Instinctive Catastrophe!

Instinctively, most of us move away from danger not towards it.

From time to time I have observed encounters in kumite practise where the fighter on the defensive has turned away from the attack – a de facto surrender. Ironically this instinctive reaction usually increases the level of danger, not reduces it. Hoisting the ‘white flag’ is only a valid option if it’s going to be accepted by your opponent and hostilities brought to an end as a result. For the avoidance of doubt I am working on the premise that this is not going to happen. After all, if surrendering worked, we could frustrate every potential attacker by simply shouting “I give in” at the outset thereby deftly avoiding the need to fight back!

So the fight is on and your attacker is in full flight!

In the face of a committed attacker the consequences of a surrender are potentially catastrophic: in kumite in the dojo, or in a contest, the opponent will be able to seize this opportunity to win the fight by landing controlled blows. You lose the fight, but you do live to fight another day; so it’s not that catastrophic. In a real situation the attacker will seize the opportunity to kick and punch you to the floor (and grind you into it like his discarded cigarette stub), or injure you at will using the knife or other weapon they were brandishing. Now that would be a catastrophe in my book!

You simply cannot surrender and hope that your attacker takes mercy on you. You might be lucky; your attacker may be a ‘benevolent thug’ and help you to your feet, but I doubt it, and it’s a big risk to take. The consequences of being wrong are grave, and let’s face it, the evidence of the attacker’s behaviour so far, strongly suggests the very opposite! 

So what’s the answer?

Don’t surrender. Develop a ferocious martial attitude and fight ‘tooth and nail’ to gain the upper hand. Even if you’re attacker is raining blows on you maintain an active and aggressive defence by covering up and weathering the storm if necessary.

You must keep fighting even if the situation feels hopeless; the alternative is considerably worse.