“You can be the best martial artist in the world, but there’s a time and place to use your skills”
While martial arts can positively affect your life in many ways, there are a few mindsets you want to be cautious of as you begin to gain confidence. You can be the best martial artist in the world, but there’s a time and place to use your skills. If you’re met with an attacker and they’re demanding your wallet or belongings, just give it to them. It’s not worth risking your life, or at the very least a run-in with the law, by trying to fight; your training should only be used in a life-threatening situation with no other options. It may be tempting to think that you could defend yourself against this attacker, and there’s a possibility you could in the situation, but there are countless other variables that could arise that would escalate the danger even further. Maybe they have friends coming to back them up, or the attacker has a weapon. It’s always best to take the path of least resistance to getting out of the situation, your goal is to get away to safety as soon as possible.
Sometimes people feel as if they are as good as dead if the attacker has a gun, and overall, it is true that there is not all that much you can do to defend yourself against a gun. The reaction time it takes to pull the trigger is just too small of a window to get any movement in in hopes of a disarm, or any other technique in mind; the risk is way too high. However, there are a couple things to note that should give you a little bit of hope that you’ll leave with your life. It actually takes a decently high amount of skill to be able to shoot a gun and actually hit your target, especially if you’re moving. If you’re a decent distance away from the weapon, or you get a chance to make distance, running away in unpredictable serpentine patterns will further decrease your chance of getting shot. Additionally, if the assailant is inebriated of any sort, their aim will usually also take a hinderance. It’s important to not give up hope that your life is over, stay alert and aware.
Interestingly enough, I’ve heard some martial artists say that you should fear the attacker with a knife more than one with a gun. Any idiot can pick up a knife and start swinging and stabbing wildly, but there’s actual technique that goes into firing a gun and hitting your target. It’s a strange concept that feels counter-intuitive, but it’s something to ponder. Always be aware, and never give up.
