K.I.S.S. Self-Defence

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K.I.S.S. Keep it simple, stupid. Self Defence

While many think of martial arts as being the focal point of self protection and solution to self-defence, it really is one of the LAST walls of your defence structures!

Looking after yourself or people close to you starts with some simple rules and guidelines.

1. Awareness and knowledge – Don’t be there in the first place!
2. If you do find yourself getting drawn in to a bad situation – Walk Away.
3. If you are engaged in confrontation – do only what is necessary to escape safely.
4. RUN!

Guideline 1. Don’t be there in the first place!

This is poorly emphasized in most martial clubs and leads to a great many people ignoring this first rule, skipping over the second rule entirely, and believing they have to jump directly into the third rule, which involves violence,

It really is just remaining switched on and always being aware – and not going into, or remaining in, areas that could pose a problem of physical interference!

You don’t have to enter the dark parking garage if you don’t feel it’s safe.
You don’t have to walk down that dark alley or take a short cut through the park at night.
You don’t have to go in to the grungy biker bar just because your friends think it’s cool.
You don’t have to walk home by yourself, get a taxi, or take a friend with you.

If you believe there is a strong chance or there is area history of violent activities, then turn round find a safer route and walk away!

And those two simple words of advice walk away, lead us to the second rule of self defence.

Guideline 2. Walk Away!

The second rule sounds just as simple as the first, but it is often the most difficult. If you have been aware, but an incident suddenly boils up around out of nowhere – quickly locate an exit point and walk away and get out of that area. It could be that you are suddenly confronted by a belligerent individual, or individuals who feel the need to focus their anti-social tendencies entice on you hoping to provoke an emotional or physical response.

Don’t fall for it. Don’t stoop to their level. Just keep talking placatory and walking. When your escape route is blocked by the individuals that is when you should prepare to physically defend yourself This leads us to our third rule of self defence.

Guideline 3. Minimal Confrontation Response!

You should do only what is necessary to escape, when walking away has been prevented. If five individuals surround you and ask you for your wallet, give them your wallet, they might take it and leave you to walk away. You can cancel credit cards, and replace money, but you can’t replace your own life. If they take the wallet, and intend to have physical ‘fun’ with you – prepare to defend yourself!

This is where your self defence training comes into play, not before, and not after.

However, in today’s world, do not confuse the myriad of martial sports techniques as being valuable for a self defence occurrence! Train for as many years in martial arts as you like, but for all of your training, please separate popular film antics from reality. Keep it simple and effective.

If you try to scare them senseless with your super flipping, twisting, turning, triple, double back flip kick, then you are not going to last very long – as soon as you land after performing this amazing technique, they will be right next to you beating you senseless!

Use the K.I.S.S. theory. Keep it simple stupid.

And every self defence instructor worth his salt is going to say the exact same thing, or something similar.

Now there is a limit as to how much damage you can inflict. Just because someone is attacking you doesn’t mean you have the right to beat them to a bloody pulp. You should do ONLY what is necessary to escape without being followed. If you strike someone in the knee, foot, or shin, with great force, it causes damage, and a damaged knee, foot, or shin does not allow someone to take chase. This is a perfectly acceptable means by which to defend yourself because you are not causing bodily harm that could result in serious injury, and the police are more likely to believe the crime report you give to them when they see someone with a limp.

Speaking of a person with a limp, this is the perfect time to follow the fourth and final rule, RUN!

Guideline 4. RUN!
Don’t hang about to see what happens next – run towards safety and the nearest group of people. Advise the police if you have a cell phone. Tell the operator all the information required.

If you manage to get through most of your life with out having to physically defend yourself then congratulations on using the first two rules of our K.I.S.S. Self-Defence and saving a lot of heartache!

Malcolm
Yoshiki Goshin Jutsu

MA Instructors

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