In
many various blogs, I have written how important it is to be aware of your
surroundings as awareness is a critical aspect of self-defense. Gichin Funakoshi’s The Twenty Guiding
Principles of Karate: The Spiritual Legacy of the Master [1], 16th principle
“When you step beyond your own gate, you face a million enemies” he states, “Negligence
is a great enemy when we leave the safety of our homes. If we are not in peak
form in both our body and attitude, we will attract troublemakers and problems.”
So,
what does it mean to be “in peak form in both our body and attitude”?
For
one, are you physically ready to protect yourself? You should be aware of how you feel physically
when you are out and about. If you are
tired, injured, or your muscles are sore and cold, you may not be ready
physically to protect yourself. Does
this mean if you are tired or injured, don’t leave your house? Not necessarily, but it means you may need to
be more aware of your surroundings, maybe you do not go out alone, and / or need
to be prepared for different tactics if someone tries to attack you. You should also be aware when you step out of
your home if you are wearing clothes that are tight or restrictive that will
make certain techniques more difficult to perform. You should also be aware if you are wearing
shoes that make it difficult to run in which again may change your tactics if
you were attacked.
You
should also be aware of your mental and emotional state when you are
public. If you are in a bad place
emotionally or mentally, then definitely consider staying home or making sure
you are with other people, since you may not be a in place to adequately
protect yourself.
In
addition, you should be aware of things that might “attract troublemakers and
problems.”
Are
you being an easy target? For example,
if you are carrying around and looking at your $1000 smart phone while walking
down the street, you are an easy target for someone to steal that phone and may
knock you down in the process. And as I
have said in class, many times, if your head strikes the ground, it might not
only be a bad day, but your last day.
You
should also be aware if your clothes or attire make you vulnerable. For example, if you are wearing a neck tie or
hoodie, both these articles of clothing can make you vulnerable if someone
grabs them. I am not saying you should
never wear a tie or hoodie, but if you are you must be prepared since someone
may grab the tie or hoodie and use that to choke you.
The
intent is not to be paranoid when you leave your house, but be conscious and
aware, not just of your surroundings but of yourself: your physical, emotional, mental state, the
clothes you are wearing, etc., because all are an indication of how ready you
are to protect yourself if you have to.
Be
aware, be ready, stay safe.
Regards,
Kelly
“Walk on road, hm? Walk left
side, safe. Walk right side, safe. Walk middle, sooner or later – Squish just
like grape!” ~ Mr. Miyagi, fictional Okinawan
karate in The Karate Kid saga.
