Surviving the Streets

Reports of kidnappings and assaults flash so quickly across the TV screen these days that many of us have ceased to pay them due attention. Indeed we've developed something of an ostrich mentality — "if I don't think about it, it won't happen to me." Granted, assault is not common when compared with total population numbers, but it does happen. And it's life-altering. A more realistic mind set is to hearken to the old boy scout motto and "be prepared."

People are safest when they're open-minded enough to take precautions, regardless of where they live and what they do. These individuals seek to foster personal security through the pursuit of martial arts, but in today's complex world it's sometimes hard to know what will work on the street and what won't.

Some people view martial arts as a Jackie Chan movie — lacking realism, a way to keep kids busy after school. This is not surprising, given that some martial arts today are more sport focused than self-defense focused. This means that the concentration of a student's efforts is to excel in a competition or tournament.

The problem with this can be that in doing so, students learn rules — that later become habits — which don't work on the street, and could actually get them hurt. In this form of study there is also the need to be in top physical shape, which is something most people aren't realistically inclined to do. This has a limiting effect, excluding the average Joe or Jane from getting involved in martial arts.

The good news is that personal security no longer needs to fall under the traditional umbrella of martial arts. Still, people searching for a good personal security program need to be wary of whether they are learning something practical or not. Good self-defense courses should include not only physical tactics that anyone — regardless of physical ability — can execute, but ways to avoid physical confrontation without the use of violence. Also, the physical tactics taught need to descend from a martial art that is practical and street smart.

Personal security is not a one-size-fits all proposition. Below are some guidelines for choosing a self-defense course that will be effective in the real world. Everyone is different, with different skills and levels of ability. But no one need be defenseless.

1) Make sure whatever course you choose teaches ways to avoid violence, like helping you understand how criminals select their victims. The ideal class should show how to avoid an attack without contact, including the use of voice, awareness, intuition, intent. You should learn not only how to evade grabs, locks, chokes, punches and kicks, but also how to defend against ground attacks, guns, knives, bottles, baseball bats and multiple attackers.

2) Find classes that teach pressure points beyond the showing of a chart or illustration. Pressure points are the great equalizer, and the best courses teach where the point is located, the name as it corresponds to Chinese medicine or Acupuncture, how to activate the point and the difference between striking points and rubbing points. A thorough understanding of pressure points will help the student think quickly on their feet in the event of a personal attack. Almost without exception, people are assaulted by someone bigger, stronger and faster than themselves. Proper pressure point applications can subdue an attacker in a matter of seconds without causing permanent damage (which also helps to avoid law suits).

3) Find a class that fits your physical ability. Your instructor should teach defensive tactics anyone can do, regardless of fitness level or physical ability, even into the senior years. Why take a class that focuses primarily on techniques that require levels of fitness which most people don't possess past the age of 30?

4) Seek a qualified instructor. This does not necessarily mean one with a belt ranking in a sport martial art. Academic background in either police science or criminal justice is a plus, as is a long list of satisfied clients or testimonials. Also ask a prospective instructor about their pressure point knowledge. Anytime you hear things like "we don't teach that until later" or "you have to pay before we share that information with you," leave immediately. Survey the class before you take it, if possible, and see if the newest student is able to defend him- or herself. If not, then it's not a place for you.

5) Women have special self-defense considerations. According the Rape Abuse Incest National Network (RAINN), women are far more likely to be assaulted by someone they know than by a stranger. Acquaintance assault on women makes up about 66f all those reported. Women's self-defense classes should not only emphasize ways of recognizing potentially dangerous situations and avoiding violence, but should definitely teach pressure point techniques for subduing larger opponents without causing permanent damage. VS

North American Serial Rights 2004 (© 2004 Wesley D. Manko)

Wesley Manko is President of DEFENSEWORKS, a personal security firm that teaches anti-assault and anti-kidnapping programs as well as Systema, a Russian Martial Art. His articles have appeared in Black Belt, Self-Defense for Women magazine, @LAW, and several local publications. To learn more about Mr. Manko and DEFENSEWORKS visit http://www.defenseworks.us.