Situational Awareness and Preventing Violence

 Often times I feel myself beating a dead horse when it comes the topic of Self-Defense and Martial Arts and the difference between the two.  I suppose I do this for three reasons:  #1 This site is all about Self Defense and Martial Arts.  #2  The principles need to be repeated for not only a reminder but for those new to the study.  #3  I feel there are so many different opinions on everything and, having been trained (and still being trained) by the best, I cannot help but to voice the absolute truth about what really goes on with crime, violence, and combat.
 
"Self-Defense really isn't about fighting like most people think.  Self-Defense is primarily about not being there when the other guy wants to fight."  (The Little Black Book of Violence)
 
Today's topic is about prevention and awareness.  If you are aware, you can prevent bad things from happening.  
 
During world war II, the United States Marine Corps created a color-alert system to identify the different stages of awareness.  They can be used for civilian use.
 
White:  Oblivious
 
Yellow:  Aware
 
Orange:  Alert
 
Red:  Concerned
 
Black:  Under Attack
 
If you're in condition White, you are listening to your ipod, playing a game on your phone, completely engaged in talking on the phone, sleeping, staring off into space.  I'm sure you can think of other things you may catch yourself doing.  Is it okay to be in condition White?  Yes, but there's a right time and place to be in this condition.  Obviously, we all must sleep.  In our homes is probably the safest place to be in this condition.  If you're out in public, it's usually a bad idea, even if it's a familiar place.  We can't always be in a constant state of vigilance, so make sure you understand when to let your guard down.
 
When you're in condition Yellow, you are aware of what's going on around you.  You're not necessarily looking for danger.  Although you're at ease, you have a general picture of what's happening.  If you're inside a building, you can identify (without looking twice) how many escapes there are (windows, doors, etc) and how many people are around you.  If you practice this condition enough, you'll even start noticing little things like if the guy across the table from you may be right handed because he's wearing a watch on his left hand.  How big is the guy sitting next to you at the bus stop?  Is that guy wearing baggy and unnecessarily warm clothing on a hot summer day, perhaps concealing a weapon?  What around you could be used as improvised weapons and how?  All these things and more are important to know.  Ideally, we could all be in this condition when we are awake, but it can be emotionally draining.  As a general rule you should use this condition always when you're in an unfamiliar (or semi-familiar) public place, most of the time when you're in a familiar public place, and some of the time when you're cozy at home or in a place you trust.  
 
If you find yourself in condition Orange something happened somewhere around you.  A loud noise.  A gun shot.  A scream.  A yell.  This is a good time to get prepared.  If you are armed in any way, make sure your weapon is accessible.  If you started from condition Yellow, you'll have more time to prepare yourself for potential danger.  You'll need to determine whether or not there is a legitimate threat to yourself (or to others if you feel so inclined, which you probably should).  
 
When in condition Red you have every reason to believe that something bad can and will happen to either you or someone around you.  A pissed off guy gets in your face and starts insulting you for something you either did on purpose or on accident (doesn't matter to him).  This isn't a casual flip-off at the intersection.  This is a legitimate threat. More examples:  You're in a bank and someone begins to rob it.  You're riding on the Subway and someone pulls a knife on the guy right next to you.  You're in an elevator and a guy pulls a gun on you and demands your wallet/purse.  You are prepared to fight.  In The Little Black Book of Violence, Kane and Wilder describe this condition and explain that "every reasonable attempt should still be made to avoid a fight yet you must resign yourself to the very real possibility that it will be unsuccessful...your intent should be to stop the potential assault that is forthcoming, escape to safety, or stay safe until help arrives, and doing so without harming anyone including those threatening you."  
 
If you're in condition Black you are being attacked.  Somebody is swinging a punch or a baseball bat at your head.  Somebody shoots at or near you.  Somebody stabs you.  You get the picture.  You have to decide whether to fight or flight.  If you have the option (sometimes you don't) it is usually best to choose flight and get out of there, even if your ego takes a beating.  Most fights break out because of petty things for which you should almost never being willing to fight.  If you choose to fight, you must fight with 100% commitment.  Usually people say they will, but don't.  They follow a push-comes-to-shove approach and escalate the situation.  You must act in self defense and prescribe no more damage to the aggressor than he threatened you with.   If you do, it's no longer self defense.  To give you an extreme example, a guy comes up to you with a knife.  You pull out a knife.  You not only kill him with your own knife but you chop him into 43 pieces for the next hour, dissecting him with impeccable organization.  You will not walk with a self-defense plea in court.  
 
Please note that it is possible to go from yellow to black without any heads up.
 
Normally violence occurs with somebody you know, not with a stranger.  Especially around here, domestic violence is much more common than muggings.  Date rape is not uncommon.  Women, read this article:  
 
http://appliedmartialartstraining.com/content/women-and-weapons-packing-...
 
Men, read this article:
 
http://appliedmartialartstraining.com/content/fight-or-flight-self-defen...
 
When was the last time you got into an argument?  Was it with someone you know or a complete stranger?  Probably the former.  What about the last 10 arguments?  Probably with someone you know.  As crazy as it sounds at first, those are the people with whom you'll most likely find yourself fighting and engaging in violence.  That being the way it is, it is not only physically damaging but usually much more so on the emotional scale.  It hurts more when it's somebody you know.  Perhaps somebody you trust.
 
Don't live in fear.  Live in "awareness."  There's a big difference.  "Awareness" is NOT paranoia, although it can turn into it pretty easily, depending on the person.  My mama once taught me it's better to live in paranoia than be dead.  I disagree.  I'd rather die than live in fear.  With awareness, life is safer and much better.  
 
Patrick Asay
Applied Martial Arts
 
 
P.S.  do not reply to this email.  For some reason my appliedmartialartstraining email address is down.  Either go on the website and make a comment or send me an email to patrickasay@gmail.com