PART 1: Skills and tactics to avoid or prevent a violent confrontation from happening!

In the first part of a 3 part series, we will look at how we can use Krav Maga skills and tactics to help us become safer.

In this article, we will look at the tactics of avoidance, awareness and identifying the rituals of an aggressive attacker.

1. AVOIDANCE

Common sense is a very good tool to help avoid potentially dangerous situations. Going to locations that are dimly lit, or do not allow you to see your whole environment is not a situation you want to be in. Being around people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol is best avoided if the area is known for violence as well.

2. AWARENESS

Generally speaking, violent confrontations do not happen without some pre-event cues or indicators. Examples of awareness could be of people (groups and out of place behavior), environment (exits, lighting and improvised weapons) and finally yourself (are you able, in that moment, to escape or protect yourself or others).

Being aware gives you the opportunity to stop the problem before it begins.

3. IDENTIFY THE AGGRESSOR “RITUALS”

As was stated before, violent confrontations do not happen without some form of pre-event cues or indicators. This is definitely the case with aggressive behaviour.

Posturing of the aggressor to make them look more capable can include eye contact with their target, their body language of chest forward, chin up and hands out, to look larger and therefore more dangerous.

Immediately before a violent physical attack, they may give out other cues that they about to act. This can include and is not limited to clenching of fists, rolling of the shoulders, flaring of the nostrils, curling of the upper lip and chin lowering.

Knowing how to “read” these cues can prevent a situation becoming violent.

Next in Part 2 of our Blog article, we will continue with Defusing the situation, Prevention of an attack and Pre-emptive attacks!