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