Articlesby: Meredith Gold There are few hard and fast rules in self-defense. Real world assaults are unpredictable and ever changing, so flexibility and spontaneity are crucial. It’s almost inevitable that no matter how well you plan your defense, a real attack isn’t going to happen the way you practiced it, so it’s important to train for a plan “B”, “C” and even “D” for any given assault scenario. As important as it is to stay flexible in a life and death situation, there is one self defense rule that really can’t be broken. It involves a scenario that I am asked about literally every time I teach a class or give a talk about real world self defense: “What if the assailant has a gun and tells me to get in the car with him?” The unbreakable rule is NEVER GET IN THE CAR! Never? Aren’t there situations where it’s a better idea to just go with him, especially if he is armed? NO! If you get in the car, the chances of you surviving the assault go down dramatically. If you are taken from the primary location (“Crime Scene A”) to a secondary location (“Crime Scene B”), things are only going to get worse for you, as your captor has probably chosen a spot where there is little chance that anyone will be able to find you or help you. As far as the assailant wielding a weapon goes, of course it’s overwhelming and horrifying to be faced with a knife or gun, but think about it; if his goal was to shoot or stab you right away, he could have done it at the primary location. The ugly truth is that, while a weapon is part of how he intimidates and frightens you into getting in the car, he probably won’t use it to harm or kill you until after he’s done whatever he had in mind in the first place. In most cases, compliance on your part is no guarantee that you will live through the ordeal. So, if getting in the car is not an option, what is? How about running? Every self defense expert I knows agrees that, even with years of martial arts training under your belt, if possible, running is the best option. As soon as you see that weapon, take off in the opposite direction. The chances of him chasing you down or shooting you in the back are slim, as most of these guys aren’t looking to draw attention to themselves. They can just get back in their car and look for an easier victim. Also, it’s really pretty hard to shoot a moving target, so running is an excellent option. If you can’t run right away, you have to fight! Even if he is armed, you really have no choice. Fight as dirty and wildly as you can – like a cat that doesn’t want to be held. Good targets include his eyes, throat and groin. Focus on those and attack relentlessly. If you are skilled in weapons defense, you may be able to employ some of your skills in a crisis like this, but getting away from the scene as quickly as possible should be your primary goal. Also, don’t forget to use one of the most powerful weapons you possess – your voice! Scream and yell to draw attention to what is happening to you. Under the circumstances it’s not unreasonable to expect that you may be shot or stabbed while defending yourself. It’s certainly not ideal, but don’t let the fear of injury stop you. It’s much better to be injured at the primary location, where someone may be able to see or hear what’s happening and help you. As unpleasant as it is, take a minute and think about how you would handle this scenario. Practice your escape plan as realistically as possible. The more prepared you are, the more likely it is that you will take your assailant by surprise and escape without injury. |
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