Free Self-Defense Classes

Physical self-defense and aggression should always be an absolute last resort. Whenever possible and appropriate, verbal de-escalation should be the first line of defense to stop an attack. However, once physical defense is necessary, there are only three possibilities: Fight (Control), Flight (Escape/Evade), or Freeze. 

Freeze: 

Freezing is NOT AN OPTION. Freezing occurs when no preparation has been done: When the Defense States have not been implemented; when the attacker has surprised you because you naively paid no attention to your surroundings; and/or when you have had little to no self-defense training. In this case, you do not know what to do and immediate panic sets in, so your natural/animal fear instinct (in the autonomic nervous system) instructs the body to freeze, because it thinks freezing will confuse the predator and make him pass (similar to a deer in headlights). Unfortunately, we are not in the forest, camouflaged by our surroundings, and our predators are not beasts that see in black and white and that track mostly movement. We are usually out in the open, and our attackers are intelligent species who see in color and three-dimensions and who prey on the weak, especially those frozen in fear. So, to defend ourselves and survive, we must not freeze. We must stay reasonably calm, think clearly, and take the best, most effective, safest course of ACTION!

Flight to Escape/Evade: 

Your first consideration of action should typcially be flight when a serious attack situation is at hand. Your escape routes should have been determined during your Alertness phase so when Action is necessary, you can immediately act. If there is no way to run or to get away safely, then you must Fight!

Fight to Control: 

There are two general categories of threat level when it comes to physical self-defense and street fighting: Lethal vs Non-Lethal. For the most part, the Non-Lethal scenarios can be avoided by general awareness and basic verbal conflict resolution skills. These are typically spur of the moment decisions by attackers, who are emotional and not thinking clearly, for whatever reason. If the need is to protect yourself in a non-life-threatening physical altercation, then the goal is to quickly control the individual as quickly as possible, doing as little harm as possible, until you can safely get away or the individual calms down.

Lethal scenarios, on the other hand, refer to life-or-death (survival) situations. This is not a drunk guy at a bar throwing a couple punches or an emotional relative losing his cool. A lethal scenario refers to a situation in which an attacker means you serious bodily harm, whereby you deduce that serious injury or death are imminent unless you defend yourself or an innocent other, and there is thus no option—whether to run or talk the situation down—but to fight to defend yourself and survive. If you are legally carrying a lethal defensive weapon, you may be warranted in using it to defend yourself; but be sure you can articulate WHY a reasonable individual in your shoes would also believe lethal force was the necessary use of force in this situation. 

If you have no weapon, there is no time for messing around or “feeling” out your opponent, as in a boxing ring. You must strike quickly, you must strike accurately, and above all you must strike TRUE—meaning, each strike must come with full intention, full commitment, and full force with the entirety of your energy and body weight behind the strike. Each strike or control should not just be a hit with your hand or foot, but rather an EXTENSION of your entire energy and with the INTENTION of creating serious injury or stoppage to the attacker. 

On a mind-spirit level, a wise Chinese warrior once said: “When you are standing in front of your opponent, show him that the entire Universe is standing before him.” In other words, the energy you project is KEY to your ability to REALLY fight. Fighting requires a total mind-body focus. It requires, more than anything—even physical skill—a keen understanding and control of INTENTION. This comes with both self-defense training (practice and more practice) as well as mind-body training, such as meditation and fear innoculation training. Mostly, as your physical skill level increases along with confidence in your ability to defend an attack, your facility to focus intently, control your adrenaline, and project a powerful energy will be a naturally occurring state.

On a physical level, we must determine the proper course of action, which techniques or strikes will be most effective and end the danger most quickly. You must end the fight swiftly, with utmost regard for your own and other innocent people’s bodily safety. You must get your opponent off his feet and on his stomach, and you must do this very fast. If you can grab hold and control the attacker, do so. This way, there is less room for the attacker to throw and land effective strikes, and you may not have to hurt him very badly. However, if this is not an option—for instance, if you are smaller or weaker than your attacker—then his well-being should not be of concern. Your safety is the priority. And by making the decision to attack another human being, the attacker also made the choice to take the risk of being seriously injured himself. Remember this!! There is no room for mercy or guilt at the time of a lethal attack. Any person who chooses to attack violently has made the choice to put themselves at risk! It was his choice and now YOU must defend yourself in any way necessary. Mercy and restraint come once you have neutralized the attack and are in control of the situation. 

Females

For a female, the opportunity to submit or control a male attacker will be rare. Most male predators are stronger and/or bigger than their victims. Hence, you must utilize effective strike points to put your attacker down so that he will not get back up, or so that you create enough time to run and escape the attack. A female’s lower body is often stronger than their upper body, so try to utilize kicks and knees whenever possible. You must utilize vital strikes to areas which stop or pause his ability to function properly in the attack. This is why we encourage everyone, especially females, to always carry easy-to-use, legal weapons that can be effective at a distance: preferably mace/pepper spray or Taser. These weapons provide the easiest ways to interrupt an attacker’s ability to function.