Predictability In Street Violence
“Predictable” a. that can be predicted or is to be expected (Pocket Oxford Dictionary seventh edition)
Recently on a forum that I frequent, I read a thread in which a poster stated that in “some” situations, violence could escalate slower in a “predictable” fashion. At first glance, some would agree with this poster’s belief (myself included to a point), but upon further introspection into this thing called violence, I have changed my opinion. Although I do believe that there are some basic “principals” that most, not all, predators follow as standard operating procedures (SOPs), we can “NEVER” expect anything in a violent encounter. Expectation breeds failure due to the fact that if the threat does not adhere to your prediction of what he or she will do, then your brain is more likely to go into “brain fart mode” due to the fact that you were consciously expecting them to do something else causing one to become more “reactive” (defend), rather than “proactive” (attack).
Here at the school we train based upon principals that can be applied in diverse application for what is “probable”, based upon the empirical and scientific research into violence and violence prevention. Many, however, train for the “possible” that has no basis in what is really taking place on the street, adhering to training philosophies that are based upon rote, predictability, and unrealistic attack and resistance. Maybe this is the difference between self protection and martial arts ???
Training that focuses on principals that can be used in diverse applications is “Conceptually Based” (a term coined by Richard Dimitri) rather than “Technically Based”. Technically based self protection systems often have as their foundation predictability criteria that do not take into consideration “Murphy” moments that more often than not make street confrontations what they are; fluid and unpredictable. One must be able to morph (adapt, overcome, improvise) with the unpredictability of real violence, because most plans do not survive first contact. IMHO, predictability of street violence hinders this ability
Call this what you want; “no mind”, “combative flow”, “it”, no matter what the name, the principal is what is needed when confronted by street violence. I never predict the stimulus (threat) faced or my actions, rather I train to act based upon the stimulus encountered, (based upon empirical and scientific research into violence and violence prevention), which can and will constantly change, utilizing sound principals that can be used in diverse applications. This is an important distinction that is often missed, or even ignored by others.
There are only three things that a person can want from you outside of the dojo; your property, your body, or your life. One “may” start with only wanting your body for an ego based physical assault (most bar fights), but during the encounter, through intent or accident, a life may be taken or the victim is seriously injured. My response(s) will always be based upon threat stimulus (which will be constantly changing in real violence) rather than predictability due to the fact that predictability can often lead to excessive force being used when infact it was not justified, but because of predictability, you thought it was. Again, although I may control the fight, my opponent dictates what I am doing to them in the fight by the way they react, or don’t react to what it is I am doing to them. I have no pre-conceived movement based upon predictability, but rather act based upon each new stimulus encountered.
Based upon the above, the question that now begs is:
“So should one train for predictability in street violence”
Answer:
“You need to make up your own mind”
Based upon what I have written above, most will know where I stand on this issue.
Darren
January 18, 2009 at 6:22 pm | Uncategorized | No comment