Tactics vs. Techniques - Damian Ross, The Self Defense Company

“Whenever possible pick your fights, and always pick the ones you can win.” – Me, I just said that.

Even Paris Hilton "Gets it"

Recently I appeared on a radio show where the host was telling me about how he had to fill up his car at a gas station in a high crime area. He then went through great detail on how he would position himself around the vehicle and his behavior when anyone approached. He continued to describe what weapons and what techniques he would use to defeat anyone who attacked him. When he asked me what I would do, I said “Go to another gas station.”

There is this underlying idea that you shouldn’t have to alter your behavior because it would yourself to fight everything that comes in your way that’s instilled in training. And while you do “train for your worst nightmare” common sense needs to play a role in how you live your life.

Tsun Tzu himself suggested only engaging in battles you know you’re going to win “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win”

Why would you deliberately put yourself in a position of weakness? Going into known, high crime areas when you don’t have to, is literally asking for trouble. Hey, I know some people put their faith in the kindness of man, me, I’d rather put my faith in my ability to protect myself. Even with all my training and experience I will always choose the safer route and if it does happen where I can’t avoid it, I have planned for these contingencies with small weapons and tactics.

A little planning goes a long way.
Having an exit strategy, not crowding the car in front of you when you’re at a traffic stop are just a few things to start thinking tactically. Understanding the physical abilities of the people you are with is important as well. What if you needed to escape, how far and how fast can you run? Can you scale a 3 foot wall? Can you swim? Can you do a pull up? Knowing your capabilities and the abilities of the people around you should dictate your behavior.

SCREW PRINCIPLES
There are some people who feel entitled to fill up at that gas station. “It’s a public business, I have the right to go there.” Stow your rights and use your head. People have lost so much because they stuck to their principles for what?!?! The end game is survival and living a healthy life. Don’t be a knuckle head and put yourself in a dangerous situation for no good reason.

Sometimes, trouble finds you
Sometimes you can’t pick your battles and that is what we prepare for. That is also the reason you need to use any means and method at your disposal to give yourself the highest percentage of success. Honor is how you live your life, not wage war. The only people who have the luxury of honor and mercy are the victors. When you survive and win, then you show mercy, Leave style and “honor” at the door until the situation is under control. There is no “fighting honorably” only “honorable reasons to fight.”

Escalation of force is a recipe for disaster
Initially engaging in a use of force situation with the attitude of “escalation of force” where your response is at the same level of your assailants puts you at a clear disadvantage. This notion put the enemy in control and you one step behind. How can you tell that initial push doesn’t get followed by a stab? You can’t, that’s why you always need to react more viciously and ruthlessly than you’re being attacked. He pushes you, you don’t push back, you hit him and end the situation on your terms before it gets out of control. Not only are you within your legal right to do so, but you know if you knock your target out, the fight is over. This is also the time to deploy pepper spray and other non-lethal countermeasures. As soon as there’s trouble you need to take the driver’s seat and shift the momentum in your favor.

You don’t fight squat!
I don’t fight; I react tactically and seek to end the situation as fast as possible. This is a direct contradiction to my martial arts training that has told me (subconsciously) that I need to fight someone on equal terms. If ending the fight means distracting my enemy with a question or another distraction, so be it. If that means I fake compliance, close the distance and attack, so be it. The techniques are secondary.

The notion of "fighting" forces you to think of technique and the minutia of the fight. Because of sports you think of attacks and counters. But real fights don’t really happen in that sporting rhythm. A fight is more “attack and retreat” than anything else. In a fight you’re either the one doing the attacking or the one being attacked. It’s that simple. In combat, the goal is to injure your attacker as fast as possible while sustaining as little injury as possible.

Don’t forget, the “spirit” of martial arts and competition is the positive aspects of combat without the negative. Budo is about mutual respect, honor, healthy competition, national pride and a way of pushing yourself and satisfying your inner warrior without having to take a life. Martial arts are designed with safety and style in mind, not all out warfare.

Listen, I love the spirit of martial arts and train and teach on a weekly basis. I love rolling around with my buddies and coming off the mat with a wide variety of mat burns and sore muscles. But I know that this is not “real” no matter how many martial arts we mix in. I know a real fight with someone who has little or nothing to lose is dangerous, caustic and violent. I don’t like them and I never met anyone sane who did.

Look at the big picture
Thinking tactically is about looking at the big picture, having your eye on the end game and desired result. The means are whatever gets you to the end result with the least amount of sacrifice. I don’t know a military or law enforcement commander who would ever chose to engage an enemy if the odd were 50-50 (or even 75-25). Always prepare and seek to stack the odds in your favor. Logic dictates that your attacker will do the same. Believe me, they only pick marks they think they can overpower and manipulate. It’s up to you to have a nasty surprise that “changes their mind.”
Self Defense, Combatives or whatever you want to call it is all about the “end game”. The only goal is your survival and safety.

Train Honestly,
Damian Ross
The Self Defense Company








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Damian Ross is CEO of the Self Defense Company and developer of The Self Defense Training System, the most lethal and effective self defense system in the world, The Guardian Defensive Tactics Police Combatives Program, 60 minute Self Defense and the Family Safe Program. Mr. Ross also founded the Self Defense Instructor Program that helps people develop their self defense careers from the ground up. Mr. Ross is originally from Ridgewood, NJ where he was a High School Hall of Fame Athlete in football and wrestling as well as a varsity wrestling coach. He then went on to Lehigh University where he was a varsity wrestler and football player. Mr. Ross has 3 black belts, 4th Degree in Tekkenryu Jujutsu, 2nd Degree in Judo, 2nd Degree in Tae Kwon Do. In addition to his martial arts experience, Mr. Ross spent 8 years in the professional security and personal protection business. He is internationally recognized as one of the foremost authorities in reality based self defense.

Train How You Live

Uniforms and safety equipment are great, but don't really help your self defense training. In martial arts class you're barefoot and wear uniforms whether its a traditional gi or shorts and shirt. Unless you work and live wearing gloves and protective gear, you need to seriously re-evaluate your training methods if you're serious about self defense.

If you wear a suit or coveralls and boots, you better understand what you can and can not do. Soldiers and law enforcement need to train with whatever equipment they wear when they're working. When I see soldiers and uniformed officers grappling in BDU's or Sweats calling it "Defensive Tactics" or "Combatives" it makes me scratch my head. Try pulling guard with a utility belt on batman and let me know how it works out for you.

Be realistic. If you wear a suit and carry a pen, learn to use whatever your wearing as a weapon. If you work in Home Depot in the hardware department, grab a few hand tools and work with them. It was a well known fact that longshoreman were pretty nasty with a cargo hook.

If you're going to carry a weapon, make sure it is something you would feel comfortable carrying. This will make you want to create the habit of carrying it. As always make sure to field test it like we show you in the SDTS Combatives Program. There are quite a few tools I have been excited about only to watch them disintegrate in my hand when put to the test.

Gyms and mats are comfortable, clean and give you plenty of room but unless you live in one, you need to think about where you're training. You will most likely be attacked going to and from work, shopping, in your home and where you go for entertainment. Offices, stores, parking lots, bars, restaurants all have a few things in common: hard surfaces and lots of "debris" and clutter. You cant go 10 feet in any direction without hitting a piece of furniture or change in elevation. In the SDTS we show you how to set up a training area so you can learn to operate in those close quarters.

Get your mind set. "Mindsetting" is the simple act of looking at your environment and playing the "what if" game". What if an active shooter came down the hall and you were forced to deal with him? What weapons would you use? How would you plan your escape? How would you communicate to the outside world and call n the cavalry? Periodically going through these scenarios IN YOUR MIND will enable you to react when the time comes. Don't start freaking out your coworkers by grabbing a letter opener and running through the cubicles.

Do you like to drink? Good, now go get drunk and practice. No kidding. (I could see it now, sorry honey, Damian told me too!). But if drinking is a part of your lifestyle, you better understand what's going to happen to you when you have to "fight drunk."

Hey, we are all two people: the one we want to be and the one we actually are. Be honest with yourself and be honest with your training. The more honesty, the better and more realistic your results.

Train Honestly,
Damian Ross
The Self Defense Company








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Damian Ross is CEO of the Self Defense Company and developer of The Self Defense Training System, the most lethal and effective self defense system in the world, The Guardian Defensive Tactics Police Combatives Program, 60 minute Self Defense and the Family Safe Program. Mr. Ross also founded the Self Defense Instructor Program that helps people develop their self defense careers from the ground up. Mr. Ross is originally from Ridgewood, NJ where he was a High School Hall of Fame Athlete in football and wrestling as well as a varsity wrestling coach. He then went on to Lehigh University where he was a varsity wrestler and football player. Mr. Ross has 3 black belts, 4th Degree in Tekkenryu Jujutsu, 2nd Degree in Judo, 2nd Degree in Tae Kwon Do. In addition to his martial arts experience, Mr. Ross spent 8 years in the professional security and personal protection business. He is internationally recognized as one of the foremost authorities in reality based self defense.

Ugly Red Dummy- Ground Fighting, Damian Ross, The Self Defense Company

One of the SDTS Legion Members suggested that I try to take advantage of the Ugly Red Dummy's tendency to fall down (when it's not weighted down of course). He said I could knock him down and perform the SDTS Ground and Pound from Module 3 of the SDTS.

The drill we're starting with comes from Module 3 of the SDTS: Ground Fighting for Keeps. In this situation you're knocked down and your assailant is standing over you. There could be 100 different ways how you got here but all that matters is that you have the wherewith all to defend yourself.

Your goal in this position is to get on your feet, it's not to end the fight. If you can, it's a bonus but it is best to create some space to enable you to get to your feet OR if you injure or distract him enough you may be able to take him down from this position in the manner shown. Granted, if you do injure him, you may even just want to get to your feet and finish the job.

Try not to be enamored by the technique. Martial artists and self defense experts tend to think that every technique they teach will work 100% of the time against 100% of the attackers in the world. This is obviously false. In this situation for example, I would much rather be the guy standing. When I train, I'm not thinking "I have him now!!" while I lay on the ground in trash and broken bottles only to have his buddies come up from behind and kick my skull in. I'm really thinking "HOLY S#!T!! I've got to get on my feet and if he comes near me I'm going to hurt that SOB anyway I can!!!"

Never, ever choose the ground or grappling. You wind up in grappling and ground scenarios by accident, not by choice. Personally, I've been on the mat for over 30 years. I have won more wrestling and judo contests than I care to remember and I would NEVER choose the ground or choose to grapple in a street fight. The only time I would if it tactically gave me the advantage to do more vicious and violent things to my attacker. A number of years ago when I was a young man I happened to get into a situation where I was fighting in a crowd. While I took down the guy who squared off with me without a problem, his buddies didn't like it so much and took turns teeing off on my head and back. In this situation I was lucky the police showed up or I probably wouldn't be writing this article today.

Always assume your attacker is armed and has friends. I've seen a drunk high school kid get knocked into a coma because someone didn't like the fact that his buddy was getting thrashed, so he decided to put a steel toe Redwing boot into his brain. Don't be stupid, use common sense. If you're not fighting in a controlled environment you're depending on the kindness and sobriety of others.

Getting back to the drill...

This was actually pretty cool and I was never able to train a transition and go full bore before. When you train the SDTS Ground and Pound (or any ground and pound) unless your training on a dummy, you have to be careful and not injure your partner since the force of your strikes are reinforced by gravity. The Ugly Red Dummy allowed me to go from a standing target to a prone target while maintaining intensity. I could never do this with a training partner. And before you start posting and saying "I can do this with a partner holding pads or in a redman suit" I'm going to stop you and tell you you hit like a toddler and should be embarrassed. If you hit with any amount of real force against a pad that is in front of someone's face, you're going to smash their hands into said face. So please save your breath. The only way to do this with a partner is to pull your punches and that is something I don't have time for. we are not sparring we are destroying what's in front of us.

Next time we'll take our Ugly Red friend from the standing position to the ground (Yay!).


Train Smarter, Not Harder,
Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company


Damian Ross is CEO of the Self Defense Company and developer of The Self Defense Training System, the most lethal and effective self defense system in the world, The Guardian Defensive Tactics Police Combatives Program, 60 minute Self Defense and the Family Safe Program. Mr. Ross also founded the Self Defense Instructor Program that helps people develop their self defense careers from the ground up. Mr. Ross is originally from Ridgewood, NJ where he was a High School Hall of Fame Athlete in football and wrestling as well as a varsity wrestling coach. He then went on to Lehigh University where he was a varsity wrestler and football player. Mr. Ross has 3 black belts, 4th Degree in Tekkenryu Jujutsu, 2nd Degree in Judo, 2nd Degree in Tae Kwon Do. In addition to his martial arts experience, Mr; Ross spent 8 years in the professional security and personal protection business. He is internationally recognized as one of the foremost authorities in reality based self defense.

Fight Better Drunk

I just got on this on Face Book from a member of the SDTS Legion,

"Thank you Damian. I got robbed last night. I was pretty drunk after watching the fights, and two guys who knew it figured I'd be an easy target. Even stupid drunk, I remembered to keep my lead foot lined up between the feet of the attacker, hit him in the neck and head with the edge of hand blow until he fell down (From Module 1 of the SDTS), and then tried kicking the shit out of him. Then his buddy jumped on my back and choked me. They both pinned me down and took my money. Yeah in the end I lost my money, but I kept my pride. I was beating the fuck out of the one guy. Too bad I was too intoxicated to plan for the second guy." Corey, Canada

First, I'm glad you're OK and live to tell the tale. Second, I'm insanely happy you were able to leave your mark on these guys and stand up for yourself. You did what you had to do at the time with the information given to you and for that, you're awesome. So the other guy cleaned you're clock and you lost some $$$, you're story brings up a fantastic point. What happens if you're attacked while drunk?

The short answer is: if you plan to get drunk you have 3 options:
1. Don't drink
2. Don't be alone when you're drunk in public
3. Learn to fight better drunk

You were and I'll use your words "stupid drunk." I have no doubt than any less drunk you would have remembered SDTS Cardinal Rule Number #5 but you were wasted. I know we envision most confrontations happening behind enemy lines fighting for truth, justice and the "Canadian" way. But that is simply not the case. Most fights happen when a little (or a hell of a lot)of alcohol is involved.

If you walk away with anything from Corey's story it's first, his attackers figured him an easy mark since he was loaded (See SDTS Cardinal Rule #2)and second, he still could successfully pull off the tactics he learned in Module 1. Even when he was blotto, our hero knew he was being set up and more importantly, defended himself while "stupid drunk."

I'll be the first to say that I do take the occasional drink and have had the experience to engage in use of force situations when my judgment and or ability to stand have been seriously impaired. Guilty as charged. But this is the world we live in and these are the lifestyles we lead. All it takes is one night out and one drink too many to make you vulnerable. Heck, it doesn't even have to be booze, you could just be tired, injured or just plain old....OLD. If you look like an easy mark you're going to be taken.

Think about this and seriously reflect on your lifestyle. When I use the sign off "Train Honestly" this is part of what I mean. e honest with yourself. We all have the image of who we want or think we should be, then there's the reality of who we are. We all want to be the person who brushes and flosses twice a day, but we are all the person who forgets to even rinse with mouthwash until we're halfway out the door. We all want to buy clothes for the thin, 15 pounds lighter you, not the right now you. Whether or not you think your tactics will work when you're sober, do you think you could pull them off drunk or even buzzed? Let's take booze out the equation, could you execute your defensive tactics if you were tired or injured?

Be realistic, be honest, if you're doing something that requires a tremendous amount of skill, concentration, strength and endurance and you enjoy a lifestyle that includes the occasional cocktail, then I urge you to re-evaluate your method of self defense. I'm not saying stop your current training, but look at it from a REAL LIFE defensive tactics perspective not from the perspective of the person you want to be or the image you want to project.

Defensive Tactics should fit your lifestyle. Other than the time dedicated to training, both physical and mental, you should be able to enjoy the things you enjoy. I'm not condoning alcoholism, though if you spent some time with my family you may consider "self medicating" a viable option. I'm talking about being able to go out with some friends, have a few drinks and loosen up. Heck, Corey was "stupid drunk" and he managed to knock a guy out. Imagine if he wasn't drunk!!

Train Smarter, Not Harder,
Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company









Connect with Mr. Ross of Face Book

Damian Ross is CEO of the Self Defense Company and developer of The Self Defense Training System, the most lethal and effective self defense system in the world, The Guardian Defensive Tactics Police Combatives Program, 60 minute Self Defense and the Family Safe Program. Mr. Ross also founded the Self Defense Instructor Program that helps people develop their self defense business from the ground up. Mr. Ross is originally from Ridgewood, NJ where he was a High School Hall of Fame Athlete in football and wrestling as well as a varsity wrestling coach. He then went on to Lehigh University where he was a varsity wrestler and football player. Mr. Ross has 3 black belts, 4th Degree in Tekkenryu Jujutsu, 2nd Degree in Judo, 2nd Degree in Tae Kwon Do. In addition to his martial arts experience, Mr; Ross spent 8 years in the professional security and personal protection business. He is internationally recognized as one of the foremost authorities in reality based self defense.

VIDEO- Ugly Red Dummy Tough Test Part 1

Hitting and kicking the snot out of this thing isn't going to damage it one bit, so I had to seriously up the ante to see what punishment this thing can take. For starters I pulled out my custom made suburito. It weighs about 12 pounds and was used by samurai to develop power in their cuts. I use it in a similar manner but specifically for developing power in my Judo throws. The idea being that since the throws are based on the cutting motion of the katana, there may be some training benefit. In fact the majority of samurai body motions were based on the katana for the same reason that all the techniques (armed and unarmed) in the SDTS (Self Defense Training System) are based on the same primary muscle movements. The skill sets you learn in module 1 remain constant through out the program. By using the same gross motor functions we can accelerate your learning and increase your proficiency. This way you don't have to learn a completely new skill set with every new weapon or situation like the majority of martial arts and self defense systems require. Repeated gross motor skills are the best and most efficient way to train and learn...where was I, oh, beating the crap out of our ugly red friend.

In order to see how much abuse our boy can take, I pulled out the suburito and went to town. I have to say he didn't bend or budge one bit. Those shots would have sent the BOB across the room and shattered his little plastic base. I was even more surprised at the amount of abuse the legs can take. They didn't crack or budge at all. Not even a sound. I think it's safe to say that if you can bend or break this thing, you don't need any self defense training...you need to be tagged and released back into the wild.

Train Smarter, Not Harder,
Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company


Damian Ross is CEO of the Self Defense Company and developer of The Self Defense Training System, the most lethal and effective self defense system in the world, The Guardian Defensive Tactics Police Combatives Program, 60 minute Self Defense and the Family Safe Program. Mr. Ross also founded the Self Defense Instructor Program that helps people develop their self defense careers from the ground up. Mr. Ross is originally from Ridgewood, NJ where he was a High School Hall of Fame Athlete in football and wrestling as well as a varsity wrestling coach. He then went on to Lehigh University where he was a varsity wrestler and football player. Mr. Ross has 3 black belts, 4th Degree in Tekkenryu Jujutsu, 2nd Degree in Judo, 2nd Degree in Tae Kwon Do. In addition to his martial arts experience, Mr; Ross spent 8 years in the professional security and personal protection business. He is internationally recognized as one of the foremost authorities in reality based self defense.

VIDEO- The Ugly Red Dummy 2- Knock Down Test, Damian Ross, The Self Defense Company

At first look, between the mounting platforms and the weight of the dummy, it looks like a stiff fart could knock it over and I was correct. Not about the fart thing, that didn't work, but it didn't take a whole lot of power to take him off his feet. Fortunately I had a quick fix that didn't require any drilling or permanent mounting solution. It was fast, easy and above all cheap.

To secure him in place I took 3, 45 pound (20.45 Kilo) plates and placed them over the base. Then training got a whole lot more fun! I mean, it was awesome. In the clip I use a combination from SDTS Module 2 Advanced strikes and to be honest, it felt amazing. Following up with a knee to the nuts was the icing on the cake. In the past, the Ugly Red Dummy would have saved me a lot of time and aggravation in the old Training Center. You could line a few of these up along the wall and instead of putting plates on the bases, just remove the suction cups and simply bolt them to a sub-floor or to a piece 4X8, 3/4" plywood. I only used the weights in this clip to show a non-permanent solution.

The performance and function of The Ugly Red Dummy were better than expected. Since I had to step on something on the ground reminded me to focus on my footwork from Module 1. It also served as a distraction. You must train for any situation and that includes ground surface. If you slip or stumble, you need to stay focused on your attack and ignore the distraction. That split second lapse in your attack maybe all the guy needs to gain the advantage. Look around you right now, you probably can't go 10 feet in any direction without running into an object or change in elevation. Dojo's and gyms are nice, but they're not the real world. In the world we wear shoes, sneakers and boots. In the world there is glass, rocks, trash and furniture. The world is a harsh and unforgiving place. Funny, I just told my 6 year old son that. Oh well, life sucks, get a helmet, moving forward...

The movement on the dummy is another positive. You're target is not going to stay still. You're going to miss, hit bone, or worse. The motion of the dummy was enough to keep me honest, but not so much that it was unrealistic and got in the way of the session.

Today, the Ugly Red Dummy passed his first serious test. Like I said, he's not perfect but for $500 and some weights you can pick up off of ebay (I saw some on Craig's List for $35.00) so not a big investment there. Like I said, it's not perfect but is it worth it? So far, I say yes, but I ain't done by a long shot...

Train Smarter, Not Harder,
Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company


Damian Ross is CEO of the Self Defense Company and developer of The Self Defense Training System, the most lethal and effective self defense system in the world, The Guardian Defensive Tactics Police Combatives Program, 60 minute Self Defense and the Family Safe Program. Mr. Ross also founded the Self Defense Instructor Program that helps people develop their self defense careers from the ground up. Mr. Ross is originally from Ridgewood, NJ where he was a High School Hall of Fame Athlete in football and wrestling as well as a varsity wrestling coach. He then went on to Lehigh University where he was a varsity wrestler and football player. Mr. Ross has 3 black belts, 4th Degree in Tekkenryu Jujutsu, 2nd Degree in Judo, 2nd Degree in Tae Kwon Do. In addition to his martial arts experience, Mr; Ross spent 8 years in the professional security and personal protection business. He is internationally recognized as one of the foremost authorities in reality based self defense.

VIDEO- Combat Chokes vs. Sport Chokes- Damian Ross, The Self Defense Company

The first time I even heard of a strangle. I was about 13 when Hulk Hogan choked out comedian and Law and Order star Richard Belzer when Belzer laid claim that pro wrestling was fake. Watching Belzer get knocked cold from the sleeper hold was all it took, I wanted more.

Getting choked and learning to choke for the first time is a surreal experience. The controlled power of being able to strangle someone until they pass out is intoxicating to say the least. On the flip side being choked sucks. The claustrophobia, the ears ringing and the out of body experience of being put to sleep and getting 10 seconds of REM are off-putting at best.

In the beginning, I thought I knew how to choke. I put on the hold and in a few seconds my partner would tap. When I was choked, I did the same. That was until I started training in combatives.

British Judo Great and World Champion Neil Adams once said, "...you haven't been strangled until you shit yourself mate." For years I really didn't understand this. I though that getting someone to tap was god enough and getting someone to tap in competition was even better, but that was only the half of it. My combatives training that would eventually lead to The Self Defense Training System brought my strangle skills to a whole new and frightening level.

Most people think they know how to strangle and technically I guess they do. They can put on a hold and get someone to tap or pass out. This usually takes several seconds in practice or competition which is fine, but against a person who's fighting for their life, that turns into forever. Forever is not an option.

I prefer more efficient means of strangulation. Believe it or not, I'm a little lazy and the thought of wasting energy and time doesn't appeal to me. This method of combat strangles is detailed in The Self Defense Training System. This system involves several different technical points that can be applied across the board to all strangles.

The first involves the point of contact as demonstrated in the video above. While it's common to see the elbow of the choking aligned with the chin and contact on both sides of the neck with the bicep and the forearm, you will discover that this creates gaps between your target's neck surface and your choke. Like a noose, you want to have 360 degree contact around the neck and throat. To do this requires you to move the elbow back and initial contact with your wrist on the thumb side. NOTE: The purpose of the seated position above is to demonstrate the strangle grip and not full execution. Full execution involves the use of gravity, body weight, your legs and core which I will describe later.

This new point of contact gives you some critical benefits. First, it's extremely painful on the throat. This may be mistaken as a throat crush, which it can be but your target will be passed out for the blood strangle well before you can crush the trachea. The pain will distract him while you set the rest of your body position. A lot of times in competition an opponent will tap just from this pain. The other benefit of this grip is that you trigger the gag reflex when you start to rotate your wrist up into position. This will cause your target to convulse, allowing you even deeper penetration on the choke.

The Devil is in the Details

The choke grip is only the conduit. The real strangle comes from gravity (ether using your weight or his weight), your legs and your core, depending on your position. For example, the rear strangle(s) above may involve rocking him back and compressing his spine while you lean your weight directly onto the strangle (Module 12 of the SDTS). You could also be on your feet and have him in a guillotine or front strangle and by "lifting him" instead of just squeezing him (module 3 and 12 of the SDTS)you will increase pressure and effectiveness of the strangle exponentially. You may also be in the mount and use your body weight in conjunction with legs and core to apply the choke (modules 3 and 12 of the SDTS).

Another little secret is breathing. Inhaling while you're strangling helps fill in the gaps and increase pressure. The inhale expands your chest and aids in filling in the gaps and creating more pressure.

when you're training chokes, the tap should be instant. Because in reality that instant will turn into seconds and seconds is all you have.

Train Honestly,
Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company

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Rules of Self Defense (Revisited)

The Rules of Self Defense

The rules define the game. Judo rules, create the sport of Judo, MMA rules create the MMA the sport and martial arts have a style and etiquette all their own, based on their culture of origin. These rules are designed to balance entertainment with participant safety or pay homage to their native land. While technically in self defense there are "no rules ", there does exist a specific set of tactical factors to which you must abide.

The “Rules” of Self Defense

1. Your techniques must be simple, gross motor skills.
When you experience fight or flight stress, millions of years of evolution kick in and prepare you for battle. You will experience dozens of perceptual changes from tunnel vision to loss of hearing, your heart rate increases and your blood will flow from your extremities to your vital organs and major muscle groups. There is no amount of mediation or stress inoculation that will reverse these effects. Your only choice is to train to operate within those conditions. You will only to be able to perform gross movements of the legs and arms. Finite skills that involve subtle movement of the fingers, wrist, small precise movements and tactics that require cognitive planning and strategy will be impossible. You'll only be able to perform a handful (3 to 5) of simple skills. LtCol Grossman’s Book “On Combat” gives an excellent analysis of this physiological and psychological experience.

2. You will be attacked when you are vulnerable.
Injured, tired and older or distracted, criminals, like predators, choose targets of opportunity. If you appear weak, you will be a target. The most effective defensive tactics enable you to perform under any possible physical restriction. This includes the use of weapons. The rule is simple, if you can leave your home, you better be able to protect yourself. Methods that require athleticism and coordination are not recommended. Instead you need techniques that are simple and easy to perform.

3. Your assailant is armed.
Criminals will stack the odds in their favor. Career criminals who know that using a weapon carries a heavier sentence, may try to strong arm you instead of using a weapon during the first contact. After you survive the first attack and offer some resistance, he may then decide to use a weapon. According to the 2005 study by the Bureau of justice http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=tp&tid=70 in approximately 70% of violent crime arrests there was a weapon present. This very real possibility demands that you dispatch of your threat as quickly as possible.

Another scenario is an attack under in low light. In a dark parking lot, how can you tell if that punch isn't a stab? Therefore you must assume every attack is a weapon attack. Methods that require you to first identify the weapon and then shift gears to use a different set of techniques have an extremely low success rate. Hick’s Law proves this as fact. Hick’s Law describes the time it takes for a person to make a decision as a result of the possible choices he or she has. The more choices you have, the slower your reaction time. You need one common denominator reaction for a multitude of assaults.

4. Your attacker is larger and stronger than you.
In the street, intimidation is a big factor. Larger people with bad intent will choose smaller, weaker victims. Nothing has changed since grammar school. Knowing this, methods that require you to overpower your enemy should be avoided. While grappling is a worth while endeavor, it is not a primary form of defense since it requires a great deal of skill, power and endurance to subdue a much larger attacker. Striking is and always will be the preferred and most efficient means of first line, empty hand defense. Weapons of course trump all empty hand defenses.

5. Your assailant will have friends.
Criminals need an edge. It could be a weapon, it could be size or it could be accomplices. Most times you won't even know it's a multiple attacker scenario until it's too late. Smart street fighters will have friends waiting in the background. The idea of having different tactics for single and multiple attackers is ludicrous for two reasons. First, every attack is a multiple attacker scenario regardless of what you see initially. Second, you can only fight what ‘s directly in front of you. Once you engage, your mind will only allow you to focus on one act, one target and one direction. (See Rule number 1) To ensure a high success rate you must train to eliminate the first target as fast as possible and move forward from there. This includes maintaining a forward drive and taking ground. Besides keeping your primary target off balance, moving forward will make you a moving target to the other threats. This is why it is extremely critical that you train in a way that keeps you moving forward. Practicing defensive tactics while you’re standing toe to toe is ill-advised.

6. You must consider every environment.
Attacks happen where you work and live. Through the course of your day and depending on the season, your environment is constantly changing from icy parking lot to carpeted floor. You can’t move 10 feet in any direction without running into a wall, a piece of furniture or a change of elevation. Sliding foot work that looks good in the gym or dojo is impractical under real world conditions. Even your footwork must be “pre-programmed” to handle any terrain.

7. You must use techniques that cause maximum injury to your attacker and minimum injury to you.
This is the name of the game. The person who wins is the one with the least amount of injury. From weapons to empty hand, everything thing you do must cause more damage to your target at a faster rate than you ‘re being injured.

8. Your attacker has intent on killing or injuring you.
Anyone who is willing to threaten you or use force on you has no regard for your safety. In order to maximize your survivability you must assume this to be true and react accordingly. That means doing whatever you need to survive without any regard for your attacker’s safety. Anything less will leave you vulnerable.

What makes a good self defense system?
An effective means of self defense only needs to consider the factors of distance, position, momentum and balance. Distance: where you are in relation to the target. Position: how you are and your target is situated. Momentum: increase yours by injuring him and moving through him. Injuring him more and more with each attack until he can no longer counter attack. Finally, balance, maintain yours, and disrupt his.
The techniques must attack his most vital areas, consist of gross motor movements and cause the maximum damage to your target and minimum damage to yourself.

These criteria for self defense are purely tactical. There’s no mention of style or system. These are common denominator, common sense factors. Along with good fitness, the right system and an "assume the worst and hope for the best" attitude. You will be able to survive and win most any situation.
Train Honestly,
Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company

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VIDEO-Close Combat Footwork with Damian Ross of the Self Defense Company

The boring, basic things are the usually the most important to learn. Everyone wants to learn a fancy, secret movie move, but the truth is: fundamentals will save your ass. In this clip, Damian Ross of the Self Defense Company shows you the real applications of the fundamental footwork from Module 1 of The Self Defense Training System. You never know where you will be attacked, snow, sand, street or your office. So instead of learning to move several different ways, the SDTS shows you one way to move for ANY TERRAIN. This common denominator approach is vital to the SDTS.

The biggest misconception in all of martial arts and combat sports is this: "the more moves you learn, the better you are." Your instinct is to try to cover your bases with tiny, technical details. At one point in my life I tried to practice and master hundreds of techniques, while in reality, I really only ever used 5 and probably needed 3.

All you need is only a handful of primary techniques coupled with sound tactics. Like good, convulsive, ground pounding footwork for example. This is in direct contrast to the sliding type motions taught by most traditional style martial arts. Over the years I've heard a variety of explanations for sliding foot work from the "understandable" to the downright ridiculous. One guy, who shall remain nameless, actually said "you should slide your feet in case you were fighting on the ledge of a building". My response was, "Should I shit myself, then slide my feet or slide my feet while shitting myself?" Seriously, who am I, Bruce Willis? If I'm fighting on a ledge, I've got way bigger problems...like falling to my death.

Yes, martial artists tend to make up a whole host of wild explanations. And I don't think it's malicious. It's just that for years we've been forced to learn superfluous techniques without any reason why. I remembered learning a "Mountain Block" in a Tae Kwon Do form. I tried finding an image but it was extremely difficult, so I'll describe it. You step into a horse stance (feet spread a shoulder and a half width apart, weight distribution is equal on both legs). When you step into the horse stance you bring both arms up at the same time until they are bent at 90 degrees. You end up looking like you're doing a double bicep pose. I was told this was to block two round kicks at your head simultaneously. Even though I was still sipping the Kool-Aide, I knew, in no way, that this was ever going to work in the real world...EVER.

So I digress, your footwork should be stomping and weight bearing. This will not only secure your footing on unfriendly terrain, but every stomp could scrap a shin or an instep.

If you don't have good footwork, you won't be standing very long. If you don't have good foot work, you won't be able to deliver power in your strikes. If you don't have good footwork, you're useless.

Train Honestly,
Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company

www.selfdefensecompany.com Corporate Center
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VIDEO-Improvised Black Jack- Damian Ross, The Self Defense Company

http://www.theselfdefenseco.com/module11.asp
Self Defense Training System, Module 11 "Old School Weapons and Tactics" Preview

This clip was inspired by Module 11 of the Self Defense Training System titled "Old School Weapons and Tactics". In this clip Damian Ross of The Self Defense Company converts a few simple household items into a devastating impact weapon. Using a simple bandanna and a weighted object, in this case some steel nuts or a weight from a balloon display, you can have an incredibly effective impact weapon. We have used used everything from fishing weights, loose change to ball bearings and it all works well.
Sure you can do this many other items like a sock for example. But it's a lot easier to explain why your carrying a bandanna easier than it is a sock. If you're in law enforcement it's a good idea to store this type of thinking in the back of your head.

Most times the best weapons aren't even weapons at all. In Module 8 of the SDTS "Weapons Defense" we show you a plethora (thank you "Three Amigos") of weapons that you can pick up at your local hardware store. It doesn't have to be "combat certified" to do severe damage. Any number of hand tools are extremely lethal if used in the correct manner. This is something to keep in mind when you're thinking of home defense. A lot of people will go through great lengths to secrete various weapons throughout their homes. This s fine, but many times they will pass perfectly good tools to get to the one they've hidden. One exercise you can do is when you walk into a room, look for something that can be used as a weapon. Mark it's location and imagine how that weapon could be implemented. It's real simple and takes only seconds.

There are many states and countries that outlaw certain types of weapons. If you live in a place that outlaws pepper spray, wasp and hornet repellent makes a great substitute. The point is, restricting weapons NEVER stops men from dong evil to one another. For every new law, the criminal has figured out 10 ways around it. Remember the "Club". That device that locked your car's steering wheel into position? It took the car jacking world 5 seconds to figure out that if you cut the car's steering wheel with a hack saw, the club popped right off.

Where there is a will, there is a way. It works for booth good and evil.

Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company

www.selfdefensecompany.com Corporate Center
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VIDEO-Damian Ross, The Self Defense Company - Elbow Conditioning

This elbow conditioning drill comes from Module 6 of the Self Defense Training System called "Body Conditioning". This type of training has been used by almost every culture who has systemized method of empty hand combat. Over the years it was safer and easier to give combatants protective equipment, but in the real world you're not afforded that luxury, so you better prepare your body's natural weapons for the harsh environment of real world self defense. In Module 6, Damian shows you how to condition every (and we mean EVERY) part of your body to withstand the abuse of hitting and being hit.

You should be aware that this type of conditioning is the most overlooked type of conditioning in all the martial arts and self defense. The reason is simple: it hurts and if it's done incorrectly will cause severe injury. In module 6 of The Self Defense Training System you will be taken through a progression of drills that when done correctly will yield incredible results.

Enough of the sales pitch, forgive me, I've been writing ads all morning and it's embedded in my brain. Normal conditioning happens when you spar, grapple and train with your dummy, but to really take it to the next level, you want to start getting into this extreme conditioning. BTW, I know the word extreme is played out, but it's the best way to describe this training.

I should also mention that when you hit bricks, wood and iron, something happens to you psychologically that makes hitting flesh, bone and muscle not so intimidating.

Until next time, Train Honestly,


Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company

www.selfdefensecompany.com Corporate Center
www.theselfdefenseco.com World's Most Lethal Self Defense
www.legaluseofforce.com Police Combatives Training
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Damian Ross VIDEO: The SDTS Ground and Pound

The REAL combative "ground and pound". The ground and pound in MMA and ground and pound in the real world are a little different. In this clip Damian Ross of The Self Defense Company shows you what to avoid in a real life ground and pound scenario from Module 3 of the Self Defense Training System "Ground fighting for keeps.

The first problem with MMA ground and pound is simple, you have gloves, wraps and a soft mat beneath you. In MMA a straight punch is protected while in the street your unprotected fist can hit bone, ground or the hard concrete shattering knuckles and breaking wrists. To avoid this you want to condition your hands to deliver the strikes, use parts of your hands that can handle abuse like the edge of your hand or the heel and finally delver your strikes in more of an arcing trajectory. The edge of hand and hammer fist do this naturally while the heel of hand and fore fist must be trained a bit.

The other issue with the MMA ground and pound is that in the ring and in practice, you are trained to stop before your opponent is knocked out. This is done for safety reasons (as it should be) but you may literally "punch your self out" or punch yourself tired before your target is no longer a threat. With the combative or Self Defense Training System (SDTS) ground and pound you will train to move your target's cover and expose the real knock out targets before you get too exhausted. Because every one who's been there will tell you, your adrenaline will drain your energy in seconds, not minutes. You need to get your target under control, as fast as possible. Multiple threats and the real chance of your target being armed are your primary concerns. The longer the fight lasts, the worse it is for you.

I should mention that the preferred method for finishing a downed target is with your feet. But due to the realities of what really happens, it is hard to get past the impulse to mount your enemy and finish him the old school yard way.

Until next time, Train Honestly,


Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company

www.selfdefensecompany.com Corporate Center
www.theselfdefenseco.com World's Most Lethal Self Defense
www.legaluseofforce.com Police Combatives Training
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VIDEO-Damian Ross, The Self Defense Company, Yawara Stick Combinations

This yawara stick combination comes from Module 11 of the Self Defense Training System titled "Old School weapons and Tactics". The yawara stick originated in Japanese jujutsu and reached it's peak in modern day popularity in the 1940's when it was used for police work. The stick itself can be made out of a variety of materials and have different end shapes varying from sharp and pointed to smooth and round. The stick is not illegal to carry and when made of wood is easy to transport. It is and EXTREMELY effective tool for focusing the power of your strikes and dramatically increases the penetration of damage into your target. Even strikes to the body, arms and legs are tremendously painful. The stick can also be used n grappling situations to create space and cause extreme pain to your target as seen in Module 11 of The Self Defense Training System.

This types of weapons are incredibly easy to obtain and carry. Even a close ASP baton can be used in this manner. Anything that is hard and a little larger than the width of your hand can be...oh, that didn't sound right. You know what I mean. You don't have to get all tactical to "make" one. They're cheap anyway, this one cost all of $10.00.

The next important point I want to stress is that the body mechanics for use of the weapon remain the same, this is true for all of the weapons used in the Self Defense Training System. This is deliberate by design since it is in efficient, impractical and ineffective to train different body mechanics for different weapons when under stress you can only recall a handful of gross motor skills. The SDTS in this way is modeled after Japanese Jujutsu. Where jujutsu and even judo were based on the sword, the Self Defense Training System is based on Module 1, Essential Self Defense . Once those core moves are mastered, it is easy to move through the program. This is what has been proven to work time and time again. Learning a basic skill set and adapting it to any situation is the method of training that has the highest success rate in the field. It doesn't matter if you're in calculus class or on the football field. It's the person who understands the basics and how to adapt the basics quickly and easily to each situation that wins the day.

Until next time, Train Honestly,


Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company

www.selfdefensecompany.com Corporate Center
www.theselfdefenseco.com World's Most Lethal Self Defense
www.legaluseofforce.com Police Combatives Training
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VIDEO-Close Combat Stick Fighting Drill - Damian Ross, The Self Defense Company

This drill comes from Module 9 of the Self Defense Training System, "Weapons Offensive Tactics". In this clip, Self Defense Company CEO, Damian Ross demonstrates a simple yet devastating opening combination with the short stick or club.

n close combat it is much more effective to use the club with a two handed grip as seen in the video than what's normally taught. In fact, unless you are swinging a bat, axe handle or lead pipe, swinging the club is only advisable in a handful of situations. You don't need to be Rodney King to realize that there is not a lot of knock out power in swinging a night stick. Will it hurt, YES, will it eventually stop you, sure, but is it the most powerful and effective, absolutely not. Add to the equation that modern impact weapons designed for law enforcement lack any significant weight to supply enough knock down power. Weapons like the ASP are more designed for comfort instead of performance. Officers were tired of having to remove and replace their night sticks in their belts every time they entered and exited the cruiser.
Hey, I'm not saying they don't hurt, but when you're faced with a drug induced or emotionally disturbed person you are not gong to be happy.

There is a reason riot squads around the globe still use these types of two handed techniques, they work. Now they have even replaced the club with the riot shield (a little more humane) but the same combative movement and tactics none the less.

The reason two handed techniques work so well is simple, you can put more body weight and power behind the strike and the obvious reason is at close range t s impossible to swing the club at all. In Module 9 of the self defense training system we show you how to use the club in grabs, holds and even round situations. Nothing fancy, just what works.

Until next time, Train Honestly,


Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company

www.selfdefensecompany.com Corporate Center
www.theselfdefenseco.com World's Most Lethal Self Defense
www.legaluseofforce.com Police Combatives Training
www.familysafeprogram.com Keep Your Family Safe
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When you exhaust all other options, then what?

The following was inspired and borrowed liberally from the Gun Rights Roundup
by Buckeye Firearms Association

In Toledo Ohio, a thug has gone on an ugly and violent crime spree.

His technique is to prowl parking lots looking for an unlocked car he knows to be owned by a woman. He hides in the car then pounces when the woman gets in, robbing or threatening to rape the victim at gunpoint.

The advice from police? Lock your car doors.

That's sensible advice, but it doesn't address the central issue. What happens if the thug jumps you in the parking lot? Or what if he pulls out a gun while you're in a fast food store? This particular thug has done both.

The real message from Toledo police is that they can't protect you or prevent a crime. Your personal security is up to you.

Security experts will tell you to be aware of your surroundings and listen to your gut. If you see someone who appears out of place or threatening, you should take evasive action. That's fine as far as it goes, but if you're serious about security, you have to ask yourself an important question: "Then what?"

If you're aware of your surroundings, see a threat, and do everything you can to avoid a confrontation but can't, then what? If you lock your doors and turn on your security system and a bad guy breaks in anyway, then what? If you dial 911 and the operator tells you police will arrive within 10 minutes, but a criminal is threatening you now, then what?

Even if you own or carry a firearm, you must still get to your weapon. And if it's not in your hand, then what?

The don't ask, don't care mentality.

Police, government and corporations will NEVER advise you to use force to defend yourself. READ: NEVER. The last thing these organizations want is the liability of advising citizens to use force of any kind. Because of one simple reason: they don't want to get sued. Even if they're right, they will spend $495 per hour on lawyers to defend even the mere suggestion of taking a self defense course. In the end your safety is compromised because of their potential exposure for a law suit.

You are left on your own to sift through the confusing world of martial arts and self defense an industry more concerned with enrollment and sport than defensive tactics.

This is one reason that the Self Defense Training System (SDTS) is such a vital piece of the security puzzle. Once you accept the fact that your security is up to you, not the police, and after you take ordinary precautions to lower your risk, you must ask yourself, "Then what?"

This is also why we decided to let you try the program FREE for 30 days!No matter where you are, in your home or a deserted parking lot and encounter a violent criminal, the Self Defense Training System (SDTS) offers you an immediate and effective answer to the question "Then what?" And it doesn't take years to master and it will allow you to channel your will to survive.

The powers that be want to prevent you from having a good answer to "THEN WHAT?" question. They assume we're trying to turn people into violent killers. That couldn't be farther from the truth. We just want to make sure you have all available options by giving you simple and effective answers to tough situations. Whether you choose to use them is up to you.

It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Let the decision to become a victim be your choice and not the person pointing a gun in your face at 3 a.m.

Damian Ross
The Self Defense Training System
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Martial Arts
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Fight like a Spartan: 7 techniques is all you need

Fight like a Spartan: 7 techniques is all you need

In last episode of Deadliest Warrior on the History Channel "Spartan vs. Ninja". The Spartan weapons expert, a former Green Beret said that one of the advantages of the Spartan was that he really only had 4 weapons. Each weapon was designed with a specific purpose. This gave the Spartan a distinct advantage over the Ninja because he didn't hesitate trying to figure out which weapon to use. He knew that in specific situations he had only one choice. He learned how to apply his weapon to any situation. This is the same for self defense.

When you're life is in danger, just like the spartan, you don't have time to search or hesitate. Just like the Spartan, you need to be aggressive and effective instantly.
Like the Ninja, martial arts and combat sports fill you're head with hundreds of techniques. While in practice you may be able to perform these techniques with wiling partners, in the real world you simply will not have the time to react.

Below is the list of the first 7 techniques you will learn in the self defense training system:

Edge of hand
Heel of hand
Hammer fist
Foot Stomp
Driving knee
Low Front kick
Low Side kick

That's it. These are techniques that are simple, don't require a lot of time to master and make use of your core strength (they are also the ones that have been proven to work in the shortest amount of time).

Combined with the right tactics and training program, these techniques will be the mainstay of your arsenal. No fancy movements or scientific mumbo-jumbo, just what works.

don't get sucked into the martial arts myth that you need a lot of technique or a lot of time in training to defend yourself.

damian ross
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Actors From The "Unit" Mix It Up With The Self Defense Training System

It seems there is a lot going on in Afghanistan. SDC Professional Instructor LtCol Darren Poesel had the opportunity to have a few celebrities drop in on his class at Camp Eggers in Afghanistan.

They had the oportunity to mix it up with the troops and a few of the locals.

SDC Instructor LTCol Darren Poesel with
Max Martini From "The Unit"

Right plase at the right time...

So there I was getting ready for class this evening when a gentlemen in a USO shirt came up and started talking to me. As our conversation grew I asked him what he was doing over here and he mentioned that he was an actor (Max Martini) in the TV series The Unit. I replied, "I'm sorry, I had a TV, I might have recognized you". We both laughed and walked over to the Training Dummy and I started explaining to him what it is that I teach (The Self Defense Training System) and did some demo on the dummy. Then he started hitting the dummy with his boxing skills (while I filmed with my camera). Then another actor Robert Patrick came over and said "Oh, are you doing Krav Maga? No, I replied, this is more like the combatives taught to soldiers in WWII. Just as Robert started running on about how to do Krav Maga and street fight, when Animal (our hero from the Taxi situation) chimed in...No, no, no, you can't wind up with a punch or a kick, your assailant will see that a mile away, you need to lead with speed and follow with power, here let me show you. After he watched the actor stood back and said "Hey, I think you really have something there."

Max Martini (on the dummy) and Robert Patrick (brown shirt in front) from the hit show "The Unit" take some time from the USO show to train with SDC Instructor Darren Peosel ("Animal", the hereo from the Taxi Cab Incident, has his arms folded in the back)

As we finished our mini-class the actor Max said that he would be fighting in Dec on www.fightertips.com and that we should watch. Sure I said, then I wrote down www.theselfdefenseco.com and said he should drop by the web page and that if he was ever in Tampa or N.J., that he should come by and say hello.

"I'll do that" he responded.

S/F

Darren

Self Defense

Martial Arts

Krav Maga

damian ross

darren poesel

special forces combat

Middle Eastern Potholes

This footage was sent to us from SDC Instructor LtCol Darren Poesel USMC currently in Afghanistan. It's of an IED (or an old landmine) detonating as a convoy of the good guys rolls through.

I m sure you will agree, it is chilling to say the least. The soldier's commentary says it all.





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The De-escalation of force and the difference between resistance and attack. By Benjamin J. Campos

The application of force is a topic covered throughout a police officer’s career. Training begins academically at the academy, followed by practical “defensive tactics” and similar training. Recruits and candidates are instructed on techniques and their appropriate applications. However, as officers, we do not live in a text book, and anyone who has ever worked on the street can tell you that situations develop faster than most can recall data. It is important to highlight that knowledge and skill of this arena are not solely gained at the academy. There are many training programs, as well as books and authors on the topic which help prepare an officer for his/her tasks.

There are many situations in a police officer’s responsibilities that call for the responding officer to enter a situation low, and escalate as necessary. For example, a domestic disturbance where a husband and wife are verbally arguing might not be best solved by walking in and shouting. If we walk in and begin to yell, where do we go from there? A little verbal judo here might de-escalate the situation.
Another topic to begin this article that must be discussed is the difference between affecting an arrest of a resisting suspect, and an attack on a police officer. The easiest way to break this down is to ask the following: Is he trying to get away, or is he trying to attack me? In the first, your force must be directed to affect an arrest without injury to self, other officers, or innocent parties. In the latter, you must save yourself. You must go home at the end of the shift. You must win. You must counter attack.

Now how much force is reasonable? In attempting to affect an arrest, the textbook answer would be the amount necessary to get the job done. End of story. But how much force is reasonable when the resistor turns on you. How much is necessary when the suspect takes that swing, that kick, draws the weapon, or goes for yours?
This is not the time to decide if you have the capability in you to cause serious bodily harm. That decision should be burned into your mind from the moment you took that job. At the moment you feel threatened, at the moment you feel the reality set in, you have to already be engaged in battle. The appropriate response is to be in “kill or be killed” mode, and begin your attack with the initial intent to take it to the end if necessary. Here is where the title of this article “de-escalation of force” comes into play.

In verbal judo, we enter low and steady and calm. At this point, we can work up to where we need to be. When your life is on the line, you must begin the fight at the top level. You must be in kill mode and give nothing less than all the fight you have in you. As I say this, you might be thinking that you cannot, or that it is wrong to feel this way. But remember that we are all animals, and possess instincts and capacity beyond education. And also remember that this may be the call, this may be the fight that stops you from going home at the end of your shift. The one that gets your family a folded flag.

While applying all of the necessary physical, mechanical, or ultimately lethal force during this encounter, the situation may change. As this dynamic situation unfolds, the suspect may fight on, surrender, or be rendered incapable of fighting further. At this point, you may de-escalate if necessary, and keep the situation in the physical force/mechanical force sector. But the mental preparedness to exert lethal force must always be there, ready to emerge from your primitive brain without conscious decision. You must fight with everything you have, until you know that you are safe.

A good parallel to this is Firearm Training System (FATS) type interactive training. A scenario may present an armed suspect (shoot), who moments later drops the weapon (don’t shoot). Specifics change, and we must change with them. But one thing that remains the same, is that we must be mentally prepared to go as far as necessary to protect ourselves, or brother/sister officers, and the public.

This article proposes the polar opposite in handling physical attack vs. many other types of disturbances. It is important to mentally prepare for your job every day, and unfortunately in our chosen career, you must mentally prepare to kill someone every single day.

*It should be noted that the ideas in this article are that of the author, and do not represent explanation or interpretation of law (state or federal). All information is for informative purposes only, and students should seek legal guidance from their agency, legal advisor, or classroom instructor regarding the application of force.
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Benjamin Campos is a NJLEO
PTC Certified Firearms Instructor
PTC Certified Recruit Instructor
Use of Force / Weapon Applications
NRA Training Counselor
He can be reached for instruction HERE http://www.ShootSmartTraining.com

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Self Defense Training System "Tarantino Style"

This is one of three promotional videos shot for The Self Defense Training System. Each promo features long time Instructors Damian Ross, Peter Barry and Roger Jones. Each one of the promos was done in a classic action director style. This one pays omage to Quentin Tarantino. Special thanks to Paul and Steve at Redhouse Productions, Steve "Kobie" Jackson of Alston for the the music and Roger and Pete for the muscle.