Facing Violence

Facing Violence: Seven Steps to Legal, Emotional and Physical Preparation. This book stands alone as an introduction to the context of self-defence. There are seven elements that must be addressed to bring self-defence training to something approaching complete. Any training that dismisses any of these areas leaves you vulnerable.

1. Legal and ethical implications. A student learning self-defence must learn force law. Otherwise, it is possible to train to go to prison. Alongside the legal rules, every student must explore their own ethical limitations. Most do not really know where this ethical line lies within them.

2. Violence dynamics. Self-defence must teach how attacks happen. Students must be able to recognise an attack before it happens and know what kind they are facing.

3. Avoidance. Students need to learn and practise not fighting. Learning includes escape and evasion, verbal de-escalation, and also pure "not-be-there" avoidance.

4. Counter-ambush. If the student didn't see the precursors or couldn't successfully avoid the encounter, they will need a handful of actions trained to reflex level for a sudden violent attack.

5. Breaking the freeze. Freezing is almost universal in a sudden attack. Students must learn to recognise a freeze and break out of one.

6. The fight itself. Most martial arts and self-defence instructors concentrate their time right here. What is taught just needs to be in line with how violence happens in the world.

7. The aftermath. There are potential legal, psychological, and medical effects of engaging in violence, no matter how justified. Advanced preparation is critical.

Any teacher or student of self-defence, anyone interested in self-defence, and any person who desires a deeper understanding of violence needs to read this book.