Han Moo Kwon Tae Kwon Do is a close-in fighting martial art
whose sole purpose is protection when options to avoid confrontation and
conflict do not exist. In the event, you
must defend yourself there are some key concepts that everyone should embrace
to walk away from and survive any attack.
You never know how your assailant will attack or react, so do not try to predict it. Attacks can be very random and while you may not think a person will attack or grab a certain way, you do not know, so you should not predict. Assailants may typically react a certain way to an applied self-defense technique, but you should not assume. For example, sometimes when you are grabbed and you perform a self-defense technique, the assailant may hang on or sometimes they will not. So, you should always be prepared and be in the moment, ready for anything.
2. Deep, Even Breathing
In an altercation, your body naturally kicks in its fight or flight response which results in increased heart rate and more rapid breathing all controlled by the sympathetic nervous system. During this rapid breathing, you are less clear in your thinking and in control of your thoughts and actions which are being dominated by the fight or flight response. And if your heart rate and breathing get too far out of control, you will not be in a state to react as effectively. By deep, even breathing in pressured situations, you will help kick in the parasympathetic nervous system which will slow down your heart rate. Deep, even breathing will provide more oxygen to your body resulting in a) clear thoughts and actions, b) muscles having the oxygen they need to perform, c) more endurance to last during the altercation, and d) the energy flow that accompanies breathing to make your techniques more effective.
3. If at first you do not succeed, do something else
The techniques we practice in class are effective (if performed correctly) but maybe not 100% of the time. Depending on the attacker’s body type, mental state (e.g., on drugs), how they attack, a particular technique may not be as effective. So, if your first technique to a response to an attack is not completely effective, do not keep trying the same technique. You should try a second or third technique, but do not stop.
4. Never underestimate assailant
Do not assume your assailant is not trained or that since you are trained an assailant is easy to defeat. Stay confident in your abilities, but do not underestimate the assailant.
5. Do not assume anyone will come to your aid
Unfortunately, in our society today, people are more interested in videotaping and posting to social media platforms versus coming to someone's aid or even calling 9-1-1 to help. So do not assume anyone that sees the altercation will help in any way.
6. Watch out for buddies
Do not assume there may not be more than one assailant. Keep vigilant and aware of your surroundings. Maybe the second assailant is not even someone the initial assailant knows but just wants to join into an attack.
7. Assume a Weapon
Assume your assailant may have a weapon but has kept it concealed. Do not assume there may not be more than one assailant. Keep vigilant and aware of your surroundings.
This leads to probably the most important concept.
8. Do not stop until you feel safe
Continue to fight until you feel safe. I cannot tell you what that feels like for you (and maybe very situational dependent), but you will know.
Regards,
Kelly
“Self-defense is not just a set of techniques; it’s a state
of mind, and it begins with the belief that you are worth defending.”~ Rorion
Gracie (1952 -), Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Grand Master
No comments:
Post a Comment