| Techniques like the straight punch or front kick | | | | death: go straight for their eyes and strike the |
| are tools that enable us as martial artists to | | | | groin. Pull hair; bite; rip skin. Do whatever it takes |
| protect ourselves. Knowing these strikes and their | | | | to disable your attacker--and then run for help. |
| ins and outs allow us to also know the most | | | | 5.) Avoid going to the ground. Even though |
| efficient time and place for their uses. But with so | | | | learning to defend yourself on the ground is |
| many ways of executing these techniques, | | | | essential, going to the ground in a self-defense |
| strategies, principles and martial arts styles that | | | | situation is not a good idea. Dealing with the guy |
| teach concepts that can be sometimes | | | | pinning you down leaves you open to be struck |
| contradictory to one another, it is hard to know | | | | by others. And, the person attacking you could |
| which are most widely accepted as effective and | | | | quite possibly be bigger and ultimately heavier. |
| efficient. But more important than techniques are | | | | Train with these things in mind until it becomes |
| the methods by which we employ them. Here are | | | | second nature. If you do not train this to be |
| some very important rules to follow when fighting | | | | automatic, you will try and run these rules through |
| in a self-defense situation: | | | | your mind while in a fight. If you consciously think |
| 1.) Stay calm. If you cannot stay calm you simply | | | | about it, when you should be thinking about how |
| cannot operate. You will freeze. The only way to | | | | to react and how you are going to escape, it can |
| get around this is training and mental preparation. | | | | prove dangerous. But if you feel yourself |
| And remember: BREATHE! | | | | subconsciously trying not to lift your hands in |
| 2.) Always protect your face. This goes for the | | | | front of you and wanting to move off the |
| rest of the head too--and the neck. Always keep | | | | possible line of attack as soon as a conflict is |
| your hands up and your head out of the way of | | | | foreseen, you are on the right path. |
| attack: it is one of the most vital areas on your | | | | Now, one more rule--perhaps the most important |
| body, and one blow to the head could leave you | | | | rule: avoid conflicts however and whenever |
| confused or unconscious. | | | | possible. The greatest fight is the one that is |
| 3.) Keep moving. It is important to make yourself | | | | resolved without physical conflict. |
| a hard target to hit, especially against more than | | | | If you follow these rules you will have a much |
| one assailant. Making yourself a sitting duck even | | | | better chance of survival. If it makes it easier to |
| after dealing with one attacker leaves you open | | | | remember, use the acronym SAKKA: Stay calm, |
| to be seized or struck by another. | | | | Always protect your face, Keep moving, Keep it |
| 4.) Keep it simple and fight dirty. On the street | | | | simple and fight dirty, Avoid going to the ground. |
| there are no rules, and what you see on TV and | | | | It is important to remember that these are not |
| in movies will simply not work in a real | | | | the only rules for defending yourself--the |
| confrontation. No fancy jump-spin kicks or | | | | possibilities are endless. These are just important |
| flowery hand swings should be used when | | | | things to keep in mind. |
| defending yourself. There is no honor, just life or | | | | |