James Pankiewicz sensei and Filippo Gaspardo sensei share their experience in developing better strategies for self defence and risk mitigation in a video presentation from the Asato Dojo in Okinawa.

For many people achieving better self defence skills and thereby feeling more confident in the face of everyday dangers is a major motivator for martial arts training. While there is no question that physical training in techniques developed to counter physical attacks on your person is beneficial and necessary, the best kind of self defence is that which helps you avoid trouble altogether in the first place.

In this seminar we start by taking a little time to talk about important principles of self defence which are:
Thinking ahead
General awareness
Mental preparation, and
Physical preparation

Thinking ahead – taking the time to plan ahead to avoid dangerous situations , and to have actions prepared to mitigate/deal with risks i.e. don’t travel alone, investigate the reputation of areas before visiting, know how to contact emergency services, know where these services are located, etc

General awareness of surroundings – not being blind to what’s going on around you due to smartphone use, headphones, tunnel vision. Keeping a level of awareness appropriate to your surroundings and looking for things that appear out of the ordinary.

Mental preparation – doing visualisation and scenario training to get your mind prepared for the instance of being intimidated, under threat and under attack. Having thought through your options and responses in various situations. Having prepared scripted responses for common aggressive situations in order to defuse and confuse.

Physical preparation – In this seminar we look at responses to 10 common physical attacks.
1. Punch to the face (usually with right hand)
2. Grabbed by lapel and punched to face
3. Grabbed by wrist/arm and punched to face
4. Grabbed by two hands and headbutted
5. Kick to groin
6. Head lock/choke
7. You are on the ground – defence against kicks to head and body
8. You are on the ground – defence against being straddled (they are sitting on your chest/body)
9. Knife attack – slashing attack
10. Knife attack – stabbing attack