Self-Defense is a concept with different components; the best-known and most of the time exclusively studied is the Physical component, which we keep practicing in the Dojo through scenarios and combinations of techniques.
We forget there is also a Psychological (Emotional) part and a Social component. All of them are parts of the same whole which keeps adjusting all the time, with a dynamic but fragile balance among the components.
That’s why I consider that Self-Defense must be seen and studied holistically, on each component: Physical - Emotional - Social.
The Well-Being (Health) and the Wealth Status represent another important part of the same equation.
Self-Defense doesn’t mean just my own defence, but also of the loved ones and the ones who cannot defend themselves.
The mere survival after aggression, but with physical and/or psychological traumas which are endangering my health, followed by a legal trial which takes a lot of financial resources and maybe jail time, harassment on social media, are common things which can happen to anyone.An exclusive approach (focusing just on the Physical component) can lead to this unwanted scenario.
If we start talking about Self-Defense and about the Physical component, there are also other parts:
- Survival in extreme natural situations (cataclysms, floods, extraordinary events, acts of God)
- Survival in extreme situations caused by humans (robberies, terrorist attacks).
Violence can be physical, external (in the street) or internal (domestic violence, which can be physical or psychological abuse, or a combination of the two).
The violence can be social or not social.
It is extremely important to understand all types of violence, how to control or diminish their effects and to adapt to each case in particular.
How many of you have discussed at least a part of these things at the gym or in the dojo?
Most of the time we are caught in a sterile routine of combinations and techniques which only function in the dojo, with a friendly partner.We only approach the middle part, the physical conflictual one and we are not paying attention to the pre-conflict and the post-conflict parts.
We have to understand all these mechanisms and differences in order to choose the most appropriate and efficient Self-Defence method.
In most cases, it could be as simple as choosing a longer but well-lit detour and choosing not to pass by a group of people who are not part of the picture or controlling our Ego and being able to avoid a verbal altercation which will inevitably degenerate into physical aggression.
What really matters is to arrive safely back home with our loved ones.
Stuff that you don’t know that you don’t know will put you in the hospital, into the ground, or in jail.