 Throughout the years of teaching reality-based self-defense seminars, I have heard people bring up many similar concerns and questions, in regards to being able to defend themselves effectively. Here are three of the most common dilemmas related to protecting yourself from harm and some possible solutions: Dilemma 1: “I’m not strong enough to be able to hurt someone.” The reality is when it comes to being able to hurt someone, you do not have to possess hulk-like strength. Effective self-defense is using your most effective weapons against an attacker's most vulnerable targets. For example, it doesn’t take any strength at all to jab someone in the eye with your finger tips. The eyeball has no protection. Jabbing someone in the eye immediately disrupts their vision, making it much harder for them to see and attack you. If you ever watch boxing or MMA, even pro fighters that accidentally get poked in the eye, instantly become impaired, and that’s by accident. Imagine if you actually put some intention behind an eye gouge, what damage you could do. Likewise, it only takes around 12 pounds of force to detach someone’s ear from the side of their head. Anyone out there right now reading this can generate 12 pounds of force, in fact, your arm probably weighs 12 pounds all by itself. Detaching someone’s ear from the side of an attacker's head would cause enormous pain and be a huge psychological deterrent as well as they suddenly feel a warm stream of blood going down their face. There’s no special strength or technique needed to eye gouge someone or grab their ear and pull as hard as you can, yet consider the amount of damage that can be done by these basic defensive attacks. You may just be more capable and dangerous than you think when you apply the right tools to the right target. Remember, this is survival, there are no rules or decorum to follow! Dilemma 2: “I’m too old” or “I have ___ muscle, bone, or joint problem that would prevent me from being able to do these moves.” If we are lucky enough to make it into old age, most of us probably will have a laundry list of physical ailments from past injuries or trauma. That’s just life. I, myself, have torn several muscles and broken a few bones, so I know first hand that things never quite feel the same way as they did before the injury. Why is this? Scar tissue can form around the injury and your mobility can then be compromised. Even if this is the case though, I would encourage you to find a way to level out the playing field. One time I ruptured a disc in my lower back and when I was recovering from that injury, I always made sure that I didn’t forget my pocket knife whenever I went into public. In my injured state, I knew that I may not be able to move the way I normally would to defend myself and needed something to help me compensate for that lack of mobility. A bladed weapon could allow me to do just that, inflicting serious damage with much less movement and effort. When it comes to self-defense, you cannot forget that there are NO RULES. This isn’t a boxing match where we are fighting each other using only our fists, force on force for 3 minutes. No, no, no. This is reality-based (aka real life) self-defense! If I’m attacked from behind while I’m walking to my car, I pull out my knife and stab or slice the closest flesh to me. If a sketchy guy and his buddies walk out from behind a building and start making a b-line towards me, I put a hand on my pistol and get ready for action. There is no such thing as a fair fight. If I am physically impaired in some way (like with an injury) or outnumbered, then I’m going to get really comfortable with some type of weapon or object that I can confidently use to defend myself so that I don’t have to rely on my own physical capabilities, or lack thereof. With that being said, only invest your money and time on a weapon that you are going to feel comfortable with using. If you are scared of guns and have never shot one before in your life, buying one and keeping it in your purse (under the false assumption that you’ll be able to pull it out, aim, fire, and actually hit your target when you need to) is likely not going to work in a situation where you need to defend yourself. Same thinking can be applied to a knife. If you have an overwhelming fear that you might cut yourself if you used a knife, then that probably isn’t the best weapon of choice for you either. Instead, you might be better suited with getting a canister of pepper spray and planning to use that if and when needed. You could also consider the various types of self-defense keychains out there and get comfortable with using that type of device as well. Overall, weapons can help bridge the gap where our physical capabilities end, however, a weapon is only as effective as the one wielding it. Dilemma 3: “I don’t think that I could hurt someone. That’s just not my personality.” I understand that many people are not aggressive by nature. Maybe you’ve never been in a fight, nor would you want to. You’re peaceful. However, I really need you to take a moment and deeply visualize the alternative. Imagine the worst case scenario. What would be your reason to fight?
Did I miss a self-defense dilemma you’ve personally had? Let me know in the comments below. Stay up-to-date with my self-defense tips and teachings by following me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/fullforceselfdefenseandfitness ~ Don
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