Written by Earl Weiss
Published in the Taekwon-Do Times July 1993
2. Stay alert.
3. Expect the unexpected.
4. Maintain a defensible position.
5. Discretion is the better part of valor.
6. Decide now when you will have to seize the initative.
7. Forget that you are a civilized person.
8. Stick to the basics.
9. Stay in shape.
10. When it is over, be sure "It's over."
Commandment 1:
Always remember rule # 1: There are no rules.
Students should learn and be allowed to practice or simulate techniques which are illegal for competition such as eye gouges, or unorthodox techniques such as head butts, as well as biting and knee attacks. Many such techniques which are illegal for sparring are effective on the street and can be found in martial art patterns or forms. As General Choi explained in the June, 1990 ITF instructors seminar: when sparring, generally a person will only use 10 to 20 different techniques. But Taekwon-Do has over 3,000 techniques learned and practiced, in large part, through the patterns.
A victim who is grabbed from the front in a bear hug by an aggressor who is 50 or 100 pounds heavier and one foot taller, may find conventional techniques useless, about would find it very effective to sink her teeth into the aggressor's neck or throat. On the street, the "good" technique or strategy is the one that works, not the one that would please the judges.
To simulate a close-in encounter, I have my students stand no more than six inches from the heavy bag and to all out for 30 seconds using close-in techniques, (knee, elbows, head butts).
Commandment 2:
Stay alert, be aware of your surroundings.
Most street crimes and altercations are impulsive or opportunistic acts. You should always be aware of your surroundings. Confrontations can happen anytime or anywhere. If you hear an unexpected noise behind you, look to see what caused it. Don't ignore the noise and hope it will go away. If possible, use common sense and avoid poorly illuminated and deserted areas. Women specifically should be attentive to others when entering confined spaces such as elevators.
When confronted, don't become too focused on what the aggressor is saying. If you are confronted, pay close attention to the aggressor's hand. Are they empty? Is the hiding or reaching for a weapon? If it is possible that a weapon is present, you will have to adjust your actions accordingly.
Commandment 3:
Expect the unexpected, don't overly anticipate, but have a general plan of action.
One of the best mental exercises available to prepare for potential confrontations is to review various scenarios in the classroom, and determine how you would react in such a situation. Encourage students to think of their own scenarios, and determine courses of action. Television and movies will provide numerous scenarios for you to contemplate. Whenever someone is attacked in a TV show or movie, analyze what happened and what the victim did right or wrong, and what the proper course of action would be for you to take in a similar situation.
Be flexible, if you limit yourself to a particular defense and the confrontation isn't initiated as expected, your plan will be useless. In the martial arts classroom, you can practice scenarios where students are "attacked' using unauthorized or surprise approaches and critique the response.
Commandment 4:
Maintain a defensible position.
Let common sense be your guide. Don't walk next to a building where someone can reach you from a doorway or corner before you have a chance to react. Instead, walk near the street being careful to observe people loitering in parked cars.
If approached, develop a posture that makes it difficult to reach your vulnerable targets, yet nonaggressive so that you won't needlessly invite aggression. I prefer a posture shown to me by Karate legend Joe Lewis. If approached, and you are standing in a normal full facing posture, step to the rear with one leg so that your feet are in a typical comfortable sparring stance. By stepping to the rear, you increase the distance between your vulnerable areas and the aggressor. You should keep your hands relaxed and open in a nonaggressive manner while raising your lead hand so that the fingertips are just below your eve level. Your lead hand protects your head. Your arm, and your lead elbow protect your ribs. Your rear hand is about six inches out from your body with fingertips at chin level. The hand and arm protect the center line of your body as well as being a "backup" for the lead hand and available for counterattacks. Your feet can be used for kicking as they would be in sparring. However, in a street confrontation, low kicks (to the leg or groin area), which are harder to defend against are generally preferred and should be practiced. The lead hand can also be used for a preemptive strike. (see Commandment 6)
