Self Defence Basics I

Self Defence Basics

There has been much hype and hyperbole in recent times about the “one punch can kill” campaign, and so there should be.  No-one is entitled to shed the veneer of civilisation and randomly attack another citizen and, potentially taking their life!

As an individual, I can do very little to stem the flow of random, mindless and needless incidents of alcohol and drug-fuelled acts of violence that we are being confronted with on a daily basis.  What I am doing though, is offering the opportunity to anyone living on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland to learn the strategies and skills that will make it safer for them to venture out at night.

Situational Awareness:

Self defence is the study of reality and the reality is that for it to work, it has to be SIMPLE.  Be aware of your time and space. Look at the entire surrounding environment, including other people, potential dangers, and potential escape routes.  For example, if you take the lift down to the carpark, pause for a second when the doors open so that you can look around and make sure it is safe.  We can’t see around corners, so use building windows or car windows as mirrors.  If you are in any doubt, wait or try to put yourself into a group.  Simple habits like parking in well-lit areas, walking with confidence, walking in company and being assertive, not aggressive, are key factors.

What about “killer punch”?  For all intents and purposes that punch was unexpected.  But, could it have been expected?  Absolutely yes!  Observation is a skill we learn as children and then unlearn as adults.  Train yourself to observe people, their actions, reactions and importantly, their demeanour.  If you encounter someone who is acting aggressively, is loud and/or showing signs of intoxication, stay away.  If necessary, call the Police.  They will not mind checking things out if it means no-one gets hurt or killed.

A frightening trend is the number of young people who become aggressive and violent due to the cocktail of party drugs, alcohol and sadly, steroid use.  These potentially violent characters can be spotted fairly easily; they will be in their late teens or early twenties and will be excessively muscular.  Physically, it is almost impossible to develop huge muscles naturally, before your mid-twenties.  Those young men who are built like Olympic Lifters, have almost certainly done it with steroids or testosterone boosters and will be more susceptible to violent outbursts when alcohol and party drugs are added to the mix.

If you see anyone who fits that profile, stay away, go to another venue if necessary.  Do not become paranoid though, simply be aware, use distance as your friend and your risk level drops significantly.

There is a very important caveat: legally, you can only use reasonable force to halt an attack.  Even if you do it accidentally, using unreasonable force to injure or maim your assailant could land you in gaol.

Contact me to learn more.

drew@brightshare.com.au

www.drewdalepersonaltraining.com