The Vigilance Standard in Self Defense

Our society is becoming more violent. Violent crimes increase daily and yet, our world is more integrated than ever. We travel more, commute from home to work, and are out and about more than our grandparents or even our parents were. So, the question is: how will you prepare to be out in this world, as it presents increasing risks to your own personal security? You are taking steps, such as reading this article, to educate yourself. But what type of training will that education lead you to choose?

A New Way of Thinking

Here is a bold statement – self defense is not rocket science. In its simplest form it should be a natural flow of devastating strikes and movements. No matter what you hear from the up-teen million experts on the subject, it breaks down very simply. Protect your life at all cost, using the most devastating forms of hand to hand that you can. It would be nice if we had 10 years to train in Kung Fu and a red pill to take to become a combination of Bruce Lee and Neo from the Matrix, easily rendering our aggressor harmless while gliding through the air. However, that is not reality, and it never will be, no matter who you are.

Train off the principle that, when under an aggressor’s attack, your body will only allow you to utilize gross motor skills, i.e., simple movements. You cannot perform intricate jump-spinning back kicks and other gravity-defying movements with success when under duress. In addition to requiring a ballet of choreographed movements, certain martial art schools impress upon the student that he must be prepared to defend himself after he is physically attacked. Such reactive, versus proactive, training is not effective and relying on it can be costly and dangerous. In fact, the best defense (with a new spin on an old saying) is a good offense.

In addition to advocating easy-to-execute training, the author has designed the following A.D.D. formula for recognizing, processing, and dealing with possible physical attacks:

(A) Avoid compromising situations. Be aware of your surroundings.

(D) Dissuade any potential aggressor with verbal commands and body language.

(D) Decimate your aggressor with devastating strikes.

For more information on Stephen Spivey and American Combat System please visit MaxDefense