wondered, “How can I make my body move like that?” I am still working on it.

I have discovered that I look forward to the writing assignments each month. I find them challenging and they have made me look deeper into the art of Shotokan karate and into myself. Assignments like Anatomy and Physiology, and Active and Supportive Karate have added to my depth of knowledge, and I have learned a lot while researching them. My favorite assignment has been Renoji-dachi and Sanchin-dachi as fighting stances. Since the associated Instructor Training class had focused on how to maneuver around obstacles, I chose to take the assignment out of the dojo completely and into a more natural setting. I had a great time going outside performing katas in my back yard on the wet grass, in parking lots on loose stones, and all around Mt. Misery at Valley Forge. I made numerous discoveries about sanchin-dachi and wet grass, and renoji-dachi and rocks. I also slid all over the place trying to perform long stances in all the wrong places.

For me an integral part of this experience has been with teaching classes. I started with the kid’s class. In my first 3 classes I had a student who had a short attention span and too much energy. After every class I was frustrated trying to determine what to do to get him to behave. Then it came to me. My attitude was wrong. What I should have been thinking about was how to keep him excited throughout class, and keep his attention on karate. After my attitude changed I realized that this child was going to teach me how to become a good instructor.

While I was still teaching the kid’s classes, I started developing drills that would use objects such as tennis balls, small wooden blocks, and balloons. These drills would help the kids learn skill sets that were used not only in karate, but also in everyday life. The favorite drill was using gyaku-zuki to grab a wooden block as quickly as possible from someone’s hand. The kids watched each other perform the drill and started their own friendly competition to see who was the fastest. The dojo may have become a little noisy, but all the kids were having a good time and paying attention to the lesson. Everyone waited politely for their turn to grab a block, and no one wanted the class to end. After class most admitted that they were really faster than everyone else. By working with this amazing, diverse group of kids, I discovered that I really did like teaching karate. The kids taught me how to teach.

I have also had the opportunity to teach people of all ages, physical abilities, and mental capabilities. Many have taught me more about teaching than I have taught them about karate. Kids come to karate class to have fun. Most do not care about the physical fitness, coordination, and balance benefits. They just want to have fun. So as instructors, if we want to keep the students coming to class, we have to find ways to teach karate while making it fun for the students. Adult classes are completely different. Adults come to karate class for many, diverse reasons. So the goal for an instructor when teaching adults is to design the class so that every student is challenged, and gets something to benefit them. Shihan McClary has an amazing ability to teach classes so that each student believes that the class was just for them.

I have found it to be an interesting challenge to try to teach in this manner. Before each class I design a basic structure for the class based on either a technique that I want to work on, or a principle that I want to teach. Then I wait to see who comes to class. The final class structure is determined by who is there, and what each individual needs to work on. I try to make each class challenging for all levels of ability and make sure that each student gets individual attention.

I have learned that the Instructor Training classes and teaching classes are a continuous loop of growing knowledge and experience. During the Instructor Training classes my knowledge of the principles of Shotokan karate deepens. Then when I teach a class, that knowledge helps me notice what the students need to work on. This experience feeds back to the next Instructor Training class and writing assignment, and on and on. When the trainees were given the assignment to design a class, I decided to make up 3 different classes based on 3 different audiences. At the time I was teaching a full range of classes, so I felt that it was important to make up classes for each different group of students that I had been working with. I then used these class outlines for my actual kids’ class, all rank adult class, and black belt class. Since that assignment, I have learned more from the Instructor Training classes, so that I have been able to improve the original class designs.

Finally I want to comment on my experiences with my fellow trainees. I have tremendous respect for their commitment and dedication to the art of Shotokan karate. In every Instructor Training class they have demonstrated a level of maturity and understanding that I never had at their rank. After each Instructor Training class I am inspired to work harder. We have often approached the writing assignments from different angles, and I have looked forward to reading their papers every month. When we had the assignment to choose a student and help them for the next month, I was amazed at how thorough the other trainees were in determining what their chosen student should work on and in assisting the student with personalized drills and feedback so that the student could achieve maximum results in the allotted time frame.

I can remember years ago when Shihan McClary said, “What if all of the high ranking Shotokan instructors were in a plane crash and you had to pass on the art? Could you do it?” The thought chilled my spine because I knew that I wasn’t good enough and the future of Shotokan karate would be doomed. After training and sweating beside my fellow trainees for the last 2 years, I know that the future of Shotokan karate is in good hands.

Self-defense

Instructor Certification Course
March 15, 2008
Define Self-defense

Wendy Mach


Self-defense can be broken down into its dictionary definitions for self and defense, and then put together.

Self: belonging to oneself, the entire person of an individual, the union of elements (as body, emotions, thoughts, and sensations) that constitute the individuality and identity of a person.

Defense: the act or action of defending, capability of resisting attack, means or method of defending or protecting oneself or another, to take specific defensive action against . . .

Self-defense: defense of oneself when physically attacked.

The legal definition of self-defense is a little more specific.

Self-defense: the use of reasonable force to protect oneself from an aggressor, justifies an act done in the reasonable belief of immediate danger.

Use of force is justified when a person reasonably believes that it is necessary for the defense of oneself or another against the immediate use of unlawful force. However, a person must use no more force than appears reasonably necessary in the circumstances.

Force likely to cause death or great bodily harm is justified in self-defense only if a person reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm.

Finally the definition can be put into martial arts terminology.

Self-defense: the art of dealing with predators.

All of these definitions provide only glimpses of what self-defense entails. Self-defense involves effectively dealing with an unprovoked attack as quickly as possible by stunning or otherwise preventing the aggressor from perusing you, then running away to safety. Only use an appropriate technique and the amount of force necessary to stop the attack. The goal is to get out of a dangerous situation as quickly as possible without being physically injured yourself.

Below are a few examples to illustrate self-defense situations:

At a party people bump into each other and someone spills his drink. He blames you and throws a sucker punch.

You are walking to your car late at night after karate training, and two guys jump out from behind a building and attack you.

You are walking down a sidewalk when someone grabs you, pulls you into an ally and pulls out a knife. When you don’t give him your wallet quickly enough, he lunges at you.

In each self-defense scenario the attack is unwarranted and unprovoked. There is an element of total surprise, confusion, and probably fear that could prevent you from performing at your best. There is no provocation on your part to justify such a violent response. The aggressor is prepared to attack and fight, and you are not. In each situation the objective is to survive with as little damage to yourself as possible. The objective is not to win. This is what self-defense is.

Self-defense does not include empowerment, winning, revenge, or teaching someone a lesson. It is not about ego, pride, or self-esteem. Self-defense is not fighting. In a physical confrontation where does self-defense begin and end? It is important to know the limits. You cannot be part of the creation or escalation of the situation that eventually leads to physical violence. You cannot continue to attack when the aggressor has turned and attempted to escape. You cannot continue hitting someone who has fallen to the ground and stopped attacking. You cannot pursue an aggressor who is moving away but continuing with verbal abuse. This is not self-defense.

Below are a couple of examples to illustrate the limits of self-defense:

Two individuals are up for a promotion at work. One gets it and the other shows his disagreement by walking up to the individual, verbally abusing him, and throwing a punch. He then turns and walks away. At the point where the punch is coming, you may defend yourself with enough force to prevent the punch from making contact. Though as soon as the aggressor turns away, there is no longer a threat, and no more justification in defending yourself. You may not pursue him and continue fighting.

Someone breaks into your house and when you confront him, he pulls a knife and lunges at you. During the course of taking the knife away from him, he is stabbed and falls to the floor. You were justified in defending yourself against the knife attack, but now that you have the knife and the aggressor is on the floor, the threat no longer exists. You may not continue to stab him in this situation.

Just as in The Wizard of Oz, effective self-defense requires the qualities of:

Brains
Courage
Heart

These qualities can be broken down farther. Brains encompasses the elements of Knowledge, Awareness, and Adaptability. Before any self-defense situation occurs, or any situation where the body could be put into sudden stress occurs, you should already Know how the human body naturally and automatically responds to a stressful situation: the heart rate increases, breathing becomes more shallow and rapid, vision sample rate increases making time move more slowly, and adrenalin is released into the body. This results in a response known as fear, and can effect your performance ability. At the instant in which a self-defense situation arises, you need to be Aware of everything that is occurring around you. You need to Gather information, Analyze it, and Recognize the degree of danger that you are in. You also need to recognize the most dangerous element of the situation. A knife is more dangerous than the person who is holding it. During a confrontation you need to be Adaptable to the situation and the environment. This includes Intelligence and Creativity. Intelligently continue to gather information and analyze it as the danger of the situation changes. Be creative in the use of objects in the environment to assist in your defense. You may be able to start throwing things at the attacker, or maneuver yourself so that a table is between you and the attacker.

Courage includes the elements of Protection and Commitment. Once you are in a self-defense situation, you need to have the courage to Protect yourself and possibly others. Protection is based on fight or flight. Get others away from the danger while you stay and defend yourself. You must also be Committed to hurt, maim, or even kill another human being in order to protect yourself from debilitating injury or death. Commitment also includes continuing the confrontation until the danger is gone.

Heart has the elements of Fitness, Decisiveness, and Response. Everyone should know their relative level of Fitness in relation to their age and gender. The dependant variables of fitness are Speed, Power, Balance, Flexibility, Coordination, Strength, and Endurance. People make decisions based on their fitness level all the time, not just in self-defense situations. Do I have time to cross the street safely before the light changes? In a self-defense situation, you must be Decisive. Your decisions about getting away or staying and defending yourself must be made Quickly, Accurately, and Appropriately relative to the degree of danger. You do not have time to debate whether one technique might be more effective than another. In a self-defense situation you must determine the appropriate technique and the amount of force to use instantly, and then Respond immediately and decisively. Your response to each attack should be based on your individual fitness level and should come from the heart. Responses from the brain are based on ego and pride, “I have to win.” Responses from the heart come from a place of compassion, “How can I get out of this without injury to myself or anyone else?”

There is a natural order in which these qualities are used in a self-defense situation. Knowledge and Fitness are used constantly in everyday life, so they will not be included in the list.

Awareness – You need to recognize a dangerous situation before you can do anything about it. If you can recognize the potential for a confrontation before it escalates into a physical one, you might be able to diffuse it or just leave the area.

Courage – Once you have recognized the situation, now you need to deal with it quickly and efficiently.

Decisiveness – You are in it now and need to make quick, accurate, and appropriate decisions, and then take immediate action.

Response – Act appropriately in relation to your individual fitness level and the degree of danger present.

Commitment – You started defending yourself and it may take a while to end the confrontation, so you have to stay in it for the duration until there is no longer any danger present.

Adaptability – Creatively use your surroundings to assist with your defense. Constantly be aware of any changes in the situation and adapt your defense accordingly.

References:

www.lectlaw.com

www.nononsenseselfdefense.com

Self Defense

Stratton Lobdell
Kenshusei April 2008: Self Defense

Self defense refers to actions taken by a person to prevent another person from causing harm to one's self, one's property or one's home. Defending ones self is basic to the survival of all animals including humans. Most creatures have developed different ways to defend themselves from attack. Human beings have lost almost all of our natural defenses and we must rely on our minds and what little we can train our soft bodies to accomplish. While most creatures have natural defenses against predators, these defenses are designed to keep the creature alive at any cost. We are more limited in that we must abide not only with our own physical inadequacies but also with the law.
Different states and counties have slightly different interpretations of what constitutes self defense and what is considered an appropriate response. This is a topic which we explored last year in our third assignment.

A person who is assaulted may use such reasonable force as may be necessary, or which at the time reasonably appears to be necessary, to protect him or herself from bodily harm. An act of self-defense must ordinarily be proportionate to the threat. One is also expected to withdraw from the threat, if possible, before engaging in forcible resistance. However, inside your own home you will typically not be required to further withdraw from the threat. Many jurisdictions allow the use of some amount of threat or force by a person who is seeking to protect his own property from theft or damage. In most jurisdictions, there is no privilege to use force that may cause death or serious injury against trespassers unless the trespass itself threatens death or serious injury. There are some jurisdictions with extraordinarily broad laws, permitting the use of significant and even deadly force to prevent the theft of property. One such I encountered in the course of this research was Kentucky.
Defense of others is similar to self-defense, and usually occurs in the context of one family member protecting another. Some jurisdictions permit a defendant to assert defense of others, even where the defendant is mistaken as to the existence of a threat, as long as the mistake is reasonable. Other jurisdictions do not permit this defense unless there was an actual threat or battery against the other person. (J.S.Lobdell Oct. 07)
When looking at self defense we must decide what qualities are necessary for effective self defense in modern times. The modern application of some techniques is very different from the original as well. In our continued training of martial arts and specifically Shotokan Karate we develop a particular set of skills which can be applied in different situations. As outlined below there are many variables that can influence our self defense.
Dependent and independent variables refer to values that change in relationship to each other. The dependent variables are those that are observed to change in response to the independent variables. The independent variables are those that are deliberately manipulated to invoke a change in the dependent variables. In short, "if x is given, then y occurs", where x represents the independent variables and y represents the dependent variables. (Wikipedia)

Independent Variables of self defense situation:
1. Environment, surroundings
a. Secluded vs. populated/busy
b. lighted vs. dark
c. urban vs. rural
d. legal defense vs. unlimited response

2. Assailant/s
a. single attacker vs. mob
b. weapons vs. simple assault
c. physically dominant vs. emotionally combative
d. calculated vs. unstable/intoxicated

3. Defender’s physical and emotional state
a. fit/capable vs. impaired/limited
b. calm/cool vs. disturbed/angry

4. Others who must be protected or sheltered
a. alone vs. with others
b. family: wife vs. kids
c. friends vs. acquaintances

5. Desired outcome of confrontation
a. agreeable/amiable vs. combative
b. escape vs. defend
c. deflate confrontation vs. eradicate confrontation

Dependent Variables
1. Level of violence
a. verbal
b. physical
c. emotional

2. Legal ramifications
a. “self defense”
b. simple assault
c. assault with a weapon
When considering all the variables in a self defense situation one may become so mired in the details that no action would be taken at all. I submit that if one has trained properly and diligently then the body will react in the best possible way without thought. We work to perfect techniques so that when the time comes to make use of them.
To illustrate how modern self defense technique must be adapted to make it more applicable take Heian Yondan. The third from the last movement involves reaching out and grabbing the opponent by the head and pulling it down while striking upward with the knee. In modern application we would grab the back of the head and strike upward with the intention of knocking the opponent unconscious and possible breaking his nose. This would end the confrontation and allow us to escape. In its original bunkai, it is likely that much more was intended. As we reach out we do not simply grab the head but puncture the eyes with the thumbs while continuing on to grab the ears and then tearing them loose form the head rendering the opponent not only incapacitated but likely permanently blinded and in excruciating pain. This technique delivered to an opponent in modern day would likely result in a lengthy jail sentence and other social and financial repercussions. The expectation for an acceptable level of harm has shifted greatly.
This difference is in part due to the greater value that is placed on each individual life in modern society. Because individual liberties are the espoused basis for our countries’ (USA) existence there is more weight placed on the life of the common man. In feudal Okinawa, China and Japan where much of our martial art’s philosophy is based, there was little value in the life of a soldier or peasant. People died every day of disease and violence and the rules of engagement were closer to survival of the fittest than the philosophy of social equality espoused today.
In our kinder gently society of today, violence is perpetrated in different ways and physical confrontations have become less frequent as well as less intense. With the advent of small and concealable firearms every man is now a lethal weapon and the emphasis on physical superiority has eroded. The physical aspects of self defense are now more a mental exercise and prepare us emotionally for the shock of having a real conflict. This is not to denigrate the value of karate and other martial arts. In fact it lifts the practitioner of any martial art above the majority of people. As we train our bodies and minds for potential conflict we move to a higher level of awareness of our surroundings.
Here is one example based on my past experience before extensive karate training. This was the actual event as it happened: My brother and I were walking home from school around 9 pm having gone to see a friend’s wrestling match. We were about 150 yards from a major intersection and away from the street lights. A group of young men was walking parallel to us on the other side of the street. One of them began to cross and called out to us asking if we had any change. I replied that I did not and as I was walking past him my brother replied that he had no change, only bills. At this point the assailant struck me with his fist in the temple from behind me taking me by surprise and knocking me unconscious. When I came to my brother was backed against a wall and surrounded by the entire group. They took his 7 dollars and ran away whooping and laughing. One of them kicked me as he ran.
There were several opportunities I had to change or avoid the situation which, through further experience and training are extremely obvious now. First, don’t walk down an unlit street at night in a bad neighborhood. Second, when we were approached by the men we should have turned around and gone back toward the lights and the busy intersection. Third, I should never have let the man get within my personal “bubble.” Fourth, knowing that my brother was likely to say something inopportune I should have warned him.
Through the heightened awareness that we cultivate during daily training, the situation would have been completely different and would likely never have gotten to the point of physical confrontation. In the event that it had, it would have been very simple to block the slow high punch that caught me unaware. A simple direct counter and a dash to safety would have also been a better outcome than the bruised face and pride I got.
In training karate we strive to improve strength, speed, balance, endurance and flexibility. Theses physical qualities are what I would rely on to defend myself. As a stocky male my main advantages would be primarily strength and speed. In most ways these two aspects complement each other. As more control is achieved and we learn to coordinate the contraction and expansion of our muscles, isometric tension is reduced and the result is greater speed as well as less dampening of the primary muscular output. In short, relaxation creates speed and real strength.
Good balance is an asset that is developed through transitions from low stances to high and back. Katas such as Hangetsu, Empi, and Gankaku in particular teach us to balance and pivot on one foot at a time. Balance requires innate ability but can be trained as well. I have always had better than average balance and have improved it through training.
I lack in endurance. Endurance training is best described by kihon. Repetitive movements of the same muscle group and also static stance training build muscle in a way very different from the explosive movements of kumite and kata. Endurance training, and kihon training, is often overlooked in their importance for the overall fitness of karateka. For self defense, kihon teaches us the proper path of a punch and kick. Through the repetition of kihon we can guarantee that when we must throw a punch in a self defense situation we will not damage ourselves as much as our attacker.
Flexibility is another weakness of mine. Flexibility decreases quickly if we do not keep up with it. During strength training particularly flexibility must be preserved through constant practice. It is important to point out that as karateka we hold ourselves to a higher standard than most people in terms of our level of conditioning and fitness. While I consider myself to be fairly stiff and inflexible it is because I am, in relation to other karateka. Many people would be glad to simply be able to touch their toes while I strive to put the palms of my hands flat on the floor.
In any physical confrontation my goal would be to attack hard and fast to demoralize and incapacitate my opponent. I have strong legs and fast hands so I am a good closed hand striker. Having damaged my opponent’s resolve and maybe his body I would retreat to a safe distance to talk and diffuse the situation if possible. This is in keeping with my strengths. My worst situation would be a protracted stand up brawl. I have no illusions about my ability to absorb punches to the face and would want to finish everything quickly.
Effective self defense in terms of karate draws upon these abilities. For each person it is important to be aware of our situation and how our particular shills fit in. The modern karateka trains his body to perform at a high level but we all have weaknesses. In a self defense situation there are no rules and the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and our families is to utilize our strengths.
Just as the modern soldier must be prepared to take a human life each time he pulls the trigger of his weapon, the Iaido practitioner visualizes the taking of a life every time he draws his sword. As we develop in our karate spirit beyond the simple physical acts of training we also must come to terms with our ability to end a life with our bare hands. Self defense has evolved from simply a defense of ones life to more of a defense of ones way of life. When we stop an attacker from harming us we must do it in a way that controls the situation in our favor. Gone are the days of the wild-west shoot out. Now we must carefully craft our defense to fall within the strictures of acceptable levels of response and avoid excessive force. As we train and become more able to defend ourselves with violence we are forced to do more to avoid it. The paradox of karate is that as we grow in our art we also grown in our peaceful spirit. As we learn to channel frightening energies into our physical attacks we become less likely to use them. Self defense for the modern karate-ka is a constant exercise in control.