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Could You Fight for Your Life?

By Rochelle E. Brenner


What’s your game plan if you ever had to fight for your life? I ask because many people imagine they will be able to effectively wing it. It actually takes skill and preparation. Here's a scenario: If your life depended on it, could you catch a 70-yard pass? You might think you could pull it off, but what gives you that confidence? If your life hung in the balance, wouldn’t you want to practice at least once or run through different scenarios for making that catch? The reality is, obviously people can’t just get up and assume that in the heat of battle they can grab a 70-yard pass without preparation.


Now, consider a different challenge: winning a chess game. To succeed, you’d need to play a few rounds to anticipate your opponent's moves and strategize effectively. If your life depended on it, would you make the right move? If you never played chess, there's no way. Now, let’s talk about self-defense. Many people are overly confident in their ability to fight for their lives, often neglecting the importance of practice or training. They bank on an imaginary reservoir of superhuman strength. But should the day come when your life truly depends on it, you’ll be grateful for the preparation. Here are some common misconceptions vs. reality.


  • Misconception: Many people believe that if they are attacked, they will be able to easily defend themselves through sheer determination or natural ability.

  • Reality: Real-life self-defense situations are chaotic, stressful, and unpredictable. It’s difficult to fight off an attacker without the right training, and even someone who is physically strong can be overwhelmed if they’re unprepared. Most attackers aim for surprise, speed, and overwhelming force, and many victims freeze in fear, which impairs their ability to fight back.


  • Misconception: Some people assume that striking vulnerable areas like the groin, eyes, or throat will instantly work.

  • Reality: While targeting these areas can be effective, it’s not always enough to stop a determined or enraged attacker. Many attackers are filled with adrenaline and may not immediately react to strikes in vulnerable areas. Additionally, striking these areas requires good aim and technique. If you've ever tried it, you'd know that people are extremely good at protecting those areas of their body with natural reflexes. The chance of hitting someone in one of those spots without prior training is almost impossible. It's important to understand how to strike effectively and when to use other tactics, such as escape, using an improvised weapon, or applying defensive techniques.


  • Misconception: Some believe that self-defense is only about overpowering an attacker through physical force.

  • Reality: Effective self-defense is about using technique, awareness, and avoidance. The best way to defend yourself is not through physical confrontation at all. De-escalating the situation, using distance, or using verbal self-defense skills can prevent an attack before it escalates. Also, techniques that use leverage, such as joint locks or chokeholds, can neutralize an attacker without relying on brute strength.


  • Misconception: Watching movies or TV shows where characters perform dramatic fight scenes gives them the knowledge to handle a real-life situation.

  • Reality: Movies and TV shows portray highly unrealistic fight scenes where people perform perfect punches, flips, and other dramatic moves. Real-life self-defense situations are much messier and unpredictable. The moves that work in movies are fake. Training with professionals is the only way to gain the real skills necessary for self-defense.


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