Our final part of our series. This article will look at the tactics and skills of seeking assistance, going physical and finding a safe area.
7. Seeking assistance and informing others
Asking for assistance during a confrontation can be a very effective tactic if employed in a public location. The tactic can be as simple as asking for help from strangers with subdue an aggressor so further harm is not caused, or asking them to call for emergency services.
8. Physical Responses
When you have tried to avoid, prevent and deescalate a violent situation and they have failed, then you need to be able to physically defend yourself or others. This means you perform appropriate defenses, releases and attacks / counter attacks to the aggressor to stop them either physically or mentally. All this is after acquiring the relevant knowledge and experience. In most cases very simple defenses with the palms or forearms, and several types of strikes and kicks are sufficient to deal with the majority of violent attacks. A strong mental attitude to win is also a need attribute.
Note – Avoiding legal consequences
Our country has a very strong legal and justice system that works to keep us safe. With this in mind, when defending yourself or others you can only use sufficient force to stop the aggressor from continuing to attack. If you then continue to attack when the person is not a threat anymore, such as being incapable of attacking or starts to flee the area, you need to stop defending yourself. Our legal system does not like the idea of people “punishing “ aggressors. The police and courts are the correct system for that. Remember we are only defending ourselves or others from harm and then escaping the situation.
9. Reach safe zone ASAP
To minimize the level of physical and mental/emotional harm, you should reach safety as soon as it is possible. If a physical confrontation, the initial procedure you should do is check your body for injuries, such as bleeding from a knife would, and give the appropriate treatment. This may also apply to others in your care that you have protected. After checking for injuries, call for assistance or report what has happened in the confrontation; try to remember as many details as possible the way the aggressor looked like.
You may even have to find professional assistance in regards to emotional trauma from surviving a violent situation.