Many of us would go through life and will never experience a violent encounter, and I hope you, dear reader, never have to. However, there is something to be said about being prepared, both physically and mentally, so that, if we were to meet such misfortune, we would be able to emerge from it with minimal harm. The martial arts are often touted to be useful for dealing with these situations, but even the best training isn’t adequate for every situation. Having the awareness of one’s surroundings and knowing how to keep yourself in an advantageous stance (keeping “the high ground”, as Obi-Wan Kenobi would say) can make the difference between getting home in one piece and losing one’s life.
I attended Kettering University for my undergraduate studies, which is located in Flint, MI. At that time Flint consistently ranked in the top 5 in violent crime rate per capita in the U.S., so I already had a heightened sense of danger, even if the immediate area near the campus was relatively safe. I heard stories of students getting mugged and/or shot at frequently, and the convenience store across the street from the campus center had the nickname of “Stop-and-Rob” for how often it was held up (I don’t even remember the actual name of the store). I learned not to loiter too long outside and stay in groups if we ever left after dark.
One evening after karate class I was walking home from the recreation center. Typically I would walk back with my roommate but for one reason or another I was walking alone in the dark. There are some street lights that light the way but there was one stretch of the sidewalk that is completely unlit. As I was making my way through this darkened road, I noticed there was a car getting ready to turn on the very street I was on, and I instinctively sprinted toward my house. I was able to get home without incident, and the car went harmlessly on to the next block. Looking back on this memory I sometimes feel a bit silly for having to run when there was no obvious threat, but I know that it’s always best to be safe and cautious rather than risk unknowns.
The situation around the Kettering University campus has improved greatly since I graduated, however that doesn’t mean the lessons I learned during my time there aren’t applicable to where I am now or may be in the future. I would say being aware of one’s surroundings and situations should be common sense, but frankly too many are not taught to have that kind of mindset unless they lived it themselves. I encourage you to supplement your training with mindfulness and recognizing the warning signs of life.
