The main objective of “self-defense” is to avoid a confrontation, for example, in a bar, in an urban area or perhaps in a street demonstration. During my RAF service in Malta, a group of us had gone to this restaurant in the center of Valletta, the capital of Malta. At the end of our meal we were ready to go out and as we did so we saw a very large and noisy group of anti-British protesters heading towards us. Although we were not wearing a uniform, we were still identified as British.

Well, it goes without saying that my friends and I made a quick retreat and luckily we were picked up at the other end of Valletta by a Military Police patrol in a Land Rover, which took us back to our base in Luqa.

Avoidance and awareness is a key component of self defense and; Many self defense teachers that I have met in the past have placed great emphasis on this with their students. Many students I have spoken with have also agreed on the critical role this plays in avoiding a confrontation. For example:

1) Always walk facing traffic. A person walking in the same direction as traffic can be followed from behind and grabbed and forced into a car.

two) When you walk down the street, don’t talk on your mobile. Focus on where you are and where you are going.

3) Check the area around an ATM at night before stopping and parking your car, and be on the lookout for anyone who approaches you.

4) Never allow a stranger to enter your home; In an emergency, tell them you will call emergency services.

Plus many more Avoidance and Awareness practices that you will be informed of.

objective “WHAT IF” everything has failed? What if you have taken all these precautions, but are still caught off guard and faced with a dangerous situation? Can’t run or get away from this sudden danger? In such a situation, you would be in a critically dangerous place and should go back to the self defense techniques that require minimal effort to achieve maximum result: the same principles that are practiced in Judo and bullfighting.

In Judo, when an opponent in a practice or competition finds himself at that critical point of imbalance, it is at that exact moment that he can be successfully attacked and thrown. In Self Defense, you learn to use your opponent’s strength and momentum as tools for your own defense. In the bullfighter’s arena, the Matador deftly dodges the bull’s onslaught (the bull’s line of attack) and prepares for his attack.

The two most common situations in which you could avoid this are:

TO) When the assailant or hoodie has not tried to run towards you, but continues to approach and makes his demands as he approaches; Therefore, there is still this space between you and him.

B) When he has already made physical contact with you, that is, he has hugged you from behind or grabbed your arm or part of your upper body.

These are just two of the many answers you could give:

Inot TO) Keep this space between you and him (take a step back if necessary) and, as he continues to approach you, yell in a very commanding and loud voice, “STOP” – “Back off” – “Back off” (you are here to take command of the situation). If he continues to move forward and tries to grab or hit you, stop the outstretched arm or striking hand as you move out of his line of attack. Follow up with a kick to a vulnerable part of your lower body before running. These are movements that would take seconds, with minimal effort, followed by a punch or max punch that would prevent him from chasing you. Here, he has successfully taken control of his action by stepping out of his line of attack (avoiding the charging bull) and simultaneously striking a vital part of his lower body (such as the Matador who would pierce the bull with his sword).

In this scenario, do not try to hit him as he approaches you; he is alert and he WILL grab his arm or leg. When you hit him, after your stop, never kick above the knee; instead, use a quick kick to the kneecap.

Inot B) There is no physical attack yet, he has just grabbed you (but his intention is still to do you physical damage), so here you can hit his ankle, hit his ribs or neck with your elbow, break his grip and then run. or walk away. All of these movements would again take just a few seconds with minimal effort.

I don’t have space to go into more detailed scenarios and techniques in this article. My main goal in this article is to show you that you can, with minimal effort, stop a vicious attack and counter it with a very specific punch that would stop it in its tracks as you walk away. The principle of minimum effort with maximum effect It also applies to the elderly or other vulnerable people who use a spray, a cane, an umbrella or a bunch of keys. You don’t have to be a Commando or a 4th Dan Black Belt to defend yourself effectively.

In my next article, I will discuss some of the dangerous techniques taught in some martial arts dojos that could cause you serious injury or death.