This article is for the first group of people.

Here are 5 things that men should think about to defend themselves, in every day situations.

1. Plan your movements. Are you going out alone? Are you going out with someone you’re responsible for, like your children, your spouse, your girlfriend? What are the implications of having people with you? If you’re out with your girlfriend and a mugger walks up, is it more important to protect her or protect yourself? It might sound strange, but this is a real question men need to pose to themselves. Are you going to be driving with friends through a dangerous part of town, and are you or any one of them going to be drinking? How will you get there? Is walking going to lead you and your pals through a dangerous, gang infested neighborhood? Is your judgement going to be impaired, or are any of your friends/family going to effect what your movements are? Plan ahead.

2. Real life isn’t like the movies. Crimes happen quickly, and brutally. If a car jacker wants your car, the easiest way for him to get it is to shoot you and take it. Self defense training will only do you good if you see something coming and can stop it. Remember that in real life there isn’t going to be a dramatic set up, with building music and chatter between you and your opponent before the big fight scene. Know how life really works.

3. Hand to hand combat is decided quickly. It is rare that two opponents meet each other on even ground with similar backgrounds and training. An attacker will rarely walk up to you, announce his intentions, and do the John Wayne drawback before throwing a punch. My grandma could dodge that set up. A sucker punch comes fast, and you need to train yourself to be ready to move at the first sign of aggression. Austere training, in which you practice movements until you are conditioned and they come naturally, is great for this.

4. Adrenaline causes tunnel vision. Its very easy to get suckered into an argument or a situation where you are focussed entirely on a would-be assailant, and completely miss his buddy sneaking up behind you with a bar stool. In Dragon Kenpo we teach our students to continue to move and check around them even after a technique or move is completed, because we know that a great time for a counter attack is right after the fight. Don’t get sucked into only paying attention to one thing: That’s a great way to get your teeth knocked out.

5. Some people wont stop until you break them. There are plenty of crazy people in the world. Don’t get dragged into a confrontation with one. As a security guard and a bouncer, there were plenty of situations where normal people would have stopped trying to fight me long before these wackjobs did. A last strike felon, a psycho raging on steroids, or someone hopped up on methamphetamine is going to react COMPLETELY differently to your defense than someone who’s half cocked on whiskey and wants to show he’s a tough guy. Know that sometimes its best to simply turn and run. Sometimes you might get cornered and have to really hurt someone. Know these alternatives, and know what you’ll do.

There is no rulebook for street fighting. Bar brawls don’t have referees and rules. The best answer to these situations is to AVOID them. Don’t get lured in by tough talk and baiting tactics. Know that its ok to walk away. But, in the event that this is not an option, and you must react quickly and with force, train yourself to be able to move and think clearly. Use these tips to help you reach your self defense goals, whatever they may be.