| If you've taken self defense training classes, then | | | | you full force. In a real situation, you can't expect |
| you probably know that there is a difference | | | | your attacker to back off for any reason, even if |
| between the strategies you've learned and practiced | | | | you have already given up your wallet and cell phone |
| in class and a real fight or self defense situation. | | | | and are on the ground. You must use everything you |
| There is also a big difference between the staged | | | | have to fight back if you want to escape a |
| fights you see in movies and what actually goes on if | | | | dangerous situation. |
| you are attacked. Take a look at your assumptions | | | | Pre-staged fights are emotionally sterile. You know |
| before you are caught in the position of having to | | | | what to expect and that the fight is coming. Even if |
| fight back against an assailant using unrealistic tactics. | | | | you're nervous before a martial arts competition, it |
| There are three main differences between the types | | | | could never compare to the nerves you will be facing |
| of fights you'll be engaging in during martial arts | | | | if you are ever attacked. The reality is that you |
| instructions and what you're likely to find in a situation | | | | never have time in advance to prepare before you |
| where you are truly defending yourself against an | | | | are attacked. Your heart will be racing and you may |
| attacker. | | | | panic, forgetting everything you've learned. An attack |
| In both movies and martial arts classes, fights are | | | | is one of the most emotional situations you could |
| pre-staged. This is an essential difference between | | | | ever find yourself in. |
| what you see and what could happen in a real-life | | | | Even though self defense training might not |
| scenario. The moves are memorized step by step, | | | | realistically replicate a self defense situation, this |
| with no room for variations or decision-making under | | | | doesn't mean that the training is not valuable. When |
| pressure. If all of your training has been the | | | | you are attacked, confidence is key. If you plan to |
| memorization of specific moves, then you have not | | | | undergo martial arts training as part of your personal |
| developed the critical skills required to fight back | | | | defense strategy, make sure that it focuses on |
| when you are actually being attacked. Your assailant | | | | real-life scenarios, not step-by-step moves. In addition |
| will not move in ways that are easily predictable even | | | | to martial arts moves, you should always make a |
| if you have a martial arts background. A self defense | | | | secondary plan to protect yourself. Have pepper |
| situation will be chaotic and stressful, and your | | | | spray or a stun gun, for example. Remember that |
| memorized moves won't fit into your response in this | | | | the "bad guy" will often come armed, and your |
| situation. | | | | martial arts moves will be no match for his |
| Self defense training tends to coddle trainees. In a | | | | preparations. If you really want to survive a real-life |
| practice fight, your attacker won't be coming at you | | | | attack, martial arts training alone may not be enough. |
| with a knife or gun, and may not even be coming at | | | | |