If you’re currently training in a martial arts or self-defense program, and your goal is to be able to survive a real-world, down-and-dirty attack on the street, then there are certain things – certain principles that you absolutely, positively, must know. These principles must be a part of your training program, and…

…they should be ingrained into every fiber of your being.

I’ve written a lot about principles and concepts. Regardless of whether I’m giving a presentation on self-defense, life-skills, or child-development, the idea is always the same:

Instead of focusing just in the “how-to” of the thing you’re learning, make sure that you understand why something works or why it should be done a particular way. That way, you’ll be able to see the value in all of your techniques and skills because you’ll understand the “context” in which they’ll be used.

Here are two important principles that should be a part of, not only your self-defense training, but a part of your way of living and learning.

Principle #1 – If You Don’t Have to Fight – DON’T!

In the ancient scrolls passed down in the Takagi-Yoshin Ryu, one of the nine martial lineages inherited b my teacher, there is contained in one of them, the secret to winning every fight. Do you want to know what it is?

I thought you might.

It’s this…

“…never get into a fight you can’t win.”

Sounds obvious doesn’t it. But, when was the last time you heard that or saw it demonstrated by a martial artist or so-called self-defense expert?

Where most instructors and programs “talk” about or hint at some ideas for avoiding or escaping, that’s usually where it ends. There are actually 5 stages (not counting the three post-attack stages) of a good, solid, and effective self-defense plan and program. Four of these lower stages actually allow for you to be able to either avoid, escape or negotiate your way out of a bad situation with literally hundreds of options.

Physically handling an assailant should always be your last choice and only after you have exhausted several other options.

Why?

Quite simply because it affords the greatest possibility of something…

…GOING WRONG!

No matter how good you are…

…no matter how long you’ve been training…

…regardless of how much you know, or even…

…what kind of weapon you have…

…there is always the chance that something can, and probably will, happen that will mess everything up.

Yes, I’m talking about Murphy’s Law. And it applies to combat and self-defense just as much as anything else in your life.

The fact is that…

1. You don’t know when or where you will be attacked.

2. You don’t know what the attack will be.

3. You don’t know who your assailant will be or how many you will be facing, and…

4. You don’t know how far they’re willing to go to hurt you.

So, why would you be in a hurry to getting physical in the face of so many unknowns?

You may HAVE to get physical but, to choose to without trying less aggressive measures first is just asking for the worst that can happen.

Principle #2 – You Will Defend as You Have Trained – Make Sure You’re Right!

It’s been said that human beings are creatures of habit. The difference between we humans and the rest of the animal world that is trapped by “instinct” is that we have the capability to change many of our habitual responses to stimuli. This isn’t always easy and sometimes it isn’t even done consciously, but…

…the fact (and problem) is that…

…once we create or establish a set of habits, we can get just as trapped as the lower animals.

What does this mean?

It means that, once you enter a program or start to learn some “moves” and strategies for defending yourself, you will “buy into” this new perspective – this new reality.

And, while you will probably be able to do very well with the skills you learn in the safety of the training hall, this has nothing at all to do with how well you will be able to produce results in the real world. Unless…

…great care has been taken to insure that the training matches, as closely as possible, that which occurs in the real world.

This is why you must not only insure that you’ve chosen a teacher and program that you can trust, but also that…

1. You practice correctly. It’s been said that “practice makes perfect,” but that’s not true. “Perfect” practice makes perfect. It’s much better to practice a technique correctly three times than incorrectly three-hundred times. Remember that you’re practicing to develop skills that will work “automatically” when you need them. Incorrect skills will pop-up automatically just as readily but…

2. The skills that you develop MUST be against attacks that you are most likely to face. Practically no one, including trained martial artists, throw karate-type punches in a real, anger-based attack. Training against one in your school of choice may be a great way to preserve the historical techniques of an ancient tradition, but it will do nothing to prepare you for that guy who throws a really powerful right-cross!

3. You make sure that you not only understand the defensive, counter-moves of the technique you’re learning, but also the type of attack that it’s designed to work against. Far too many students and teachers train in, what I call, “mathematical martial arts.” That’s where, just as two-plus-two always equals four, it’s assumed that their techniques will work against any attack.

Just ain’t so.

Just remember that you, and only you, are responsible for your own safety. And that responsibility begins long before any attacker appears before you. To be ready, you must know what you’re trying to be ready for.

Otherwise, you may find, just like several of my students who spent years training in the martial arts before training with me. They trained for years only to discover that they knew little to nothing about real-world self-defense.

And who wants to find out that, for all your hard work, time, and money spent…

…you aren’t prepared for anything?

self defense