Boston Combatives

Folks, the Orlando shooting is a horrible tragedy. Unfortunately, these are going to become more and more common. We must teach and train our citizens to respond differently if we are going to survive. The normal human response to an unexpected assault is to flee. That doesn't make you a coward but it can make you a victim. If you are near an exit, fine....get out. But if the shooter is anywhere near you...attack him!!! Tackle him and get control of his weapons. Yes, it's dangerous, but there is no risk free option in that circumstance. If several patrons had been able to attack the shooter when he began his rampage fewer would have died. Condition yourself psychologically to attack. It is the best and safest option yielding the greatest chance to survive. The assailant will be both psychologically and physically overwhelmed. Do it!

What can we learn from the recent Garland TX shootings? I have some suggestions. 1.) If you know unnecessary actions are likely to insight others, be wise and don't deliberately provoke them. Yes, we enjoy freedom of expression but exercising a bit of wisdom can help you avoid trouble. 2.) Do not be easily provoked. Keep a cool head and don't allow another's poor judgment to provoke you. Squelch the pride and ego for the sake of peace. 3.) When confronted by the type of violence these crazy ISIS nut jobs intend to inflict, be ready to destroy them. Sadly, it is the only option. They are not reasonable or rationale. They use their religion to justify their depraved, heartless, blood lust. To them, your right to life is meaningless. Thank God for the Garland police officer who prevented what could have been a more tragic end. Be vigilant my friends.

On martial arts. People often wonder which martial art is best. It depends. YOU are the weapon. Simple is better. Concepts are easier and quicker to learn than a plethora of individual techniques. Western boxing, wrestling, Muay Thai, judo, Jiu Jitsu, Krav Maga, and military combatives will serve you well. You lose fine motor skills under stress so practice movements that rely on gross motor function. Learn basic gun, knife and stick techniques so you can improve your chances of successfully defending against them. No "technique" is magic. YOU have to make it work and what works best for you is largely individualized.

On capitulation. There are situations where some degree of cooperation may be worth a try. If, for example, someone has a gun or knife pointed at me and demands my wallet, I'm probably going to give it up hoping he takes it and leaves. There are also times when verbal de-escalation is appropriate. You have to use good judgment. But, if someone tries to coerce you into their vehicle, appeasement is not an effective strategy. Things will not improve once taken to an isolated spot. NEVER ever get into that car. Flee and/or fight for all you're worth. Make lots of noise and draw as much attention to the situation as possible. You cannot count on bystander assistance, but your assailant may give up as his risk of getting caught increases. If you are forced into the vehicle, look for escape opportunities. If simple escape is not possible (and you are in the front seat) consider wrecking the vehicle. If possible, grab the steering wheel and run into something that will deploy the airbags and disable the car. Be creative and don't give up. Yes, you will get hurt. The goal though is survival. Find a way to survive.

It seems the most consistent factor in surviving an attack is the ability to be extremely aggressive when necessary. You don't have to be an aggressive person generally, but you must find a way to act aggressively when you might otherwise freeze in fear or indecision.

Learn and practice simple techniques that work well under extreme stress. This requires thinking through potential scenarios in advance, planning to address them, and frequent practice.

Rule #1: violence avoidance through situational awareness. Rule #2: train to successfully address physical violence when it is unavoidably imposed upon you while cultivating a warrior's mindset that facilitates aggressive and effective action when needed.

There is no perfect solution to every situation. Techniques rarely work as smoothly and effectively as demonstrated or practiced, especially under combat stress. Prepare yourself psychologically for injury, bleeding, technique failure, fear, etc... Finally, never count on an assailant to be merciful to you. People can be heartless. Learn a lesson from ISIS. Your assailant may be deluded into thinking his actions are justified.

Recently, the news media has reported on "the knock-out game". This "game" involves suddenly cold-cocking an unsuspecting, unaware, person as they walk down the street in hopes of making them immediately lose consciousness and fall to the ground. Some victims have been attacked from behind and never had an opportunity to avoid or defend.

Always be aware of your surroundings and the potential that those near you can pose a threat. I'm not advocating paranoia, just awareness. Predators are like wolves so don't look like a meal. Be "obviously aware" and undistracted. Use both direct and peripheral vision, hearing and instinct to keep yourself alert. It may not be possible to perceive every potential threat but if you hone your instincts you can do better than you think.