Self-Defense Principles to "Live" By

- Part 1

By Self-defense expert Jeffrey M. Miller
(C) 2008 Warrior Concepts Int'l, Inc.


If you're currently training in a martial arts or self-defense program, and your goal is to be able to survive a real-world, down-and-dirty attack on the street, then there are certain things - certain principles that you absolutely, positively, must know. These principles must be a part of your training program, and...

...they should be ingrained into every fiber of your being.

I've written a lot about principles and concepts. Regardless of whether I'm giving a presentation on self-defense, life-skills, or child-development, the idea is always the same:

Instead of focusing just on the "how-to" of the thing you're learning, make sure that you understand why something works or why it should be done a particular way. That way, you'll be able to see the value in all of your techniques and skills because you'll understand the "context" in which they'll be used.

Here is the first of two very important principles that should be a part of, not only your self-defense training, but a part of your way of living and learning.

Principle #1 - If You Don't Have to Fight - DON'T!

In the ancient scrolls passed down in the Takagi-Yoshin Ryu, one of the nine martial lineages inherited b my teacher, there is contained in one of them, the secret to winning every fight. Do you want to know what it is?

I thought you might.

It's this...

"...never get into a fight you can't win."

Sounds obvious doesn't it. But, when was the last time you heard that or saw it demonstrated by a martial artist or so-called self-defense expert?

Where most instructors and programs "talk" about or hint at some ideas for avoiding or escaping, that's usually where it ends. There are actually 5 stages (not counting the three post-attack stages) of a good, solid, and effective self-defense plan and program. Four of these lower stages actually allow for you to be able to either avoid, escape or negotiate your way out of a bad situation with literally hundreds of options.

Physically handling an assailant should always be your last choice and only after you've exhausted several other options.

Why?

Quite simply because choosing to fight first...

...affords the greatest possibility of something...

...GOING WRONG!

REMEMBER: No matter how good you are...

...no matter how long you've been training...

...regardless of how much you know, or even...

...what kind of weapon you have...

...there is always the chance that something can, and probably will, happen that will mess everything up.

Yes, I'm talking about Murphy's Law. And it applies to combat and self-defense just as much as anything else in your life.

The fact is that...

1. You don't know when or where you will be attacked.

2. You don't know what the attack will be.

3. You don't know who your assailant will be or how many you will be facing, and...

4. You don't know how far they're willing to go to hurt you.

So, why would you be in a hurry to getting physical in the face of so many unknowns?

You may HAVE to get physical but, to choose to without trying less aggressive measures first is just asking for the worst that can happen.

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This article is copyright (C)2008 by Jeffrey M. Miller and Warrior Concepts International, Inc. It is free to use in it's original form, with no alterations or additions. If it to be used online, all links must be active and without the use of "no-follow" type coding which would prevent the reader from accessing the resources being referenced.

For more information about self-defense training, to get your free self-defense book "Fight Smarter - Not Harder" use the links, go to the Home page or call Warrior Concepts Internationsal at 570-988-2228

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