The word “how” appears frequently in self-defense related
questions and answers as in
“How do I defend myself from X?” and “This is how you defend yourself from Y.”
“How do I defend myself from X?” and “This is how you defend yourself from Y.”
Typically, this “how” refers to some physical technique
someone can employ when being “attacked” in some manner. This is the “Simple How”. When the Simple How is used in questions, it
leads to simplistic answers.
The “Complex How” takes
into consideration that how is actually
a multi-faceted question that needs to take into consideration “who, what, when, where, and why”. For
example, how you effectively defend
yourself, requires the use of the Complex
How.
Who are you? What are your physical, mental, and emotional strengths and limitations?
Who is the other person? What are his or her physical, mental, and emotional strengths and limitations?
Who are you? What are your physical, mental, and emotional strengths and limitations?
Who is the other person? What are his or her physical, mental, and emotional strengths and limitations?
Who are you with?
Who else is involved? Who are your responsible for besides
yourself?
What are the
circumstances of the attack? What
are you in the process of doing? What is
your level of experience? ‘What are
some of your skills? What are your weaknesses? What options do you have? What
might have you done to provoke this attack? What might you have done to avoid it? What is the motivation level of the attacker? What is your motivation level to defend yourself? What type of weapons may be involved?
When is this “attack”
taking place? When will your
response make the situation better? When
will it make it worse? When will
your response get you into legal trouble? When will it be considered legally justified?
Where are you at
the time of this “attack”? Where is
a place of safety? Where are others
who could assist you? Where are
other potential assailants located? What
are the Rules of Behavior
specific to where you are located?
Why is this
person attacking you? What is his or
her motivation? What would be an
effective deterrent strategy? Why
might this strategy work? Why might
it not work?
The above questions are not a complete list. They
demonstrate the use of the Simple How
from the Complex How.
Which one do you usually use?
