Human predators
Intro
All forms of life must deal with predators that seek to take their food, water, clothing, and shelter, or who want to battle them over territory, harm them to prove superiority, harm or kill them because of some perceived threat, or harm or kill them simply for enjoyment. Humans are no exception. People who live in natural habitats must deal with all types of predators indigenous to the habitat in which they are located. For people living in towns and cities, their major predators are other humans.
Human predators
The following are some observations about human predators and how to deal with them:
- Most human predators do not intend to kill, they just want something you have. However, they are fully capable of killing and will kill if they consider it necessary or beneficial to them.
- For human predators, attacking others is a way of life. They train daily and are good at it, so, when you deal with them, you are at a disadvantage. As a martial artist, you train for what might happen; they train to make it happen. To deal with them, you must know their tactics, be capable of defending against them, and be willing to do whatever it takes to defend against them. When it comes to dealing with a predator, you are a rookie dealing with a professional.
- To human predators, you are prey. You are not one of them so they consider you something that they may prey upon. They will use whatever force is necessary to get what they want from you, even if it means killing you; and they will have little to no regret, after all—you are just prey. Some killers have regret about having to kill, but only for the first few minutes after each kill.
- Human predators hunt their prey. As prey, you may not know when predators are present and thus not know their intentions. The predators will have observed you and know what must be done to overcome you. They will have planned their approach and method of attack and will have contingencies in case the attack goes wrong, which may mean running away, or it may mean killing you.
- Don't present yourself as prey. If a human predator has selected you as the next victim, it probably means the circumstances and your behavior have indicated that you would be a good victim. Since you are usually not aware of a predator being near, you must always be alert and project the aura that you are not a victim. Predators prefer to prey on the weak.
- Trust your instincts. When your instincts tell you something is wrong, trust them, and act accordingly. If your instincts were right, you will probably survive the attack. If they were wrong, no harm is done, and you got in some valuable practice for the next time.
- Be prepared for an attack. When a human predator attacks, you will probably only have time for one course of action, so it must be effective the first time it is used. The predator will not let you use it again, and you will probably not get another chance to try a different tactic.
- Know how to inflict pain. Human predators will not be afraid of your high kicks, physical size, strength, are even a weapon you may have. They are only impressed by the pain you may cause them. The more it hurts them, the more they are impressed. Ensure that any defensive tactic you use causes the predator intense pain.
- Human predators usually hunt in packs, like wolves. For every predator you see, there are probably more waiting to pounce. Therefore, always expect there to be more than one predator. The leader of the pack will usually act first, but the whole pack may attack in unison. Predators who hunt alone are usually the most dangerous. Since they do not have a backup pack, their initial attack will be fierce, deadly, and effective, which makes your reaction even more vital.
- Predators rely on your fear to help them take you down. They circle, they howl, they rustle the bushes, they count on your fear causing you inaction. You must control and hide your fear so you do not appear as prey and, if the attack comes, you must channel your fear into a fierce counterattack.
- Human predators have keener senses and instincts. You may have just left a well-lighted area and moved into darkness, while they have been waiting in the shadows and are used to the darkness. They have been hidden for a while, so they are aware of all the surrounding noises and how to use them to their benefit. You have trained your senses in a class environment; they have trained their senses where the attacks will take place, in the streets.
- Human predators are strong where they need to be. While you may have honed your entire body into outstanding physical condition, they have only honed the parts they need to defeat you. They may be fat or out of shape, but any body part they need to defeat you will be tougher than any body part you use to defend against it.
- You cannot talk to or soothe a charging wolf. Talking to a human predator or trying to negotiate a better outcome is usually a waste of time and only gives the predator a greater advantage. Trying to reason with an unreasonable person, one who is in a rage, or one who is under the influence of drugs is a waste of time. The time for talk is after you have eliminated the threat.
- Predators attack when they are ready and you are not. The human predator waits in the darkness, adrenaline level building to a crescendo, nervously anticipating the kill, while the prey walks calmly and casually down the lighted street, adrenaline level at zero. When the predator attacks, his body is ready for the kill. When the prey is attacked, his body is at rest; it will take a few seconds before it ramps up. In those few seconds, the kill is completed.
- Some human predators cannot be frightened or intimidated. They have faced all types of dangers and survived, so nothing you can do will discourage them. Even showing a weapon will not discourage them, it will only intensify their determination. They only way to stop them is to eliminate them. If you have a weapon, use it until the threat is neutralized. One-shot or one-blow will usually not be sufficient to stop an attacker, so do not wait to see the results of each attack—attack continuously until the attacker stops moving.
- Firearms. When it comes to firearms, make sure yours is in good condition so it will work when needed and have a contingency plan in case it does not work. Only carry the largest size, largest caliber gun that you can effectively carry and use. The caliber of the weapon does not mean much if you cannot get the gun into position and hit the target. Know how to combat reload and shoot with both hands. Do not consider the firearm your last resort; it should be one of your defenses to use whenever the situation demands it. Have secondary weapons readily available or the ability to defend yourself effectively with empty hands. If you have a firearm, there is always the chance that the predator may gain control of it, so always know how to defend yourself against any weapon you may use.
Humans supposedly learn from their mistakes, but then they make the same mistakes over and over. Just because you survived one attack, do not assume you will be better prepared for the next one. A predator does not need to be better than everyone else; he only needs to be better than you—once.
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