Developing Your Self-Defense Formula

Friday Knight News

“There’s only one basic principle of self-defense: you must apply the most effective weapon, as soon as possible, to the most vulnerable target.” Bruce Lee 

Do you have a basic self-defense formula? I believe that Bruce Lee had the best definition I've seen yet, but what does it mean to us as martial artists? Does your style or your mindset limit your response? I've seen many martial artists from a variety of styles respond to a host of self-defense situations, some more and some less successfully. 



The key to utilizing your style, especially if your style focus is on tournament competition and not street situations, is to see past the rules of the combat sport or the enlightening body and mind practice that helps you cope with the day-to-day struggles of life. It is simple to reclaim the martial aspects while converting and utilizing these other facets in your response, we only need to follow a formula.

So how do we determine what is the most effective weapon from the first portion of Lee's principle? The answer is simple; we must determine the threat, range, and response needed to effective stop the aggression. This needs to be done in an instant. Someone running at you with a knife from ten yards can be on you in a second. Most of the time a knife attack comes from closer up, with no warning. So awareness to danger and trouble is our main martial art skill to consider.



As a mature martial artist, we also need to recognize the fact that we were singled out probably because the attacker felt they had superior power, numbers, or position (weaponry, or other advantage) over us. We also know even the simplest of attacks can turn deadly, so our first response should be with a weapon. This can be with a blunt, edged, flexible, or projectile weapon. The thing is it should be sometime that we have trained with and have learned how to retain.

Second, we need to discern the threat level. By having working martial art skills better allows us to have judgement to determine if we need to respond with deadly force, an eye poke, a joint dislocation or a less destructive maneuver. This all occurs in a split second and it is difficult to make the transition from our natural fight or flight flinch response without continual practice. 

The third portion is learning how to deal with the aftermath. There can be a host of troubles that arises from defending yourself, both legally and financially. There is little justice in the world today, where criminals can sue for getting hurt in attacks that they instigated. My advice is to consult your attorney over this aspect.
     
  "Get fit, be smart, and hit hard." Randy LaHaie  

My stories are about martial arts adventures that are intertwined with paranormal or supernatural events. The following links are to the Kindle version books from the "Dream Walker” series. Our adventurers find themselves on a quest where they are confronted with both conspiracy and mystery. Their challenge is to unite their mind and body skills together utilizing what they have learned in the martial arts with the transcendental power of dream mediation. They attempt to do this while they are trying to make a life for themselves and elude those that seek to use and control them.

Conversations with a Sage (Book 1 of the Dream-Walker)

Conversations with a Sage: This explores Xander Davidson's early encounters with the mysterious fog like Dream Walking martial art sages. He ponders if they are real or if they are only remnants of his dreams. He mainly keeps this secret world to himself as he tries to copes with abuse, growing up without support or guidance and the mystery of his family's past. 

Xander and the Assassins Gift (Book 2 of the Dream-Walker)

The Assassins Gift: Xander Davidson struggles with the conspiracy of his family and the group that is actively trying to manipulate him to join them or die. The young Dream Walkers learns an early lesson to be careful about whom they let into their circle.


Warriors of Perception (Book 3 of the Dream-Walker)

Warriors of Perception: Xander Davidson and his band of friends embark on a mission to free themselves from their oppressors. They bravely face the challenge all the while vying for the right moment to turn the tables.

Jace Lee The Shift (Book 4 of the Dream-Walker)

Jace Lee The Shift: We find a new apprentice, Adam, that is fighting for his life. He is struggling to understand the amazing skills of his mentor, Jace Lee; a younger man that has trained under Xander Davidson. All the while his mentor attempts to reconcile the fact that his skills do not match up with the other Dream Walkers.


Jace Lee No Agenda (Dream Walker Book 5)

Jace Lee No Agenda: Jace Lee attempts to find himself on a self-imposed vision quest of sorts. Instead he finds himself being stalked by the same group that had previously sought after his teacher, (Xander Davidson). Instead of mastering his odd Dream Walking skills he finds love and the potential loss of his powers.

Jace Lee and the Tutelage of Ming Wu: Dream Walker 6 

Jace Lee The Tutelage of Ming Wu: Jace Lee rejoins his teacher Xander Davidson as they cope with a possible combined threat (the mysterious), Ming Wu and the Council that has continuously monitored the Dream Walkers.