district combatives personal protection fundamentals [final]

PersonalProtectionFundamentals

DistrictCombatives•PersonalProtectionFundamentals

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Copyright © 2016 Benjamin Drader

All rights reserved. This guide, or any part thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher.

Anyone practicing the techniques in this book does so at his or her own risk. The author assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of information contained in this guide or for any injuries that may occur as a result of practicing the techniques contained herein. The illustrations and text are for informational purposes only. It is imperative to practice these techniques under the strict supervision of a qualified instructor. Additionally, one should consult a physician before embarking on any demanding physical activity.

Printed in the United States.

Design by Kenny Allen.

Published by District Combatives LLC

www.DistrictCombatives.com


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“We live in a paradoxical time, where we may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is remarkably rare.” - Lt. Col. Dave Grossman (USA, ret.) The objective of Personal Protection is fourfold:

1. Identify and detect violent threats in order to avoid them. 2. De-escalate violent threats in order to defuse the aggressor(s). 3. Protect against violent threats with force that parallels the level of threat. 4. Tactical disengagement, as soon as reasonably possible to avoid further provocation,

escalation, or prolonged violent encounters. PhysiologyandSelfDefensePhysical skills are the central focus of martial arts, self-defense, and personal protection training programs. Unfortunately, this type of training restricts practitioners to a physical-only arsenal and when conflict arises, you will fight, even if the situation could have been resolved by other means. Further, this physical response-only training fails to take in to account the human body’s natural response to conflict. This natural response is governed by the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS)--part of the nervous system (NS)--and is commonly associated with the fight-or-flight response. However, research has demonstrated that there are in fact four (4) parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) responses. These are:

1. Fight; 2. Posturing; 3. Freeze; and 4. Flight.

Each of these responses effects the body physically, emotionally, and mentally. A physiological response to a perceived threat, even a distal threat, manifests physically, mentally, and emotionally. Common physical responses include: pale skin, as blood is pulled from the extremities and pools in the torso; elevated heart rate, in preparation to fight or flee; and tunnel vision, as the body focuses in on the threat, reducing peripheral vision. There are, of course, many other responses. These physiological responses to perceived threats are part of the human body’s natural protective mechanism and are designed to protect and preserve the body from violence. For example, pale skin, reduces the effect of a cut to the extremities and face, by pre-emptively reducing blood flow to these areas. The PNS is triggered without conscious control, i.e., it is an autonomic response, due to the PNS being part of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Therefore, inherently, we all possess at least some primal ability to perceive threats. Unfortunately, primal threat perception ability is not enough. And while threat perception is commonly associated with situational awareness, which is commonly mentioned by security, martial artists, and self-defense/personal protection experts as key to personal protection, few, if any of these individuals ever identify what you should be aware of and more specifically, include situational awareness training in their programs. Further complicating matters for the student, many instructors use scare tactics to encourage participation in their self-


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defense programs, and cite Police report crime reports which identify areas of criminal activity and the act committed. Unfortunately, unless you plan on avoiding these areas entirely, this information is useless. Moreover, all areas experience some type of criminal activity. However, if we look to human physiology, we can begin to create a process to determine the elements of threat identification and detection, which is key to informed situational awareness. To this end, it is important to recognize that personal safety is enhanced by perception of what is outside the mind, perception of what is happening, not what might happen. ThreatIdentification&DetectionDistrict Combatives believes informed situational awareness is key to personal protection, as it is the first line of self-defense. If you can avoid conflict, then you have succeeded. After all, would you rather know a threat exists at 30 feet away or 3 inches away? There are six (6) key elements to informed situational awareness. These are: Elements of Informed Situational Awareness

1. Kinesics • Humans give off signals through their postures, gestures, and expressions that communicate their

current emotions and possibly future intentions. Being able to pick-up on these signals is critical to proactively identifying threats.

2. Biometric Cues • These are the uncontrollable and autonomic biological responses of the human body to stress. These

responses are key to understanding a person’s emotional states and changes. 3. Proxemics

• Allows us to understand groups of people by observing interpersonal distance and identify an individual’s relationships and intentions based on how they use the space around them. Proxemics also permits us to understand group dynamics.

4. Geographics • Involves reading the relationship between people and their environment. This helps us to understand

and identify who is familiar or unfamiliar with the area they are in and how people move around their surroundings. Because human behavior is predictable, it is possible to anticipate where people will go and what they will do in certain areas.

5. Iconography • Allows us to understand the symbols people use to communicate their beliefs and affiliations. Gangs,

insurgents, terrorist groups, and individuals use iconography as a symbol of group unity, for rapid recognition of other members, and to communicate their beliefs to the larger populace. Observing these symbols, particularly the increased presence or even sudden absence of them, can be key to situational awareness.

6. Atmospherics • Focuses on the collective attitudes, moods, and behaviors in a given situation or a place. It is possible

to read the social or emotional atmosphere of an environment and pick-up on the changes or shifts in that atmosphere that often signal that something significant has changed or that something is about to occur. Understanding the collective atmosphere can key you into those individuals whose attitude, emotions, and behavior do not fit the given situation—these individuals are anomalies.


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These six (6) elements capture the most significant aspects of human behavior in simple terms that aid in establishing baselines and identifying anomalies. For practical application, the Elements of Informed Situational Awareness can be summarized by answering three (3) key questions:

1. What is going on here? 2. What would cause someone to stand out? 3. What would I do about it?

Situational Awareness Application

1. Establish a Baseline 2. Identify Anomalies

a. An anomaly is any variation from the baseline. b. Identification of three or more anomalies triggers decision to act.

3. Decide a. Threshold of decision guards against hesitation and indecision due to over-analysis or waiting for

additional information. b. Decisions are situational. There are no decisions that will absolutely apply to all situations. c. Act

i. Regardless of what situation you find yourself in, or what role you are playing at the moment, you must have a set of pre-established decisions to make based on what you observe.

ii. Remember, a good solution applied with vigor now is better than a perfect solution ten minutes later.

RandomEncountersandAcquaintancesGiven our social culture, random encounters with unknown people, and interaction with acquaintances create an opportunity for violence. For those individuals, exists a set of pre-incident indicators, which when coupled with intuition, affords a secondary line of self-defense. A few of these PINs are described below. Most people can think of an interaction where an individual either used or attempted to use one or more of the following PINs. Pre-Incident Indicators (PINs)

• Force Teaming • The projection of a shared purpose or experience where none exists. Example: We’re some team.

Both of us… etc. • Charm and Niceness

• To charm is to compel, to control by allure and/or attraction. It is commonly heard, “But he was so nice.” Are they trying to charm you or are they charming? Big difference.

• Too Many Details • Is used by people when they lie. Even though it sounds credible to you, it doesn’t to them, so they

keep throwing out details that don’t really mean anything. Example: I was late, but it’s not my fault. My watch is broken.


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• Typecasting • A label with a slight insult, which is used in the hope that it will prove inaccurate.

Example: You’re too beautiful to be with a guy like me. You’re probably too snobby to talk to me. Etc.

• Loan Sharking • Gladly lends one amount, but cruelly collects much more. Example: Las Vegas. Prom date.

• The Unsolicited Promise • Used to convince of an intention, but it is not a guarantee. Example: I’ll just drop you off and I’ll

leave. I promise. • Discounting the word: NO

• No should never be discounted. Intuition, commonly described as a 6th sense, has many messengers. A few of these are identified below. Messengers of Intuition

Nagging Feelings Hunches Curiosity Persistent Thoughts Gut Feelings Apprehension Humor (Dark) Doubt Fear Wonder Hesitation Anxiety Suspicion Now that we have established a process by which to develop informed situational awareness, we can add the next layer of personal protection. Defusion. Defusion must incorporate a non-aggressive posture with use of congruous verbal techniques or choice speech. It is important to note that tactically speaking, you must identify and position for first strike, i.e., sucker punch opportunities in the event de-escalation fails. There are two important concepts to keep in mind:

1. Reasoning with an enraged person is not possible. The first and only objective in de-escalation is to reduce the level of arousal.

2. De-escalation techniques are abnormal. We are driven to Posture, Fight, Flight, or Freeze. However, in de-escalation we can do none of these. We must appear centered and calm even when we are frightened. Therefore, these techniques must be practiced before they are needed so that they can become second nature.

Non-Aggressive Posture

Hands facing palm out, fingers slightly splayed, fingertips at eye level, elbows down, chin slightly tucked, shoulders elevated, knees slightly bent, bodyweight over arches of feet, feet can be staggered or parallel. Verbal Defusion

• Be Nonjudgmental. • Focus on Feelings.


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• Allow Silence. • Clarify Messages.

Three (3) parts to be mastered in De-escalation

1. Be in Control of Yourself a) Appear calm, centered, and self-assured even though you don’t feel it. Relax facial muscles and look

confident. b) Use modulated, low monotonous tone of voice. c) Do not be defensive, even when insulted. d) Be aware of any resources available for back up. e) Be very respectful even when firmly setting limits.

2. The Physical Stance a) Allow extra physical space between you and the aggressor. b) Do not stand full front to the aggressor. c) Do not point or shake your finger. d) Do not smile. e) Do not touch. f) Keep hands out of your pockets. g) Do not argue or try to convince. h) Don’t be defensive or judgmental.

3. The De-Escalation Discussion

a) Do not get loud or try to yell over a screaming person. b) Do not argue or try to convince. c) Trust Your Instincts.

If attempts to de-escalate the aggressor are unsuccessful, your non-aggressive posture, coupled with your situational awareness will help you defend against a physical attack. Of course, your physical skills must be trained, however they should be trained holistically in-concert with your situational awareness and verbal defusion skills. Note: every situation has unique variables. Therefore, you must decide when to act and what action to take. Vulnerable first-strike target areas include:

• Eyes • Even the most highly trained mixed martial artist is stopped in their tracks by a finger in the eye.

While many people have an aversion to poking someone in the eye, remember, if poking someone in the eye meant a person went blind, then most every professional basketball player would be blind.

• Throat • The throat is one of the most vulnerable areas of the body. In fact, almost every withdrawal reflex

response involves a natural protecting of the throat, either through a raising of the hands to protect the throat or an elevation of the shoulders to the ears.

• Ears • The inner ear is responsible for balance, physical and psychological during a confrontation. The ear

can be attacked by gripping and ripping, pulling, or firmly pushing a finger deep inside the ear canal.


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• Groin • A strike to the groin is not intended to, nor will it, destroy or neutralize the threat. It will, however,

pause your attacker, which invites a second strike to a more vulnerable area or enable you to run away

When physical violence cannot be avoided or de-escalated, District Combatives advocates targeting the following areas:

• Vision • Breathing • Balance

Targeting these areas requires training and conditioning, not strength, power or size. TacticalDisengagementInevitably, you have to decide when to disengage. For each phase of personal protection, this will be different and depend upon situational factors. Remember, the ultimate goal is to avoid conflict. De-escalate when possible. And if avoidance and de-escalation fail, protect against the violent attack. In avoiding conflict, tactical disengagement may result in you changing your movement or leaving the area entirely. During de-escalation, tactical disengagement may result in calmly walking away from the threat, while of course, maintaining active awareness of the direction the threat or it could involve a sucker punch to the eye and running the other direction. While, during protection, multiple strikes may be required. However, in all instances, you must maintain awareness of the threat, direction the threat is moving, and use your best judgment as to when you can safely remove yourself from the situation. In closing, you can see that physical skills are simply not enough for personal protection. There are other means. However, all these skills are perishable and therefore should be practiced in concert. With one tactic naturally evolving into the next until you are safe. Furthermore, it is important to recognize that the most important tactic, informed situational awareness is also the most fun. I mean, how many people love people watching? I know I do. This is something that can be practiced without a financial cost. Most critical, though, is to practice the skills before you need them. ConcentricRingsofPersonalProtectionWhen we view personal protection as a layers of concentric rings determined by threat distance, we can begin to associate and train holistically for each level of threat. The closer the threat, the higher the level of threat.

1. Distal Ring a. Threat identification and detection.

2. Medial Ring a. Non-Aggressive Posture with congruous Verbal De-escalation.

3. Proximal Ring a. Hand-held weapons, to include: hands, feet, etc. and improvised weapons


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Further, we can begin to further identify specific tools with utility in each ring. For example, in the Distal Ring, identifying the threat allows for avoiding confrontation by simply walking a different direction. In the Medial Ring, a self-defense flashlight can impair the aggressors vision to provide precious seconds to run from the threat. In the Proximal Ring, a non-aggressive posture and verbal de-escalation techniques can be used to defuse the threat. In the event this fails, transition from a non-aggressive posture to a pre-emptive first strike, if necessary. Remember, the use of force must parallel the level of threat. NextStepsThe skills identified in District Combatives Personal Protection Fundamentals are systematic, progressive, and physiologically-based to address real—physical, emotional, and psychological—threats. Developing reliable, durable proficiency in these skills requires commitment. It requires time. It requires focused effort. To focus your efforts, think of what you would lose—physically, emotionally, and psychologically—if you lost a fight. After the cuts and bruises heal, how would you feel? For the self-motivated, this Fundamentals guide represents a fundamental guide to begin training. For those in need of guided instruction, District Combatives offers Seminars and Small Group Training in Washington, DC. If you’re interested in training in District Combatives Small Group Training, would like additional information or have questions, please contact us directly: Info@DistrictCombativescom To attend a District Combatives Reality-based Personal Protection Training Event, visit: http://www.DistrictCombatives.com/Events


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Sources:TheGiftofFear,GavindeBeckerLeftofBang,PatrickVanHorneandJasonRileyOnCombat,Lt.Col.DaveGrossman(USA,ret.)PersonalDefenseReadinessCourse,TonyBlauerCombativesSelfDefenseCourse,KellyMcCann

district combatives personal protection fundamentals [final]

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