THE PHYSICS OF SELF DEFENSE
like with everything else in the world, how we move is governed by physics. We don't walk around with are arms held straight out, because gravity pulls them down and our muscles will get tired. When you are trying to get a car unstuck, you push the car from the rear instead of pulling from the front because you can generate more force by pushing. The same kinds ideas apply in self defense and all martial arts for that matter. There are ways of creating more power, making things more stable or, maneuverable and relaxing muscles that don't need to be working, ect. Allot of martial arts are based in tradition, now there is nothing wrong with that. However in a street situation of today the traditional ways for doing things may not be the most logical way or, just plan wont work. May times more force can be generated, and more "margin for error" obtained by understanding and using good logic and principles that have there roots in physics.  the more efficient one becomes in using all the principles, the greater the chances that they wont be injured in an attack.