There is a difference between a fight and self defense. A fight is something two people get into by choice. Self defense is something someone imposes on another. Think of fights when you were a kid. Two kids normally agreed and set a time and place for the fight. There really wasn’t too much danger of someone getting seriously hurt, they were just trying to find a solution to a social problem they didn’t have enough verbal skills to solve. Adults still do the same things (like bar brawls and soccer fans). Self Defense is when one person attacks another. The attacker has given up his or her right to self defense and the defender is now in a struggle for his or her life.
Martial Arts experts, boxers, and now self defense experts have been trying to answer the question of how to win a fight or self defense situation for a long time. Some say they have come up with this wiz bang move. Others say just use our super duper self defense gizmo that will beat anyone anytime. They are all wrong. The only way to win a fight or in self defense every time is to avoid the fight. Stay away from the area where it will happen and avoid the people that are going to attack you.
Alex Haddox has one of the best podcast about the subject of avoidance. To win every time you need to avoid the fight every time. To avoid the fight you need to become a student of people’s behavior and learn the signs of an attack before it happens.
Start by studying the people around you. Find the dangerous people. Can you see who the criminals are? Start studying people more! Can you pick out the cops that are off duty? Can you pick out the military members (it was easier in Southern California, Marines stick out a lot)? Who’s carrying a gun? It doesn’t make them bad, but it would be nice info to have.
I’ll leave you with the best saying I’ve ever heard to help keep you safe.
“Don’t do stupid things, in stupid places, with stupid people.” I don’t know who said it first, but it’s the truth. Live by it.
Stay Safe,
Ben