THE ANATOMY OF A PHYSICAL ALTERCATION

 

A QUESTION WAS ASKED                         

How could a martial arts instructor teach non-violence and problem solving without using the fighting techniques that they are learning? Are there any practical exercises to teach this concept?

As some of you know I have been in the Martial Arts industry for 35+ years. I have never during that time been taught verbal de-scalation drills or conflict management from any of my instructors, much less pre-conflict indicators, some of them touch on it but that’s about it. 99.99% of the schools out there teach you what to do DURING a fight, BUT WAIT something happened before the fight also what happened after?

We at Apex Tactical Institute / Dark Gift Combat Fighting System answer this problem very easily.
We teach the 3 D’S which are
“Detect, Defuse, Defend or Destroy”  Which coincides with “Pre , During and Post “ of a physical altercation. This is done in a scenario format. All too often clients/students are left with no option but to get in a physical altercation, due to the fact that they lack the verbal skills to talk their way out of a physical altercation. They are trained only to fight NOT TO TALK their way out of one. You hear all the time on the news and  read in the news paper about someone getting in a fight or got tabbed or shot.“ MAN WAS SHOT LATE SUNDAY NIGHT, WORDS WERE EXCHANGED EARLIER THAT EVENING” Tell me.. does that sound familiar?

 

            THE ANATOMY OF A PHYSICAL ALTERCATION

Let us look at the anatomy of a potential physical altercation. First they are about three ways one could get accosted “MOST COMMON” but they are 100’s of ways.

1)     Assassination  2) Ambush  3) Verbal confrontation.

Lets us look at the first one Assassination: From my research and L.E.O.
I have talked with, Assassination is mainly done by gangs as an initiation into the gang life but not limited too that.

Some times mistaking identity will occur, like a HIT on a DRUG DEALER but instead KILLED a father of 3. It is all most impossible to stop an Assassination, only DETECT a potential problem can possibly save your life, but all too often all of us just assume we will be safe in our society and it’s just not true.

 

The second one is Ambush: Happens all too often, just like in the animal kingdom the predator looks for the weak, old, young, lame and the one that is NOT paying attention.
A punk thief is not going to pick a BIG STRONG MAN to rob. Ambush can be averted by practicing 1 of the 3 D’S  “Detect” & “Pre-Indicators “

IF you can Detect a problem or pick up Pre-Indicator then you do not have to DEFUSE OR DEFEND yourself. Ambush can be a KILLER “Sabrina Pina” is a terrible wake up call. We at A.T.I. / D.G.C.F.S. utilize scenario base training of the 3 D’s and
“Pre , During and Post “  Detecting how they walk, talk, body countenance,  why is that man stand by my car at 1am. Why is he holding the beer bottle by the neck? that's not how you drink beer. Why is he acting so nerves? A Pre-Indicator is little different from Detecting, a Pre-Indicator is a giveaway of one’s intent. 
Look at this video what do you see, the guy is getting ready the security officer is not creating space

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pK-dRHVwtuA

as you saw from the video all the “Detect” & “Pre-Indicators“  where there, IF YOU were trained to look for them. This guy had no clue what was about to happen. Again all Martial Arts schools need this type of training for their students/clients. NOT because I do it but because it’s GREAT for the student/client.

Now we go to  Verbal confrontation, A heated exchange with a potential for a physical altercation. Here is where you can defuses the situation or talk down the fight IF you have had the training. Be firm but kind in your rebuttals always say Sir, Stand a in a Defensive posture, do not square up as they say, give verbal boundaries like “Sir you are making me nerves can you please step back a little”  Remember the combatant may not be hearing what you are saying but is in a visual mode and how you move and act, he will respond to much more quickly.  

SO lets break it down.

“Detect” anything that you see or hear that causes you to think you are in peril
“Pre-Indicator”  anything that gives away he’s intent, Body contenance, action ect.
“Defuse” verbal descalation  or conflict management, Talking your way out of the fight.
“Defend” skills that give you the ability to protect you & your family, all martial arts system teach this
“During”   during the physical altercation what is happening ect…
AHH now POST, Anther gap that that I see is missing in a clients/student training. After the physical altercation, what to do? What are the LEGAL & MORAL ramification of what just occurred? IF you knocked out a guy and you notice that his head hit the floor hard you might want to make sure he is ok, IF you do not have his buddies all over you or the bouncers. Get names & phone numbers of witnesses of what just happened. I tell my students all the time you going to have to fight 3 times.
1) the person you are fighting  2) Johnny law  when he arrives, he does not know who is right or wrong  3) potentially civil court. SO COVER YOUR BUTT!!!.

LOOK ladies and gentlemen, I think this is vital training that a student/client needs IF they can talk their way out of a fight or run do so. There is more to Martial Arts & Combatives than “FIGHTING” like we say here at D.G.C.F.S. “ HUMBLY SEEKING PEACE” and we really are…BUT IF YOU ATTACK we are PREPARED FOR WAR!!!!!!!..

These vital skills set I think should be in every system and defense training. That’s why Mrs.Traylor and I teach them. In closing Mrs.Traylor and I want to wish you and yours a HAPPY NEW YEAR, and may you all be BLESSED this year.

Mr.Traylor