A LOOK IN SIMONS MIND
Pre-emptive response is advocated by the best self defence experts in the world … why?
“Karate Ni Sente Nashi – there is no first attack in karate.”
This classic saying from Funakoshi has been interpreted over the years as – karate-ka never throw the first punch.
REALLY???? Is that right?
According to Funakoshi and contemporaries of the time this ‘did not mean’ don’t throw the first punch…it means don’t be the cause of the fights. There are plenty examples of this interpretation, you just need to look.
Assault
According to law, in most western countries, someone yelling at or abusing you IS assault.
Spitting at, threatening or intimidation is assault…
…so they have already ‘thrown the first punch’ !!! according to law. So the next potential move could be you ‘protecting yourself, loved ones or anyone really”.
This all sounds easier than it is. Where is your personal ‘justification’ for damaging another human being? Is it proportional?
Is it legal?
So a preemptive strike is just to punch before they start throwing hands…but you better be sure of your justifications.
It is difficult to judge how someone else will see the ‘confrontation’…if you throw first and are dominating a fight, you will seem like the bully to many outside eyes.
In the end it is YOU that has to cope with you and what you have done. PTSD is not just soldiers. And jail takes anyone.
Are you fast enough to have your hands down by your sides in a violent confrontation?
No…is the simple answer.
Action is faster than reaction…full stop.
Any real professional that has spent a lot of time even years on street or door knows – if the sh*t is hitting the circular rotator, your hands need to be up.
Get your hands up – create a barrier your potential opponent would have to go through or clear. A FENCE.
YOU want to be the first to hit a big heavy shot on the other person in the confrontation.
Just how it is. First big heavy clean shot usually wins…usually.
Fence
We have taught and used a barrier between us and our opponent for years but this is a great in depth video of Geoff teaching the Fence.
The Fence from Geoff Thompson.
The concept is easy – get a barrier between yourself and the problem person – but the execution in motion is not quite as easy.
Hands up palms out, usually around chest height (so just a bit lower than a traditional boxing stance). This is a very natural position for a go away I’m not looking for trouble stance, but it is also a great platform to launch from.
Whether you touch the person or whether you keep your hands in motion (to stop someone snatching your hands), needs to be worked out individually.
You are close – within 18 inches.
You might need to make space and by pushing the person, but this may acerbate the situation…so don’t push unless you are also willing to hit them.
If someone keeps running into your Fence – it is probably time for aggressive action…hit them.
So now we get to pre-emptive striking.
Pre-emptive Striking
This is, for most of us, a very hard thing to do.
In threat management WHEN do you make that move? How can you be sure that that person is a threat to you or your friends and family? Is this drunk talk or is this person a danger?
At anytime these are hard questions to answer, and when you come into extreme adrenal load it makes it even harder.
ONLY PERSONAL CONSCIENCE CAN MAKE THIS CHOICE…AND DEALING WITH THE CONSIQUENCES OF YOUR ACTION MAY MEAN COURT…
So you HAVE to be able to justify you actions in a court of law.
Morally, ethically and legally – these are the questions you need to ask yourself before you encounter ‘real street violence’.
You can need to give yourself permission for aggressive action – permission to hurt another human being.
Some people/schools teach you to create a ‘GO’ word for this.
Run, talk, placate or reason, but when you can see no other way out but violence hit them first.
Who is this advice for?
Everybody, but specially for those people who do security for a job.
If your job is to confront violent people…you should know this, it may help save your teeth and your life.
Conclusion
When you are out of options and the situation has degenerated to violence – hit first.
Hit hard.
Hit harder.
Practice hitting hard.
Lead with speed, devour with Power Lee Morrison.
