| In Part 1 of this article, we discussed focusing on | | | | - while your hands are holding an appetizer plate and |
| scenario training for practical self defense. Instead of | | | | a drink at a party |
| the typical scenario, you should focus on your | | | | - when you are exhausted after a workout in the |
| weaknesses -- when you are at your most | | | | park |
| vulnerable. | | | | Yes, I have written about, and practiced, each and |
| Does this make sense? | | | | every one of the above. Ah, maybe there really is a |
| Practical Self-Defense Advice to Follow | | | | method to my 'weirdness.' |
| So, do I follow my own advice? Or was Part 1 "just | | | | Self Defense -- Techniques in the Attack |
| another article" to whip off in a few minutes? | | | | Once you have a set of scenarios that represent |
| Well ... | | | | your personal weak spots or vulnerable times, then |
| If you have followed my articles for any length of | | | | you have to match technique to hypothetical |
| time, especially the ones I write for martial-arts | | | | emergency. Brainstorm how someone might attack |
| ezines, then you know that I occasionally "get | | | | you in your scenario: Would your attacker kick low? |
| creative" while writing. (And I do practice, what I | | | | Reach down towards your neck from above? Grab |
| write.) | | | | for your clothing? Imagine the particulars of the |
| Beyond searching for creative elements to include, I | | | | attack. Brainstorm for variety, but then select the |
| am writing about practical application. When you keep | | | | most likely to occur in a real attack. |
| in mind the principle of practicing for the times that | | | | Practical Self Defense |
| you are weakest, then the following scenarios make | | | | Now, return to your favorite techniques. Plan efficient |
| perfect sense: | | | | responses to each of the attacks. Try to eliminate |
| - while in a restaurant booth, where you can't | | | | any extraneous motions. Think efficient and direct. |
| maneuver | | | | Plan your follow-up responses. Imagine how you'll |
| - from a bathroom stall or standing at a urinal | | | | eventually gain control with a wrist lock or arm bar... |
| - through a rolled-down window of a car | | | | or plan your escape. Practice repetitively, so that |
| - while lying in bed | | | | your efficient responses actually do become more |
| - in the pitch-dark hallway that leads to your | | | | automatic. Start slowly; later, pick up speed. Make |
| bedroom | | | | your responses as smooth and clean as you can. |