The 3 Things You Need To Know For Self-Defense begins with the proactive use of Prevention. If you are unable or unsuccessful with preventing an attack, your primary goal will be to Escape. This is the simple idea of creating distance and leaving. Lastly, if you could not prevent and have trouble escaping, you must escalate to Tactics. Typically consisting of striking vital areas quickly and powerfully or by performing a technical maneuver to facilitate a mode of escape. Once you have escaped to a safe distance or position, you revert back to prevention. Now let’s find out what real self-defense is and how the P.E.T. acronym works!

REAL Self-Defense Starts with P.E.T.: Prevention, Escape, & Tactics

Self-Defense is not some sport you have time to prepare and study for such as Boxing, Muay Thai or Grappling (BJJ or Wrestling). It’s not two individuals voluntarily going head to head in an octagonal ring or on the street trying to knock each other out. And Self-Defense is DEFINTELY not a lone martial art (Karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kung Fu, Aikido, Judo). How do I know this? 20+ years practice and teaching, studying self-defense, and learning from the best tactical LEO and Military trainers.

Self-Defense is not a game… it’s SURVIVAL!

Martial arts wonderful and I recommend them to all and while you ABSOLUTELY gain attributes by regularly training in any one of the activities mentioned above, NONE of them teach “REAL SELF-DEFENSE”. Unfortunately, they all lack or contain certain aspects of training that may get you seriously injured or killed. Most, at least a good 80%, of the techniques or “moves” learned in any martial art are relatively useless for self-defense scenarios. To achieve success with them, you often need years or even decades of training. Fighting sports or martial arts often train for points or to remain engaged and leave out vital components of self-defense as we will discuss.

What is Self-Defense Exactly?

We define self-defense as “an involuntary conflict meant to harm you (or someone else), mentally or physically“. To help differentiate, a “voluntary” conflict would be any situation in which you have the opportunity to leave but opt to stay, hence permitting the conflict to resume. We call this “fighting”.

Although “fighting” is sometimes necessary for self-defense or to diffuse a situation, it’s not the main objective as we will only use it to facilitate escape. More on this to come. Voluntary conflicts often include common acts of pride or standing your ground. Consider a typical street fight or bar scuffle. But let’s not play semantics all day, let’s move forward!

Here is what real self-defense can look like…

• More than one attacker
• Weapons (knives / guns / clubs / chairs)
• Grappling match (and you’re winning) but they pull a knife and stab you in the spleen
• Home invasion at 2 a.m. by three (3) suspects
• Getting jumped by 2 guys at an ATM in broad daylight
• Bully coming to you in the hallway and sucker-punching the back of your head
• Getting caught in a convenience store robbery
• Your child being ripped from your arms
• Carjacking at gunpoint with your wife and kids in the car
• Drunk or High (drugs) individual getting in your face “just because you looked at them”
• Random mass shooting or mass knifing and you’re only exit is behind them
• Your ex (or current partner) catches you in bed with someone else and goes ballistic…

Time and Control: You don’t have any and you’ll need to earn it

In Self-Defense, there are no rules. You don’t decide when or where the attack happens. You don’t decide who you are with, if anyone. You don’t get to decide the time of day and whether or not you just got out of the shower or finished leg day. You don’t get to know if there will be weapons. You cannot choose the size, speed, agility, strength, or the amount of your attackers. You could be in a bathroom stall or on a ladder hanging Christmas lights. They don’t care if you just got dumped or just won the lottery.

You are typically NOT IN CONTROL when self-defense happens! It will not be convenient. You will almost always be caught off guard. Animals don’t usually pick fights if they don’t think they can win. A hidden or timely advantage (sneak attack) is common and being outmatched and overwhelmed should be expected.

You see, when it comes to being involved in a violent encounter, you usually DO NOT HAVE TIME to evaluate and assess the situation as someone watching the video afterwards would. If you did have time, it would be well spent trying to get away from danger. The retrospective analysis of violence gives us a view into a whole new world. Those looking in from the comfort of their phones and laptops have all the time in the world to TELL YOU what you did wrong and “HOW THEY WOULD’VE HANDLED IT”. Observing these types of videos is valuable insight into criminal and violent behavior. The point is, time is not on our side. No one will come to save you. Get the training you need to react properly and effectively.

Good luck to those who say, “I carry a gun, I’ll just shoot the bastard”. Sorry bro, no you won’t and I’m more than happy to prove that to ANYONE without this type of training. People with this specialized self-defense training do not say silly things like this. Ignorance is bliss.

How to Start Learning Self-Defense

What’s the answer for learning self-defense without years of martial arts or fight training? Simple and straight-forward CONCEPTS drilled in the correct way to force an effective natural reaction under stress. Scenario-based training helps reinforce concepts so you can “think on your feet”. Since we discovered the number of ways, positions, or conditions with which you can be attacked are endless, you couldn’t possibly train for every individual scenario. Hence our conceptual approach.

Concepts never change, but the ways you can be attacked are infinite…

With this, always remember the acronym “P.E.T.” as it stands for Prevention, Escape, and Tactics. Understanding the essence of these three CONCEPTS will aid in your survival. Remember we mentioned that most martial arts techniques are useless without years of training? With only a handful of basic techniques or strikes combined with the correct mentality, you can increase your probability of survival 10X practically over night. Remember, this is not a 1 vs 1 school yard fight we’re talking about…

Whether you’re a complete beginner, a body-builder or thin-mint, young or old, male or female, an experienced martial artist or marksman, it’s important to study real self-defense. There is always something to learn, new perspectives to be had, and new challenges to overcome.

The most important aspect of self-defense training will be the MENTAL. You must endure and acclimate to stress and learn tactics in a way that allows you to process and store them. At Impulse Tactical, we teach the fundamental movements & utilize stress as a catalyst for engraining those gross motor skills and concepts into your brain. This is how you will be able to retain this information forever, much like riding a bike, and it won’t take years of training.

Understanding the Stress of Self-Defense

Fight – Flight – Freeze

The “fight or flight” response is an auto-response from your body that, when under duress, will promote you to either run or fight, and in some cases, freeze in fear or confusion. Until you undergo the extreme stress of a life-threatening situation, you may not know what you will do, even if your “trained”. It’s incredibly easy and egotistical to say, “I would just do this”, but then the adrenaline and chemicals start flowing and you’re a popsicle… Our goal is to give you the tools and re-program your brains “OODA Loop” so that you definitely don’t FREEZE and you can either run away or fight intelligently.

Becoming familiar with this “stress” in a controlled environment will aid in your reaction. Often, experienced fighters or competitive grapplers have no issue engaging with another human because they know their capabilities. The ONLY issue with this is they may be overconfident and not know what to do now that a gun, knife, or another assailant is introduced to the mix because they don’t have it integrated in their “OODA Loop”. True self-defense requires us to consider all circumstances and throw out all rules of engagement and fairness.

What the heck is an OODA Loop?

O.O.D.A. Loop… this stands for Observe, Orient, Decide, & Act. This is an automatic process involved with performing tasks that we do every day without knowing it from making a sandwich to playing basketball. This process happens in an instant.

Think of driving a car and how automatic it is for experienced drivers. The way we can get around even without paying attention #don’ttextanddrive. We’ve driven so long that we observe the road instinctively, we orient ourselves towards and consciously recognize distance changes or protentional hazards, then subconsciously decide to brake (with the exact amount of force necessary), then proceed to actually act and depress the brake pedal just enough. Now think of a brand-new driver and careful and jerky they are with everything. That’s because they haven’t yet ironed out the OODA Loop. Time and Training (driving experience), allows for the OODA loop to become smooth, seamless, and thoughtless (subconscious).

Here’s the basic rundown of how it works for self-defense:

1. We observe something happening (a stimulus such as an attack or pre-attack indicator)

2. Then we orient ourselves to that stimulus (face it or consciously recognize it)

3. Once recognized (as a threat, per se), we can now decide how to proceed (run, punch, kick, scream)

4. And lastly, act on our decision (actually moving our feet or punching them)

Why is the OODA Loop important to know and how do I utilize it?

When training self-defense properly, we give our brain new instructions with which to “automatically run on”… new “code” if you will. One SECRET method (now formally secret) we use to prove how this works is we have students perform their most natural reaction to a scenario. At the end of a session or two, we present them with the same or similar scenario and see how they react with this new, developed, OODA Loop. We work to develop the observation of stress itself. Once you observe and orient (recognize) the stress, the can then decide and act much faster, no matter what’s actually causing the stress

On a more ADVANCED level, the OODA Loop can actually be used against someone as well. This is why you may “freeze” when caught off-guard. When you OODA Loop is consistently and constantly being disrupted, you never have the time to decide or act, hence the freeze or confusion. Pick-Pocketers use this to steal from you. They incessantly distract you with verbal and / or physical stimulus so it’s almost impossible to feel (observe) them reach into your pocket. You can literally watch them do it LIVE on-stage to people who already expect it! But the process is the same. This is why it’s so frustrating when people ask a second question before we answer the first one. Our OODA Loop keeps getting reset and we can never act.

SELF-DEFENSE TIP:
If you must engage or distract an attacker in order to escape, ask them a question. Immediately after, perform your strike or toss something towards their face. As they observe, orient, and decide to answer the question, disrupting that OODA Loop before or while they speak will create a brief state of disruption.

What are the 3 elements of self-defense?

Let’s dive into each of these P.E.T. components to fully grasp the idea and how to implement them.

PREVENTION

“Only you can prevent forest fires”… preventing a fire is a lot easier than escaping or extinguishing one.

Easily the most under-utilized, under-emphasized, and under-taught aspect of self-defense is the CONCEPT of Prevention. Everyone tends to shrug it off as “common sense” … but is it really common sense? Let’s find out, shall we?

If you practice prevention and incorporate it into your daily life, the chances of you ever being attacked are practically nil. Statistically, the USA is one of the safest countries, however, specific areas or cities push it up the ladder to make it appear otherwise. That doesn’t mean, however, you won’t be chosen as the unlucky winner in this crazy game of roulette. Becoming a victim of violence (involuntarily) is not as common as you think but it CAN and WILL happen anywhere, anytime. Just watch YouTube. Seriously. So many “unsuspecting” victims. And those are just the ones caught on camera!

Where does violence occur and how can we recognize it?

We often see violence amongst people arguing over lovers, road-rage, workplace drama, drunks, drug addicts, bullies, gangs, terrorism, domestic abuse, money problems, poverty, and so on. I mention these because implementing preventative measures requires you to recognize violence indicators and patterns. For example, how someone is “acting” and how someone is “dressed” can be such an indicator. There will be an entire article on this topic alone in the near future so look out for it!

Obviously not every preventative effort will work and not all are even achievable, but the CONCEPT stands. Live in a bad area? Move. Worried about walking past those two shady guys on the sidewalk? Cross the street. Worried about your partner finding out about the “other person”? Don’t let them find out (or just don’t cheat). Someone cut you off in traffic? Don’t flip them the bird and just let them go. See, it can be that simple.

Now, let’s take it up a notch and not be so ordinary. Disclaimer: These are only possible scenarios so please DO NOT BECOME PARANOID.

You’re on vacation and someone comes up to you asking for the time, what do you do? Some say “tell them the time”, but what about a scam where a coordinated effort to kidnap, rob, or attack you from behind takes place. Before you gave the person your full attention, did you bother to survey the immediate area in all directions to make sure it safe to stop and engage? What will you look for? Maybe the guy will pull a knife when you glance at your phone. Maybe he’ll steal your phone. I’m not recommending you become rude, just careful. Be cognizant of your surroundings.

Now you’re walking down the street and three guys are hogging the sidewalk. Should you walk street-side or building-side? Answer now… Well if you go building-side, there may be nowhere to run if they decide to engage. Going street-side allows plenty of escape or running room if needed. But what if you’re a 5′ tall girl by herself and there is a van on the street? Do you walk in-between them and the van? They could force you into van as you brushed right up against it… it’s best to have crossed the street, even if inconvenient.

Are we thinking now? We can “what if” all day but that’s the reality of self-defense. Anything can happen! No scenario can be deemed “unrealistic” or “not going to happen”.

True story: I was on vacation and walking with my wife, exiting the hotel parking lot. A group of teenagers (7 or 8) was approaching perpendicularly. Although they weren’t at the cross-section yet, we waited. I don’t prefer a group or male teenagers to be directly behind me. If it were a brigade of girl scout troops, it wouldn’t bother me to be in front, but that amount of teenage boys, dressed and acting as they were, was a red flag. As we trailed them, I noted they were very energetic. One of them brandished a knife and stowed it away shortly thereafter. Just a block away, turns out there was a fight between other teenagers they were going to attend. Multiple fights ensued yonder. The point is, if you say the wrong thing, at the wrong time, get in someone’s way, or become an inconvenience to a person with an advantage (6 friends and a knife), it could be you and the wife they turn attention towards.

SELF-DEFENSE TIP:
Someone is much more likely to “get in your face” or fight if they are with someone. With friends backing them up, people quickly become chest-pounders & “tough”. The way someone can react when by themselves vs. with others is astonishing. Avoid upsetting someone in a “group” setting.

Ever hear about the “knock-out game”? It’s a real trend ran by teenage thugs where they go up to random strangers, even in broad daylight, hitting them with one very hard punch to the back of the head in an attempt to knock them out. People have literally died. Keep aware of who is around you in all directions. Take notice of distance changes. Listen for audible clues such as rapid approaching foot-steps. Utilize natural reflections such as car or store windows to look behind you, especially in the event someone walks past you and stops suddenly to engage from the rear.

Here are some seemingly “common sense” ideas to consider in preventing violence for self-defense…

Going to an ATM at night? Really? A venue with a majority, alcohol-infused male populous, 20-30 years, old is likely to experience violence of some type. Scrolling social media on your way to the car is a sure way to be caught by surprise. Locking your doors AND windows at night, even if not on the 1^st floor as someone can definitely scale DOWN to your balcony (trust me on this one). Don’t park in dark areas or walk alone at night. Avoid high-crime areas. Take a moment to look around and question anything that appears “out-of-place”. Exit the scene if you witness “bad” things happening around you.

Trust your INSTINCTS! If you see or hear something that makes you uncomfortable or question your safety, that’s your “Spidey-Sense” tingling. Do not ignore it.

Read true stories about kidnappings and violent encounters, learn about local scams or criminal trends in areas you live and visit. Learn ways to repel or discourage attackers from even targeting you. Having foresight and situational awareness will go a long way. Again, trust your INSTINCTS! The thing about prevention is that you may never know if it worked BUT YOU WILL DEFINETELY KNOW IF IT DIDN’T WORK.

ESCAPE

Time kills when you’re defending yourself in a life-or-death situation. The longer you stick around, the more opportunity the attacker(s) has to end or maim you. To mitigate damage, we must gain distance and escape.

In the event you cannot PREVENT an attack, the next step for self-defense is to ESCAPE. This CONCEPT is vital to survival. To keep it simple, your only objective, once a self-defense scenario begins, is escaping to safety (or to help someone escape to safety, if taking on the protector role). Your objective is NOT to engage UNLESS it is necessary to escape. That is covered in “tactics”.

Remember Fight or Flight? Some people will have the natural tendency to just FIGHT. This is where training comes in handy as it provides those “fighters” with an appreciation and understanding that self-defense is unpredictable. Their OODA Loop is when they feel attacked, they attack in response. While this may very well be necessary or downright satisfying, it may very well be their undoing.

Back to our FIRE analogy… you see a big fire, don’t get a fire extinguisher, get out. Decide to stay and “fight” the fire? It may just ignite a gas line or someone will open a window causing a backdraft and it’s over for you, Mr. Hero. Obviously, if you can neutralize the fire without an issue, go for it! But when you prioritize escape and remove yourself or others from the flames, they cannot hurt you. If you are not there, you will not be burned. If you don’t wrestle the guy with a knife, you won’t get stabbed.

The only time you should engage voluntarily (fight) is in the defense of someone else or to prevent someone’s initial attack. These are “tactics” and will be covered shortly.

Distance for Self-Defense

Distance is the key to escape in self-defense. If you are far enough away from something harmful, it cannot hurt you. Simple CONCEPT. Maintaining a safe distance of at least arm’s length will give you a substantial reactionary gap. Just keep in mind that distance is temporary! You can and will be pursued. That gap can become very small, very quickly. NEVER DO NOT STOP ESCAPING until the threat is no longer a threat. If at ANY time you feel in danger, continue distancing yourself, assuming you do not acquire aid (police, friends, safe place) in the meanwhile. WHATEVER IT MEANS TO YOU TO BE CONSIDERED “SAFE” IS WHAT YOU DO.

One general CONCEPT whilst escaping you must follow is to NEVER TURN YOUR BACK unless you are actively running away. Typically, it is recommended not to turn away until you are at least 5 feet away so that you are not immediately grabbed or struck from behind but there are always exceptions to this guideline. If you follow this concept, you observe what your attacker(s) is doing and can orient, decide, and act accordingly.

SELF-DEFENSE TIP:
In the case of escaping from an active shooter, move in a randomized and unpredictable pattern (zig-zag), not in a straight line. If available, get behind “cover” ASAP (something a typical bullet cannot penetrate such as concrete or metal).

TACTICS

Finally, how to beat someone up!

When all else fails, now we must utilize specific tactics against our attacker. Essentially, we do these ONLY to create opportunity for escape which will lead us back to prevention mode. This is the fire extinguisher for our FIRE analogy. Use it to clear a pathway between yourself and the doorway so you can escape.

What are some tactics to help me escape a self-defense situation?

Any chance you have to tactically disengage and get away, take it. Just run. In the event you are cornered, trapped, or physically controlled / restrained, getting to safety will be an challenge. We must learn how to break grips via leverage points, utilize distraction and off-balance to force them to release their hold, and use coordinated movement in our disengagement or exit strategy. Additionally, taking advantage of opportunities to prevent additional controls will be integral as you work towards escape.

Tactics such as screaming, shouting commands, de-escalation, hands up in front of you, circling your arms, swinging arms or kicking, pushing, wiggling like crazy are options that can bring attention, maintain distance, and provide opportunity for escape. Learning specific methods aside from these more common ones will provide you with the confidence to thwart their efforts to control you and the ability to create distance and buy time.

“T” for Tactics in Self-Defense

Tactics are any methods used to create an opportunity for escape. They do not always have to be “just enough” to get away, however. Our “T” for tactics expands to include TRAUMA, TECHNIQUES, & TERMINATION.

Trauma

The most basic of defenses, striking (TRAUMA) is the most useful tool available. It can be with you feet, hands, or head & with or without a weapon or self-defense tool. It can be anything from a mild inconvenience to a concussive blow or a cut with a knife. Truthfully, much can be accomplished with a simple, strategic strike to the eyes, throat, nose, or groin. As cliché as those sound, they can and WILL work in many instances. They may not debilitate them, but they can present you with a window of opportunity for escape, which is our main self-defense goal.

Remember, the longer you remain engaged, the more opportunity they have to apply tactics as well. You never know who and what you’re dealing with and you don’t want to find out. Always assume you are out-matched and you must vacate ASAP. This is the survival mentality.

SELF-DEFENSE TIP:
Never introduce a weapon into the fight you wouldn’t want used on you. If there wasn’t a knife before and you decide to use one, the possibility being stabbed just increased 100%. It’s ideal and highly recommended that you understand and train proper weapon use, defense, and retention! Yes, we do that too.

Attacking First: Preventing a Physical Attack Using TRAUMA

A physical “attack” is considered to be when someone’s intent to physically harm you begins. This can be up-close or from afar. The closer the opponent, the less reactionary-gap you will have. Early detection is key. Always maintain distance when engaged by a hostile. If the hostile is within “striking or grappling range”, it MAY be necessary to attack first (pre-emptively)… now be very mindful that this can and will be perceived as an illegal and aggressive action, not self-defense. Use at your discretion.

When and how you deploy offensive, pre-emptive tactics to prevent an initial strike or grab can be controversial. At Impulse Tactical, if you cannot escape easily, do it by force. Punch or kick them fast and hard with aggression. This is not to be confused with “fighting”, however, this is where fight training can become handy and necessary for self-defense!

Do not forget that distance and context is important. If someone charges at you from across the parking lot, there is little justification to run towards to them with a “dropkick”. Engaging even though no one is in immediate danger and you have a clear opportunity to depart will be considered voluntary and not self-defense. Let’s be clear on that. The lines will start to become grayed and these types of instances contain exceptions so proceed at your discretion based on the information available to you.

The more training you have, the more educated and mindful your decisions will become. Your OODA Loop won’t always end with “smash their face in”.

SELF-DEFENSE TIP:
Always do what you believe is necessary at the time if you believe bodily harm or death is immanent. Never hesitate. Proper training will give you the tools to hesitate less while making better decisions.

Techniques

“TECHNIQUES” often consist of grappling positions aimed at setting off-balance, taking someone down, or destroying a joint. For example, a wrist-twist or double-leg takedown. While these can be extremely useful, it’s important to consider their relevancy prior to implementation. While they can be very effective tactics, they can and do fail, prolonging the engagement and wasting valuable time. Techniques usually fail for two reasons:

1. The techniques was NOT relevant to the situation (when)

2. It was executed improperly (how)

Most techniques require specific details and training for proper application. Learning how and when to perform a technique takes time. Any technique learned in a self-defense class should be comprised of gross-motor movements with natural & easy to understand concepts.

Techniques learned in regular training are great skills that will compliment and supplement your self-defense tactics. Just make sure that you use the most relevant technique. The right technique, at the right time, to the right stimulus.

Advanced techniques will include how to handle an attacker in a scenario on the ground or controlling someone holding a knife. Understand P.E.T. and the Level 1 course material will prepare you. Other more specific techniques and control tactics will more ideal to practitioners who need to voluntarily engage control or neutralize aggressors (i.e. LEO’s, Military, Security, etc.)

Termination

“TERMINATION” is total neutralization of the threat. Deadly force. They can’t hurt you if they’re dead. This is when a crazed attacker charges you with a knife and won’t stop until he gets to you… No need to share methods of “un-aliving” someone. But within the realm of self-defense and the eyes of the laws that govern society, use only at your discretion. Study “use-of-force” and “reasonable force” laws for more information as well as general self-defense laws. But please, never allow the law to cause hesitation as it may get you killed. Defending yourself in trial can only happen if you’re alive! If you believe that taking this person’s life force is the ONLY way to stay alive in under those circumstances, do what you need to! Always do what you believe is necessary at the time to SURVIVE!

Training and education will aid you in making the best decision for your circumstances. The more training you acquire, the less likely you are to “over-react” and use unjustifiable force. The legalities of self-defense vary by locality and may not always appear “fair”. But as I keep saying, don’t be there and you’ll never have to worry about it! In the event you must severely injure, or kill an assailant, contact authorities and never say a word without a lawyer present. Literally, STFU and you’ll thank me later.

SELF-DEFENSE TIP:
Avoid the ‘FIGHT AFTER THE FIGHT”… the recovery in the hospital or legal battle that will surely ensue. Take this as motivation to hyper-focus on PREVENTION & ESCAPE. We put “Tactics” last for a reason as it should be the last resort. Integrate them into your life and start managing your own ego, pride, or anger issues. No lawsuits, no judges, no injuries to recover from… just going home with the family, eating good food, and being safe.

The GOAL of Self-Defense Training

Learning to survive any scenario possible, as quickly as possible, utilizing simple CONCEPTS and gross-motor or natural movements. Realistically, the more you know, the better training you have, and any advantages available to you will impact your decisions throughout the self-defense process. You can use anything at your disposal to win. It’s crucial we learn as much as we can about violence and real self-defense. The more familiar we become with self-defense, overall, the more subconscious it becomes as we program that “OODA Loop”.

At Impulse Tactical, we instill certain concepts, both physically and mentally, that will aid you in a self-defense encounter. Humans will undergo an extraordinary amount of stress unlike we’ve ever faced before, and it will be eye-opening to say the least. We must think about self-defense, train self-defense, and practice self-defense. Stay on your toes, incorporate training as often as you can, and take nothing for granted. One of the most basic classes to learn and practice these concepts in is Essential Self-Defense Level 1. With this class alone, you will instantly be much harder to victimize.

Remember, you may not be in control when an attack occurs. Stay alert and oriented. Know your exits. Become educated on PRE-ATTACK INDICATORS and INDICATORS OF VIOLENCE. Do not be a victim. Be proactive and informed. Become harder to kill. Become a regret for an assailant. Become a protector of those who need protecting. It doesn’t take years of martial arts or fighting experience to accomplish these goals. As one of my coaches, Kenny Bigbee Jr., says, “BE ELITE – You can’t always be THE best, but you can always be YOUR best”.

Our courses are typically 2-hours in length to provide time for learning and stress inoculation. We offer multiple courses to build upon, as well, to further your knowledge and skillsets. They are great for beginners and we have plenty of advanced materials for the “know-it-alls”.

What else can you do to prepare for self-defense?

You’ll never hear someone complain that they were “too ready” for something… you’ll only hear someone complain about not being ready enough!

Exercise, be in shape, be healthy, expose yourself to real violence (via the internet), or take up a martial art with regular training. These will all give you insight or attributes you can readily use at a moments notice. Never underestimate a prepared individual. Two types of people should be feared… someone who has nothing to lose & someone who is properly prepared.

READ THIS BLOG AGAIN! There is so much to unpack here. Seriously considering and understanding this material is essential to self-defense.

Only if you feel it’s necessary. If you do, it is your OBLIGATION to obtain PROPER TRAINING to make you most proficient in the use of your firearm. This is to ensure safety to yourself as well as the public. Knowing how and when to use your firearm is crucial and will not be as simple as it seems.

Sign up for our Beginner Gun class or CCW course and educate yourself. No excuses for ignorance when it comes to being a responsible gun owner and carrier.

Primary Objectives for Self-Defense: Prevention & Escape

Having a handgun on your person is great, but it should ONLY be used as a last resort. That “last resort” can come mighty quickly. In the blink of an eye, you could go from walking the dog to deploying your pistol to protect you or others from a violent threat.

In order to make this a “last resort”, you must work to acquire Prevention & Escape tactics and knowledge. After all, if you can, theoretically, prevent a violent encounter from happening, your gun becomes useless. Learning the warning signs of violence or criminal activity can put you a step ahead of the rest and make you a more difficult target.

Learning how and when to escape is an integral part of self-defense. We cannot possibly prevent the infinite amount of scenarios that could happen, but we can be ready to react in a way to promotes safety by distance, a.k.a. Escape. In the simplest way, escape is to exit the situation either immediately before it happens or during the actual event. You see a shady group of handsome thugs coming your way, maybe you’re better off avoiding them “just in case”. If you wrong about them, oh well. But if you’re right about them, you just saved yourself from pain, stress, aggravation, hospital visit, police involvement, the justice system, civil lawsuits, and so on. Trust your instincts.

We have all the information, and more, about Prevention, Escape, and Tactics and why they are the foundation of self-defense.

Carrying a Firearm for Self-Defense

Now if you were unsuccessful in preventing a violent encounter AND escape was not a viable or achievable option, we must now escalate to self-defense “TACTICS”. This is the physical part of self-defense that most people aim to train. BUT keep in mind, if tactics is all you train and you do not mindfully practice Prevention and Escape, you will likely find yourself “sticking around” to fight or, in this case, shoot it out.

The is the one major DOWNSIDE to having a firearm or self-defense tool on your person and that is the likelihood of you engaging dramatically increases simply because you have an advantage! We must prevent and avoid the use of our firearm and knives, etc. Use them because you have no other options remaining and it’s you or them.

Remember: THESE ARE SPLIT SECOND DECISIONS THAT COULD CHANGE YOU LIFE FOREVER! Receive PROPER training and you will likely never have to use your gun or knife. But when you must, YOU WILL KNOW how and when to use it in an efficient, effective, and legal way.

In order to survive an encounter that requires you to deploy your firearm and discharge it, you must consider the following:

• You will most likely be moving or running during a self-defense scenario
• The attacker will not likely drop after just one shot
• You will undergo an extreme amount of stress which will trigger the Fight or Flight or Freeze mechanism
• There may be bystanders
• You may be with friends or family
• The scuffle may end up on the ground prior to deployment
• The attacker may also have a gun, shooting at you too
• and so on…

It’s extremely IRRESPONSIBLE to actually believe you know how to use a firearm properly if you haven’t taken a combative shooting course.

Gun Owners: WAKE UP CALL!

You will not be able to “just pull out your gun and shoot them…”. There is no “shooting them in the leg”. None of this, “I have a gun, therefore I’m safe”. At Impulse Tactical, we have no problem PROVING to you why training is 100% necessary. You won’t survive our test. And if you do, we applaud you in advance for obtaining the skills and knowledge necessary to be a gun owner!

If you are not CONFIDENT and COMPETENT with the following attributes or skillsets with a firearm, you need training:

• Moving (walking & running) and shooting
• Shooting around obstacles
• Peak performance under duress
• Preservation before Presentation
• Deploying your firearm smoothly and being on target quickly
• Close-Quarters Combatives (close range defense & shooting)
• Gun Retention
• Knife Defense
• Gun Defense (disarms in case they take your gun)
• Threat response and assessment (making sure you don’t shoo the wrong person)
• Firearm operation in a crowded environment
• Cover vs Concealment
• Grappling with a Firearm

We cover all this a more at Impulse Tactical Firearms Training. We are here to educate gun owners and CCW holders. We advocate for responsible operators. Going to the range is not good enough. They DO NOT and CANNOT teach what we teach. We guarantee all of our classes will leave you with valuable information.

What is the difference between Self-Defense and Fighting? To answer this question, it’s important to consider what self-defense and fighting actually are and not what many people think they are. Many would have you believe they are one in the same and that a “good” fighter can defend themselves effectively, properly, and legally. These myths could not be further from the truth. We will also cover how they correlate with the martial arts as well as why the martial arts are not always the answer.

You can “fight”, but can you “defend” yourself?

Round 1: Fight!

Fighting is simply voluntary participation in a physical altercation. “It takes two to tango” as they say. This could be as innocent as playful wrestling or grappling with a friend, competing in a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu match, standing up and challenging a bully, engaging a robber or mugger, or scrapping with the guy at the bar who looked at you wrong, called you names, or insulted your spouse. These are all avoidable interactions.

Does it being “avoidable” mean you shouldn’t stand-up for yourself, protect others, or handle bullies? Of course not… there is nothing wrong with fighting for the proper reasons you find just. Fighting means a person is making a distinct decision to intervene and engage in physical conflict. The moral or ethical reasons for fighting are irrelevant to what fighting means. Whenever we CAN avoid a fight and do not, we are CHOOSING to fight. This is the main difference between self-defense and fighting.

As with everything else, knowing how to fight comes with plenty of pros and cons. Some pros include teaching a bully a valuable lesson, winning, learning how to handle yourself (competition), protecting a loved one, surviving the “streets” with regular challenges, etc. But will “knowing how to fight” prepare you for a self-defense scenario? Let’s look at the cons on fighting… but remember, it’s important to know that most people will not voluntarily fight if they do not expect to win. This idea may suggest they have an advantage over you which could be a weapon, friends of standby, or just more skill. 

Cons to fighting include life-threatening or debilitating injuries, the opponent could be a better overall fighter, weapons involvement, multiple opponents, legal issues including prison, fines, or lawsuits, and of course death. Are any one of these cons worth jumping into a fight?

Here is an article about an MMA fighter stabbed during an altercation. Or when an experienced BJJ practitioner and coach trying to spoil a robbery. Another BJJ Black Belt loses his life in a road rage incident. BJJ doesn’t help one unfortunate soul because a gun came into the picture during a street fight. A college wrestler lost his life due to gun violence. Even in Russia, great wrestlers brawl and die doing what they know very well but forget about the “real”. And let’s not forget about the knock-out game that was plaguing the communities of NJ and NY for many months. You can’t block a sucker-punch to the back of the head… Individuals can have “fighting experience” yet lose the battle of self-defense.

Food for thought…

Johnny fought a guy at the grocery store who bumped into him and dropped explicit profanity his direction yesterday. Johnny “won” that fight by breaking his arm and knocking him unconscious. But this was after the other guy got a clean sucker-punch. Johnny’s mouth is wired shut for 6-months and serving 2-5 years for aggravated assault and battery. His wife is struggling with the bills and childcare and considers divorce. But Johnny’s honor is intact. Johnny is proud. Johnny stood his ground!

Was Johnny right or wrong? That is a matter of personal opinion… it depends on the situation and mental state at that time. What does matter is the long-term. Was it worth it? Johnny could’ve been home right now with his wife and children eating ice cream if he had just walked away.

What’s different about Self-Defense?

So now, what is self-defense? In one word… SURVIVAL. Self-defense is the “unavoidable” situation which requires you to act in order to protect yourself. It involves the use of P.E.T., prevention, escape, and tactics.

Self-defense often involves the use of tactics as a tactical response to the situation, but only when an attacker forces their hand and is often a reactionary response. Fighting experience will come in handy to the tactical portion of a self-defense scenario. The goal is to escape.

The striking and other tactics you use during self-defense are performed because you must, not because you choose.

Some examples of “self-defense” include kidnapping, rape. multiple attackers, knock-out game, workplace or public shooting, someone attacking you although you’ve tried to resolve the situation peacefully, being chased by a dog, an individual with a knife randomly picking fights, murderous home-invasion, road-rager pulling you out of the car, a jealous boy or girlfriend grabs you, etc. We are talking about dangerous situations that are not typically ones in which people just “walk away”.

When we are “fighting”, we usually have time to assess the fighting style, movements, aggressiveness, and to strategize your win. Self-defense does not usually allow you this “time”. If this time exists, use it to run away… otherwise, you may end up like Johnny.

It’s very important to take into account the legal aspects of self-defense. Always educated yourself and be prepared from a legal aspect to make better and more intelligent decisions. One place to start is www.findlaw.com. DO your best to avoid the “Fight after the fight”.

Martial Arts and it’s role in fighting and self-defense…

How is fighting and self-defense related to the martial arts? Fighting and self-defense can be learned many ways. It could be the hard way through experience such as street fights, a family member or friend, or it could be through martial arts classes such as BJJ, Kempo Karate, Jujutsu, Judo, Boxing, Muay Thai, MMA, Krav Maga, Aikido, and even the Samurai Sword and other weapons training.

But can a martial artist defend themselves? Well, what if a boxer or karate practitioner is taken down to the ground without “ground-game”? What if a BJJ blackbelt is sucker-punched or a knife is involved? Can a Muay Thai fighter stop a bullet? Often, the martial arts will specialize in a specific subset of skills like striking or grappling. Because of this, they will naturally exclude aspects of self-defense that may be crucial. Every art will be better if they regularly consider striking, grappling, and throwing during instruction. There are also weapons such as guns and knives to consider. They are real and everywhere. You must be very specific with training with a against these weapons.

Self-defense is not fighting; it is not a competition. However, the skills these practitioners have developed over years of training can definitely save their lives… in the right situation. The best way to learn fighting or self-defense is through dedicated, legitimate self-defense courses, or by learning martial arts to acquire skills in striking, grappling, weaponry, & throwing.

I’m a blackbelt, can I defend myself?

The average student will need many years of training in any one martial art to learn self-defense techniques or fighting. Also, many schools or dojos will focus on either fighting or self-defense. Fighting “well” takes skill and strategy while self-defense is more explosive, reactionary, and straight to the point.

In BJJ, for example, a blue belt is about what an average person will need to defend themselves in a (weapons-free) 1v1 grappling situation and takes 1-3 years to achieve. However, Krav Maga is mostly self-defense oriented, so you could potentially learn “practical self-defense” in a shorter time-period. But fighting takes, quite simply, years and years of practice, determination, and dedication to become proficient. We are talking about technical mastery, speed, strength, stamina, and endurance training.

In short, self-defense methods involve Prevention and Physical Tactical Response. There are plenty of resources on how to prevent scenarios from happening. Tactical Response, however, is engraining specific movements and tactics into muscle memory and the subconscious so they can be utilized quickly and effectively under stress. With commitment, you could learn self-defense physical tactics within a very short time frame. Examples could be learning fundamentals of escaping grabs, where and how hard to hit, improvised weapons, etc.

Since the martial arts are typically taken up as a hobby, form of exercise, or to compete, and involve hundreds of techniques and movements, it can take much more time to engrain the principles needed for self-defense.