By Scott Shaw
I had an
interesting experience last night. I was out and this guy, who had a few drinks
under his belt, knowing who I am, comes up to me. Trying to break hard in front
of his friends he throws a few insults my direction and then sets up to punch
me. Before I had the chance to laugh it off and walk away, he unleashes his
punch. I blocked it with an open palm upward block to the bottom of his fist. As I caught it just at the right time, it
caused his own fist to be driven into the bottom of his jaw. BAM! Certainly, it
was not enough to do him any real damage but what it did do was to cause him to
rethink his motivation. After he exclaimed, “Ouch,” he looked at me, smiled,
and said, “Much respect.” I reached out
my hand to shake his but, instead, he leaned in and gave me a big hug.
Now, the
outcome of this situation is a rarity. First
of all, this is a very precise blocking technique; you have to be fast,
well-focused, and know how to unleash it. But, more than that, in street
altercations, it is rare that an attacker is going to concede so easily. Normally,
once you have rebuked their initial attack this is only going to make them
madder and more adrenalized. This is why you must always question, “Is deflection
ever enough?”
As
conscious martial artists, we each enter into any combat situation with the intention
of using the most refined method of self-defense that we can employee. For those of us trained in the deflective arts,
this first-line of self-defense is most commonly the use of deflection. But,
the problem with simply deflecting an attack it that, in most cases, deflection
does not debilitate the attacker. Their attack is simply deflected then they
come back for more.
This is the
same with bobbing and weaving. Most adrenalized fighters are so locked into the
forceful course of their attack that, for example, if they unleash a punch, the
power of that punch controls them as opposed to their controlling it. For this
simple reason, it is very easy to move your head slightly out of the path of
that punch. Thus, the punch misses you.
As those of
us who have trained in the fighting arts for long periods of time understand,
though we may have the ability to easily deflect or dodge an attack, this does
not stop the onslaught of the attacker. At best, it simply gives us the upper
hand to counter attack. But, here lies
the problem, this world has become so litigious and filled with dishonest
people that even though they may be the one instigating the attack they are
going to lie to protect their own self-interest.
I have
written many editorials about this fact. I have also long discussed that, for
this reason, it is far better to walk away than to fight in these modern days;
as getting arrested just because you can kick somebodies ass serves no
purpose to the overall progression of your life nor does it contribute to the
great good. The simply fact is, people are liars. Especially, those unconscious
enough to only think about themselves and to not take others into consideration.
All they try to do is save face for
themselves while inflicting as much pain to other people as possible. Though we
all know this is absolutely the wrong way to behave, think how many people act
in exactly that manner.
My secondary
advice has always been, if you are accosted and physical combat is brought to
you, and there is no way to walk away from it, then allow your attacker to make
first contact and then defeat them. By preforming your self-defense in this
manner, you are far less likely to end up on the wrong side of the law. I have
had students come to class with a black eye and I would inquire, “What happened?”
“I let them hit me first, then I took them down,” was the answer. Not ideal but
a good way to keep yourself out of legal trouble.
It is quite
commonly a foolish world we we exist within in these modern days, fueled by unconscious, uncaring
people; lost in their own lie of self-worth. First of all, fighting is
barbaric. There is no reason for it. Secondarily, people are self-centered lairs.
Again, there is no reason for it. If you are whole onto yourself, you never
need to attack any-one by any-means for any-reason.
So, what is
the moral of this editorial? If you are accosted and you want to win the
confrontation at any cost, then quickly punch your opponent first, with
full-force in their face. This will, most probably, knock them to the ground. But, this is not
the way of the spiritual warrior. To be whole and true to yourself, you needed
to understand the motivation of the other person, you need to care, and then
you need to only defend yourself once you are physically attacked, and only with
the minimum amount of expended energy.
Is deflection
enough? Rarely. But, in times like the aforementioned situation, it was. Thus,
never fight unless you have to fight. Then, only deflect and let your attackers
own negative energy lead to their demise.
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