Enshin karate offers powerful and effective techniques that are proven to work in real situations, when properly trained and applied.

Self-protection is mainly about what you do before things get physical. I have faced and handled combat many times. The fact I have never been hospitalised or charged with any public order offence means I must have handled things reasonably well, so without claiming to be a guru, I offer the following advice:

Get yourself fit. This alone will deter those attackers who select their targets on the basis of perceived weakness. If you train properly your body language will be powerful and confident. Would-be attackers will notice this.

Stay switched on. In any situation being observant is vital. A simple aid is ‘commentary walking’ which just like its driving counterpart means you are constantly observing and feeding back information via an internal commentary about what is happening around you. This prepares you for possible evasive action. It is obvious that drink and drug abuse will render this inoperable!

Avoid trouble wherever possible. There is no place for foolish macho behaviour in self-protection. Wherever possible – walk away confidently as few things are worth risking your life and liberty for. If your assailant has a weapon, semi-compliance may be the best option. For example: Keep a few pounds in a spare wallet, throw it in one direction and escape when they pick it up. (This doesn’t make you proud, but hurts far less than having surgery for a serious knife wound)

Control distance. Attackers will inevitably try to enter your personal space. Clever ones will use dialogue and deception, for example asking for change, before launching a ferocious attack from close range. Be polite but firm, “No, I’m sorry.” Keep your distance and keep walking wherever possible. If confronted, protect your personal space by using your hands passively to keep the attacker at a distance. Use dialogue to talk down the attacker if possible, but if they keep coming forward aggressively use your front hand as an action trigger. If they touch it – strike immediately and with no further warning.

Line up. Practise the skill of getting into your best possible position. This should be done so subtly the opponent doesn’t even notice. It is increasingly common to face multiple attackers with the usual method being one distracts while the other attacks. By using the sabaki principle we should never engage the first attacker face to face. Moving subtly out to the side position allows us to scan for accomplices.

Be pre-emptive. Should combat be inevitable, if you are outnumbered or if your attacker reaches either towards a pocket or their waistband (maybe a concealed weapon?) - Hit first and hit hard!

Have a plan. Stick to basic and ferocious techniques that will incapacitate the attacker(s) without murdering them. Good examples are a chin jab or power slap with the palm heel followed by a destabilising pull around and heavy knee strike (using less than deadly force – sounds better in court) If you have the skills, aim to take the opponent down on their side, rather than knocking them over backwards. (A fractured skull caused by their head smashing into the pavement after your strikes may land you with a manslaughter charge) Drill your chosen techniques endlessly until they are explosive and reliable. Train on everything else as a support system.

Some things are not negotiable. Never agree to go to a secondary location, or submit to attacks (particularly sexual) in the hope that compliance may lessen any damage inflicted. Reliable statistics prove this is more likely to make the violence worse, not less. Fight by all available means, using improvised weapons wherever possible.

Accept that it may get painful. You will feel a huge surge of adrenaline. You will feel afraid. This is very uncomfortable and it’s a personal choice how you handle it. People always talk about the ‘fight or flight’ syndrome, but in reality ‘freezing’ is far more of a problem. Understand that if you do nothing, you lose. You will get neither pity nor quarter from someone who seriously means you harm. Accepting this, it is easy to summon the courage to stand up for yourself and fight. If escape is impossible (you may have people with you that you cannot desert) be prepared to keep going until the danger is over. If your attackers find their ‘prey’ is determined and ruthless they may quickly abort their attack.

The bottom line: We all have a switch inside that once pushed allows us to defend ourselves and our loved ones. We need to learn how to hit that switch! No amount of skill will help us if that aggressive mindset is lacking. If combat cannot be avoided, good positioning and ‘basic and ferocious’ will usually win the day. Once violence starts you must do your best to finish it and escape as quickly as possible. See yourself as the (unwilling) predator, not as the prey!

ALL THE ABOVE IS JUST ADVICE

THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR REGULAR AND CHALLENGING TRAINING