Personal Habits and Self-Defense

[Michael Janich]

To All:



This post is a carry-over from a thread on the General forum regarding "Edged Weapon Tactics/Counter Tactics." The same thread exists here on the MBC forum, but it took a different direction. Basically, after recommending that everyone take a hard objective look at his or her personal self-security habits, I was asked to provide some guidance in that regard. With that in mind, here we go.



One of the most useful self-protection (I hate the word self-defense, since by definition it requires that you allow someone else to be offensive toward you first) exercises is a simple "stop, visualize, and evaluate" drill. You do it like this:



As you are going through your daily activities, occasionally stop and visualize a personal security threat or an actual attack of some sort. Do this in various locations and really try to challenge yourself. Then, take stock of what you actually have available to you to protect yourself and formulate a realistic response.



By mentally performing this drill in various locations, you are forced to take tactical geography and real estate into consideration. Look around and start mentally asking yourself questions. What are your avenues of escape? What obstacles can you use in your favor? What hard cover is available? What concealment is available? What areas leave you no clear avenues of escape? What improvised weapons are available?



One very important question, and the inspiration for this thread, is "What weapons am I actually carrying right now and what can I effectively do with them?" Don't fool yourself and say, "If I were REALLY attacked, I'd have my pistol with me and I'd shoot the S.O.B." If you don't have your pistol, you must fight without it! If you carried your Cricket instead of your Police Model, you'll have to fight with your Cricket. Don't fool yourself. Take stock of what you really have and your skills to really do something with it.



Although this exercise seems quite simple, it is actually pretty profound if done properly, because it tests your ability to think in real tactical environments. If you are honest with yourself and realistically assess your readiness, you'll quickly discover your shortcomings. If you claim or believe that you will have a weapon with you to defend yourself, you will start taking a hard look at what you actually carry and will probably become more diligent in your EDC habits. More importantly, you'll become more realistic in your overall approach to personal protection.



Dojo and range training are great and are necessary methods of developing skill. However, we need to constantly relate those skills to realistic environments and connect our skills with our daily habits. If we don't, we're fooling ourselves concerning our true readiness and ability to protect ourselves.



Please give this drill a try a few times each day. Make sure you do it in challenging locations and areas that, in your assessment, would be hardest to deal with. I'm sure you'll find that your awareness and your ability to think on your feet increase greatly. You may also notice that your inspiration to train in the dojo also gets a boost.



By the way, if you like this kind of posting, please let me know. I'd be happy to offer regular "instructional" MBC postings if there is sufficient interest.



Stay safe,



mike j

[hy]

Mike, the idea of a regular instructional personal protection MBC thread/column on a weekly basis would be great and much appreciated. Could call it the Janich Self Protection Tips or something....<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

[Sword and Shield]

It's a lot like the First Aid courses I took at summer camp. "Look around you, right this minute. What can you use to improvise supplies?" You can have the best supplies in the world, but if your materials are at home, they're worthless.

Keepin' it real...real sharp, that is.

[Hoosierdaddy]

Michael,

I agree with hy. I would be interested in more information-instruction on these matters!
Thank you very much for your effort!

[JamesA]

Thank you for this post, Mr. Janich. I'd be very interested in seeing more.

[sks]

Ahhh..the old "what if" game. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>



Steve

[Michael Janich]

Dear SKS:

In personal protection training, everything is based on "what if." Although it's an old game, it's the most important one. The problem comes when people stop taking it seriously and really start treating it as a game. It was that mistaken mindset that inspired this thread.

Stay safe,


mike j

[mr. v]

Hi Mr. Janich--

Just want to add to the list toward 'sufficient interest.' I'm particularly eager to learn more to help differentiate the 'martial' from the 'art'--personal protection and martial arts are often confused/interchanged [action-movie choreography seems to be causing some delusion, too, eh?] & it's hard to know whom one can trust to impart reliable info on EITHER topic, let alone distinguishing the two.

Thanks for your continued attention to this forum,

Vince

Edited by - mr. V on 12/26/2001 9:32:47 AM

[sks]

"The problem comes when people stop taking it seriously and really start treating it as a game. It was that mistaken mindset that inspired this thread." - M.J.

Agreed. Once people better understand the real world context of what a street encounter might entail, the lightbulbs start to come on.

Steve

[Knife Knut]

add me to the list of interested people.

[Bill Burns]

I would be interested also

[Bill Burns]

I would be interested also

Edited by - Bill Burns on 12/29/2001 10:05:41 AM

[Dijos]

one day, a couple of years ago, I was taking my laundry out of my car to go into the laundromat, when I felt something poking me in the back. i heard "don't move" so of course I turn around to see my shooting buddy with his finger pointing at me. I felt silly, but learned a lesson the easy way

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: I found this digging in the archives and thought it worth bumping, something to think about! :spyder:

[DAYWALKER]

Aloha Michael Cook,

Right on bro...great info. I apply these everyday, and they have become habit forming for the better. Working around and with the people I do...it becomes ingrained rather quickly!

Take care and God bless :cool:

[Woody]

You can put me on this list also... Would be outstanding information..... And like Chad, I too run this through my head every day, several times a day.... I'm usually traveling to a different city twice every month, sometimes more... Always watching my back, one never knows..... Yes habits are good... Sometimes... :o

Tks Michael

Cya's......

[ghostrider]

What a wonderful jesture by Mr. Janich.

What he suggests in the initial post is what I usually refer to as "war gaming". I'll sometimes take evening walks in my neighborhood, and this exercise he suggests are a common theme during those walks.

[raven]

Michael Cook, Just to add a bit. I am a Self Defense/Arrest Control Instructor for our Police Academy. This is what I tell my students. "Be Pro-Active...Not Reactive". Always, Always expect the unexpected. Be aware of your surroundings. The daily visualization drills, they work. By doing visualization drills, you get the mindset of survival. This way when something unexpected happens, because you have the survival mindset, it won't be a suprise, because you've been thinking...if he or she is going to do this, I'm going to do this to prevent it, if he or she moves here, I'm going to move here, If they try this technique, I'm going to use this technique to counter it. Your mind is a weapon and already in the survival mode, and this is what will help you survive. NEVER GIVE UP and Be POSITIVE. We can't predict the future, but we can be prepared and be ready for it. Once this type of mindset is achieved, you will be confident in your abilities and skills. Remember it all starts in your mind and being positive. It also helps to keep the body in shape too. Maybe this was a bit more than a bit...sorry. Hopefully this is something all the Spyderco Bros can use, or relate to. :) :spyder:

[JohnM]

Thanks for bringing this old thread back to life, Michael.
Some good points made here. Very interesting.

[Jordan]

I learned the vast majority of what I know about self defense from one man. He was a career marine a lifetime of training interspersed with occasional combat, which included several tours in Vietnam. At his recent funeral, I said he was the greatest patriot I will ever know and I stand by it. I remember one thing in particular that he said to me, "Son, if you keep your eyes and ears open, you will never have to fight... what I am doing is teaching you how to protect yourself if you fail to be observant."

It was said in frustration after I questioned his teaching methods (they usually involved me being jabbed in the ribs with a rubber knife, thrown to the mat, or otherwise momentarily incapacitated). But I have tried to remember it at all times. I'd prefer to be careful than to be lucky anyday... in not so many words, great thread, very... relevant these days.