This section will include self-defense concepts – Ideas that will make your journey to confidence and internal peace come much more quickly.
Concept #1: It is very counter-intuitive, but closing the distance with an attacker – especially if you can induce him* to back-pedal – often pays huge dividends. Most Europeans and North Americans are comfortable standing face to face with another person if the distance separating them is about 18-25 inches. For an Iranian, the “comfortable” distance will be closer to 14 inches; For a Norwegian that “best” distance is closer to 30 inches. SHORTENING this distance has the effect of mentally unbalancing an opponent… especially if that “Uke” has grabbed at you or your clothing. Among other things, you have brought the “sweet spot” – the perfect distance for punching you in the face – too close to be effective. One more note: people walk forward much more easily than backward. If you thus cause your Uke to step back – and you then pursue this direction – he will likely stumble. He will then become your pillow as you both hit the asphalt.
* Sorry, but statistics show that most people who commit assaults are male.
Concept #2: On 9/11, I was conducting a geophysics symposium in Texas, and for many days afterwards all aircraft were grounded. I ended up renting a car and driving back for 30+ hours to Northern Virginia; on the way I had one of the most interesting conversations with a police officer (we were both stopped at an electronics store for phone-chargers) about dealing with knives. “BOX CUTTERS!” he almost yelled. People were intimidated by BOX CUTTERS?!?? The first rule in a knife-fight is to accept the fact that you are going to get cut, take precautions to minimize damage, from your training – and then get about taking down your attacker.“
Concept #3: Most street attackers do not expect to end up on the ground. Heh-heh.
When you GET him to the ground, he will concentrate on getting back up – and is very fragile and easily-dealt-with at that point. THAT’S why we teach Ne Waza – ground-fighting.
Concept #4: Want to know when your attacker is going to start his attack? Watch his shoulders and eyes.
Concept #5: People walk forwards far more efficiently (and rapidly) than they walk backwards. This is something we take advantage of in our training. 😊