By Jim Harrison, Bushidokan-Ryu Founder & Head Instructor
\n\u00a9 2018 – Bushidokan™ Yudanshakai, Inc. \u00a0All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n
The three most valuable secrets of self-defense are: S.S.S. – Surprise, Simplicity, and Similarity.<\/strong>\u00a0 Let’s address those elements in that order. \u00a0Surprise\u2026One may ask how can you utilize surprise when defending yourself?\u00a0 Most often you\u2019ve been assaulted or attacked by surprise yourself.\u00a0 Well, first of all, most assaults or attacks should not be a surprise.\u00a0 Because normally, verbal, or at least hostile body language precipitates most assaults or even attacks.\u00a0 However, most of us are not of such an aggressive personality that we like to instigate or even initiate the first action.\u00a0 That, often, is a very wrong decision.<\/p>\n By the time I was eighteen I must have been sucker-punched, kicked, slugged, or hit\u00a0with a weapon first, some twenty times or more before I learned to recognize that a\u00a0fight was actually going to start. \u00a0I never liked to hit anyone first. \u00a0However, I seemed to be in the vast minority of my associates. \u00a0Finally, I learned to recognize when a hostile situation was escalating toward a fight. \u00a0Consequently, I also learned that if a fight was obviously going to start…To Start The Fight!<\/strong> \u00a0I learned too, that it was infinitely easier to win a fight as the puncher rather than as the punchee.\u00a0 With one exception, against a National Golden Gloves Champion, I had always, somehow, come back from “The Hole” and won. \u00a0However, it was often difficult to tell much difference between me and my opponent, because I usually had the hell beaten out of me between their sucker-punch and the time I got my stuff back together and got going.<\/p>\n “Starting” the fight myself was sooo much more fun. \u00a0I said “starting” the fight – not “instigating” the fight.\u00a0 When it was apparent that I had to fight, eventually I\u00a0learned to start the fight.<\/p>\n I also found that I didn’t have to do as much damage to an opponent if I made the\u00a0first move. \u00a0One, I learned to Cross Eyes and Buckle Knees<\/strong> fast\u2026which usually\u00a0required much less follow-up – most guys didn’t want to continue a losing battle.\u00a0 Second, follow-up, if necessary, was normally fairly easy on a surprised and stunned adversary.\u00a0 Third, not being hurt and nearly exhausted prior to my counter-attack was physically much easier and emotionally less traumatic. \u00a0And finally, by not being hurt and humiliated, I didn’t have the emotional need to retaliate so thoroughly. \u00a0Therefore, less bloodshed for both of\u00a0us!<\/p>\n Eventually, I learned how to utilize the Element Of Surprise <\/strong>– and here’s how\u00a0you can too. \u00a0First of all, Don’t Get Surprised!<\/strong>\u00a0 To avoid being surprised, learn to read hostile surroundings and situations and to especially read hostile body language. \u00a0Be more alert when in any probable or even possible hostile environment.\u00a0 Observe any arguments, fights, assaults, or attacks, then analyze and critique how they began, especially the body language of the aggressor prior to the incident. \u00a0Try to recall any hostile or violent situation you were ever involved in and analyze it.\u00a0 That way, you can learn to become more aware and tuned-in to probable and even possible hostile situations.<\/p>\n Most assaults can be anticipated by simple awareness.<\/strong>\u00a0 In the last thirty years (and numerous incidents), I’ve only allowed myself to get “suckered” once – and that was done by some very good acting, so that I failed to see any apparent hostility (although\u00a0there had been plenty warning signs previously).\u00a0 Out of compassion I let pity over-ride\u00a0my self-taught instincts and allowed myself to be sucked in.\u00a0 After getting a bottle\u00a0broken across my face, once again, I had to fight from “The Hole”, and take out three young, strong, and very hostile guys.<\/p>\n Once you’ve sensed hostility, Stay Alert<\/strong>.\u00a0 Don’t let something else distract your original instinct. \u00a0Your instincts are like your first thoughts or answers when taking an exam, the first ones are usually right.\u00a0 Or, like a Marine Re-con Sergeant I once knew who had a lot of combat experience used to teach his recruits, \u201cYour first twitch is usually right\u201d<\/strong>.\u00a0 Therefore, don’t let any distraction confuse you or change your mind.\u00a0 Keep aware and alert until you’ve exited the danger zone – <\/strong>and\u00a0<\/strong>become re-alerted when approached by the same person(s) or situation at any later time.<\/p>\n How Not To Get Sucker Punched<\/strong> Physically, never allow an apparently hostile person to enter into the danger zone <\/strong>(if\u00a0possible). \u00a0The danger zone is what I call the “Dumb Distance”. \u00a0That’s the distance\u00a0that a possible assailant could reach out and nail you with a hand, foot, club, knife\u00a0or weapon (whether apparent or possibly concealed) without them having to initiate at\u00a0least one step toward you before being in contact range. \u00a0This is not always easy to\u00a0do, especially if you are of a passive personality. \u00a0A good method is to initially\u00a0evade, if you can, by retreating back a step or two, or to one side. \u00a0Then, if an\u00a0apparent hostile adversary re-enters into contact range<\/strong> with you, he obviously isn’t\u00a0there for your autograph…so\u00a0Hit ’em Back First! \u00a0<\/strong>Or, retreat…If you can?<\/p>\n The Stupid Stance<\/strong><\/p>\n Never, never<\/strong> argue or stand \u201csquare\u201d<\/strong> to anyone, much less against an apparent or possible hostile person(s).\u00a0 Standing square is very definitely a “Stupid Stance\u201d.\u00a0 Square, you have all of your frontal and lateral vital targets exposed and available to\u00a0any assailant.\u00a0 Plus, you have no “lead” hand for protection, distraction, or to attack\u00a0with.\u00a0 Nor do you have any rear hand or rear foot for power in a counter-attack (rarely\u00a0attack with a rear hand or rear foot technique).\u00a0 Remember, your front hand or foot is\u00a0used for Speed and Distraction and your rear hand or foot is for Power and\u00a0Destruction.<\/strong><\/p>\n Being right handed, I much prefer a right lead myself, especially against a “left\u00a0lead” adversary (most right handers will lead left foot first and most left handers\u00a0will lead right foot forward).\u00a0 Also, I’m in the opposite stance<\/strong> and angle that he is likely accustomed to. \u00a0I am also farther from his right power and \/ or weapon hand. \u00a0My front right hand is normally faster and stronger than his front left hand. \u00a0Therefore, his nose and philtrum is wide open to my right back-fist…or a knife-hand to his trachea if I detect or suspect a weapon. \u00a0Don\u2019t let full contact fighters or kickboxers tell you a back-fist is ineffective. \u00a0It’s not very effective with a boxing glove on, but bare-handed a good back-fist is devastating.\u00a0 I\u2019ve stopped more fights with a back-fist and \/ or a front kick before they got started than most people have seen. \u00a0His left front knee is close and very exposed to my right side kick\u2026While my left, rear (power) leg front kick is lined -up and sighted-in at the best (90 degree) angle to his bells. \u00a0If I can\u2019t take out a baby gorilla when I Hit \u2018em Back First<\/strong> with all those factors stacked in my favor, I deserve a tail-kicking.<\/p>\n Normally, don’t assume a “fighting” stance before your adversary does, or possibly even after he does, and Absolutely Not<\/strong> if he shows a weapon.\u00a0 Forget your karate or\u00a0kung-fu stances, most are useless, if not ridiculous.\u00a0 Not only are most martial art stances useless but they instantly alert your assailant to your intended retaliation (virtually death against a weapon – regardless of how good you think you are) and will\u00a0certainly alert him to the fact that you’re probably going to kick.\u00a0 Such a stance may also entice or excite him into pulling a weapon beforehand.\u00a0 A martial art stance will totally destroy your element of surprise<\/strong> and also considerably limit your fighting ability.\u00a0 Martial art stances are only designed for show, not for go<\/strong>!\u00a0 Stand in a casual three-point, right lead, boxers stance.\u00a0 Hands down at the safe distance against a bare-handed adversary and hands up and open in a “talking hands” mode, or hands (fist) possibly in a boxer’s mode if he is already in a boxer’s stance and mode himself. \u00a0The best way I know to kick a dude in the bells is to make him think you\u2019re going to punch him in the mouth. \u00a0And remember, your hands are definitely open and very apparently protective (defensive) if a weapon is apparent or suspected.<\/p>\n [Note: The “strike first” concept, from a legal perspective, comes into play because you felt that you were in “imminent danger” of physical harm.]<\/em><\/p>\n\n
\n The Dumb Distance<\/strong><\/p>\n