An Agressive Posture

This is my first post, and I wanted to make it about something that every Martial Artist should think about when talking about Self-Defense.

MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is all the rage today as fighters enter the ring to show us what "real" fighting is all about. Two guys square off and beat each other into submission or wrestle on the ground in order to choke out or cause the other guy to tap out. People train in gyms studying Brazilian Jujitsu, Muay Thai and a slew of other "effective" styles.

But one thing always escapes me...how many people walk around on the street in a "ready to fight" position? Most of us are just minding our own business and an attack usually comes as a surprise. If someone wants to rob you of your wallet, you might get a gun or knife in your face with a screaming assailant barking out commands. Assailants have no idea who an intended victim is or what they are capable of. They are banking on intimidation and shock to keep them safe as they rob, rape, kidnap, or whatever.

This puts an attacker at a decided disadvantage - one that can be exploited. If we remain calm and give a submissive posture, this puts an attacker at ease and greatly decreases his guard. Remember, and attacker has already shown his cards and is in use of at least one or more of his weapons (by weapons, I mean, hands, arms, legs, feet, elbows, etc.).

Professor David James, a practitioner of Vee Arnis Jitsu, includes this in the training of his students and is a part of what he calls the 10 commandements of self defense .

Ultimately, we should remember a few things about defense on the street.

1. Remain calm

2. Appear submissive

3. Exploit weaknesses as assailant lets down his guard.

4. Practice scenerios using verbal and physical intimidation

Remember, on the street, people do not square off. If you square off with an attacker, he knows that you know something and he will change his method of attack accordingly. In order to have the element of surprise and exploit weaknesses in an attacker, you must make him see what you want him to see, a scared, submissive victim who offers no resistance and appears to be an easy score.

On the street, John McCarthy won't ask you if you are ready and he won't be there to pull the guy off of you. And you don't have 30 minutes to roll around on the ground trying to apply a submission hold. You have 60 seconds, use them well.