Are You Learning The Right Lessons To Protect Yourself? The 3 Realms of Self Defense Training

To most people, self defense is all the same. Even to most instructors offering to teach you how to defend yourself, the implication is that there is only one way to do things. And yet, there are actually 3 very distinct approaches to this type of training and skill development. And, each approach is designed for very specific needs, threats, and even lifestyles.

This article outlines each of these three approaches and gives you a very important perspective on the topic of self defense. After you read every word in this lesson, you'll be better armed to know what you need or, if you are already training, if the training you're getting is right for you and your unique situation.

When I first introduce the idea that there is more than one approach to self defense training, many people think that I'm talking about martial arts "style." They think that I am about to advocate one person's program over another's. And, I guess I could take that route if the only thing I wanted to do was to sell you on the idea of doing things the way I think you should.

And, even though my experience at actually dealing with real-world violence tells me that you must be doing certain things right, it doesn't matter what "style" you practice - as long as you are doing THOSE things have been proven to give you the advantage and help you survive a real attack.

That being said, there are others who think that, when I broach this topic, that I am talking about things like the difference between self defense for men and women's self defense, or groundfighting vs., favoring weapons, etc.

But, what I'm really talking about are the three realms that you may find yourself in when you need self defense techniques to handle violence coming at you. These three realms are really about "why" you need self defense techniques, and to a great degree, what you will be "allowed" to do in your defense, or in the defense of someone else.

Here are the 3 Realms that I'm talking about:

1) Law Enforcement Officer - In this realm, you must be extremely aware of the "use-of-force" doctrine, as-well-as any other departmental policies and legal limitations which serve to restrict your actions. Also, since you "must" stay on the scene, and you can't run away like a civilian, you need to be very skilled at controlling a situation, and or the assailant, until backup arrives.

In addition to physical, hand-to-hand self defense techniques, training in this realm should also include use of verbal and body language skills, personality profiling, and threat assessment training to allow for greater control and de-escalation.

2) Executive Security / Bodyguard - This realm is "exactly opposite" that of the law enforcement officer. The the LEO is required to deal with the violent attacker, the bodyguard wants as little contact with the assailant as possible. The reason for this is that, the longer you are tied up with the aggressor, the longer the principle - the client paying you to protect them - is left unattended and exposed to other danger!

The roll of the bodyguard in a high-profile situation is to pass the attacker off to secondary, uniformed security, and get the principle as far away from that location as possible. Many are surprised to find out that self defense training in this realm also includes topics such as, how to wear a suit or tuxedo properly, etiquette, and even table manners like which fork to use. The reason for these things is to be able to blend in at high-class, social events so that potential attackers can't identify, and therefor "take out" security, before they move in on the real target(s).

3) Civilian / Military Combatant - While the soldier may indeed have limitations and regulations for engaging the enemy, the rule of thumb for hand-to-hand combat in the heat of the moment is...

...survive!

And this is the same for the private citizen. Because, like the soldier, the private citizen, including the LEOs and bodyguards when they aren't working, may have the law of self defense to adhere to, but...

...how you go about defending yourself isn't generally an issue.

Where the police officer cannot just punch someone in the face and get into a boxing match, or the bodyguard can't just tackle a would be assailant, without either of these two creating more serious problems for themselves...

...as a private citizen, you can punch, kick, grapple, bring a weapon into the fight, etc.

The point here is that you need to know that what you are doing is usable and appropriate for the realm in which you re most likely to need it. So, rather than buy into some guru's "punch-first and end the fight" theory, or enrolling in that mma groundfighting school down the street...

...you need to understand your needs, and the conditions that dictate what kind of self defense techniques you will need when and if you are required to defend yourself against a violent attack!

Effective self defense requires more than just a few "karate moves." It involves the ability to think strategically, and understand how to defend yourself with as little wear-and-tear on you as possible.

If you really want to know what most people don't know about how to master self defense and how to survive a real street attack, read my newest self defense book: "Fight Smarter - Not Harder!" It's available free at: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/street-fighting-self-defense-book.html

Jeffrey M. Miller is an internationally-known self defense expert. Each month he teaches literally thousands of students through live seminars, corporate training events, and his online self defense courses, the lessons to be able to survive in Today's often dangerous world.