| If you are going to take a self-defense course, make | | | | categories. You may begin to comply to draw down |
| sure that you are enrolled in a class that teaches | | | | an attacker's guard and then escape or fight back. Or, |
| multiple response options and not just, "when the bad | | | | you may try to de-escalate the situation with mild |
| guy attacks, do this and then that." It is irresponsible | | | | compliance and then have to fight to open a window |
| and dangerous for any instructor to teach that there is | | | | for escape. |
| a single solution to ALL threatening situations, or that | | | | The final aspect to your training should involve how to |
| one or two moves are ALWAYS going to save you. | | | | deal with the legal consequences of your actions. |
| Just as there are multiple facets to every individual, | | | | Contrary to popular belief, you still have to prove that |
| every situation and circumstance will dictate a different | | | | your use of force for self defense was justified and |
| response. And your training should encompass them all. | | | | not excessive. |
| So what are these self-defense response options? | | | | There are multiple scenarios that can come into play. |
| There are five general categories of self defense | | | | Your choice in responding to a life threatening situation |
| response. These are: | | | | depends on your training and the number of options |
| - Compliance - you do what the bad guy wants | | | | you have available to you. As we advise all of our |
| - Escape - always the best choice when available | | | | students, only "you" know what you can and cannot |
| - De-escalation - talking the situation down - using your | | | | do when confronted with violence and whatever |
| brain | | | | option you employed was your best option at that |
| - Assertiveness - using your body language, tone and | | | | time. |
| voice | | | | Make sure that whatever self defense course you |
| - Fighting Back - you get physical - last resort | | | | enroll in covers your response options and legal liability. |
| The reality of any crime situation that requires self | | | | For when confronted with a violent attack, the last |
| defense is that you are more than likely going to | | | | thing you want to ask is, "What's my response? |
| employ a multitude of options from each of these | | | | |