Defusing confrontations
Intro
When a confrontation arises, it is best to try to defuse the situation. The fight will be more with your ego than it will be with your antagonist. Do not be afraid to admit that you do not want trouble. Leave at the first opportunity. He who runs away lives to fight another day.
Take command
Take command of the situation. Step back and raise both hands, arms outstretched in front, palms facing the antagonist. Use a pushing motion and command "Stop! Leave me alone!" This works sometimes because:
- When you step back with your hands up in front you are controlling the range, not the antagonist.
- You have given notice that you are willing to resist.
- With your hands up, you have marked a boundary that tends to keep an opponent further away.
- Witnesses can instantly identify that there is a problem.
- You keep your weapons between you and the antagonist. Your front hand is a gauge of range, if you can touch the antagonist with your front hand, you know you can also touch with your rear hand.
- When you have your hands up protecting your centerline, you force the antagonist to either swing around your hands to get to you, grab your hands, or move your hands.
This technique is also a way to gauge when the fight has started. When you use the command technique, it is obvious to everyone when the fight has started. If the antagonist stays back and continues the confrontation, everything is still just verbal. However, if the antagonist moves forward into your hands, it is obvious the antagonist is attacking. If the antagonist does not advance, then slowly back away and leave
If you cannot talk the situation down, you might try posturing; it works for animals. Create a gap between you and your aggressor by shoving him or her hard on the chest and then go crazy: shout, salivate, spread your arms, bulge your eyes, and use single syllables. This may cause the aggressor to back up in amazement. If so, turn and run
If dissuasion, posturing, and escape fail, and you, as a reasonable and prudent person, believe you are about to be attacked you are left with two choices: defend yourself or stand there and be hit. If you choose to defend, then strike first and hard, with a fist or the forehead (since they are closest to the opponent's jaw), preferably on the jaw since it is physically linked to the brain. Do not wait for the aggressor's attack, your block may not be effective. If your strike is effective, leave. Any more strikes may make you the aggressor in the eyes of the law.
Sources
- Thompson, Geoff. [Online]. Available: http://www.geoffthompson.com
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