No safety system can offer full and comprehensive protection unless it works in conjunction with others. A passenger jet has many different safety systems that work together, monitor each other and offer backup should any of them for whatever reason fail. A pilot also has human/manual processes and procedures that they can follow should an emergency occur. If you look at any ancient castle or fort you will again see that many different systems and structures were designed and put in place, to work together in a collective and collaborative fashion e.g. there may be a moat/ditch, a set of walls, a Keep etc. Julius Caeser (the legendary Roman Emperor and General) during the Gallic Wars once besieged the Gallic hill fort of Alesia, surrounding the hill upon which it was built with an 18 km wall (approximately 4 meters in height). The wall itself was preceded by two ditches; the one which was nearest the wall was flooded and filled with water from the surrounding rivers. These two ditches although constituting separate and individual defenses worked together: they were spaced so that Gallic Cavalry riders would be able to clear one but not the other. In front of these were placed pits, mantraps and covered holes with fire hardened, sharpened spikes at the bottom etc. Julius Caeser, who is one of the all time great military tacticians, understood the need to have multi-part defenses that were constructed in depth.

Individual self-defense is no different. Physical techniques, such as: escapes from holds, blocks and punches etc should not be our only defense but make up the very last line in a circular, series of protective measures. Caesar’s aim was to prevent any of the opposing Gallic army ever reaching his wall as he knew that alone it was not sufficient to deal with the numerically superior force he was facing. We should have a similar aim: to put in place the necessary strategies and defensive tactics that will mean we’ll never have to engage in a physical face-to-face confrontation. Physically violent situations are always to be avoided as they may potentially involve: 1) more than one attacker, 2) an attacker(s) who is armed and 3) an assailant who is physically stronger, faster and better trained than you are. These are three assumptions that should always be made when dealing with an aggressive individual(s).

Caeser was not naive, he knew his wall would eventually be reached – just as we know we might one day have to use our physical techniques and skills - and so constructed his siege works to create two things: time and distance. By increasing these he was able to give himself a better chance to respond effectively and decisively, with the limited resources he had (all resources are limited). With distance he had time to recognize the nature of an assault and where it was being directed before he had to engage it, this limited the damage and effect of any attack. With time on his side he could gather more information, increase the choices available to him and make better/more informed decisions. The two things that any street assailant will do involve denying you time and distance: they don’t want a fight, they want a victim e.g. they will shank you with a knife when you’re not looking, they will ask you for the time and then hit you whilst you’re looking at your watch, they will push you and then punch you as they ask a question etc. This is reality. In most martial arts and combat sports (MMA, Cage Fighting, UFC, Boxing etc) opponents start at some distance from each other and wait for the referee to tell them to start. Having the luxury to wait and the time to get your mind in gear is something that nobody on the street will give you. Just think, if you can create an extra two inches of distance between yourself and an aggressor before they attack you might stop their initial (knife) stab from being a fatal one; plus you will have given yourself more time to respond to the one that inevitably follows. Even an “uneducated” and inexperienced fighter/attacker knows that they’re not to give you a chance. Increasing time and distance increases your survival chances.  

Your lines of defense should be arranged in the following order: 1) Firstly you should attempt to deny potential predators and aggressors the opportunity to select you as a victim – this would mean not going into a bar/pub that has the reputation for violence, not running/jogging alone late at night, 2) secondly you should present and conduct yourself in such a manner that you will not appear on their radar should they get such an opportunity e.g. walking and scanning, moving with purpose, 3) your next line of defense involves being able to detect the presence of harmful intent within a situation (situational awareness – SA), this normally involves you being able to pick up an aggressor’s movement as they synchronize it to yours, 4) after this you should look to be able to de-escalate the situation or disengage from it 5) with the final and last line of defense being that of physical action. In short:

  1. Deny Opportunity
  2. Reduce/Eliminate Victim Visibility
  3. Be Aware
  4. Be Able to De-escalate and/or Disengage
  5. Be Able to Physically Defend Yourself

Personal Security & Protection is about being able to avoid appearing on a predator’s radar, it is about not behaving/acting in a conspicuous manner – next time you wear your Tapout T-shirt in a crowded bar and start talking “big” with your friends, understand how you have both created opportunity – by being in the bar where alcohol is present – as well as increasing your visibility i.e. MMA T-Shirt, loud talking etc. Sometimes it is not possible to avoid creating opportunities or being put in certain situations e.g. you live in a part of town that is notoriously violent (or your friends do), you are invited for a social night out in a bar or club that you wouldn’t normally frequent etc. However by altering your behavior and actions you will be able to reduce and possibly eliminate certain risks e.g. don’t start talking loudly about how you favor the Yankees this year in a Boston bar or wear your Glasgow Rangers shirt to a pub in Parkhead. Being aware of who is “interested” in you in such situations is also key as is having the confidence to leave/disengage from a situation you deem may become potentially violent, in spite of the social pressures that may be put on you to stay i.e. having a survival personality.

Violence occurs along a Timeline and if you can avoid being on it all the better i.e. deny opportunity and eliminate visibility. In certain situations this is unavoidable and a good awareness and understanding of your environment (Situational Awareness) will help you create the time and distance you need to either prepare yourself for the physical conflict that may occur or allow you the space to de-escalate and/or disengage. This is what Self Protection is all about: avoidance of conflict.