6 Simple Street Survival Tricks

Deception is the hallmark of the criminal mind.  In order to survive against an aggressive criminal encroachment, average citizens must become familiar with the details of the criminal’s ruses and adopt deception and camouflage as a delivery system for survival.  Then, they must learn to counter the criminal’s tricks without compromising their own integrity.  This is where establishing a belief system comes into play- where you will be able to outline the appropriate immediate action plan taken when confronted by a sudden violent encounter.

Here are 6 simple tricks to add to your strategic arsenal at first contact: 

 

1.       Surprise the Enemy

In order to survive, you must be able to surprise your opponent.  By adopting a non-threatening posture and communicating in a non-aggressive tone, can cause him to relax his awareness and distract him momentarily.  This is where a sudden and explosive pre-emptive attack becomes a high percentage move exploiting him by surprise.  In other words, he never thought you were capable of such an aggressive counter.

2.       Attack a Vulnerable Line Left Unprotected

One must always approach an aggressive opponent carefully.  More often than not – while preoccupied with his next objective – he will have inadequately secured at least one of three lines of attack:

-        High-Line

-        Mid-Line

-        Low-Line

High-line vulnerable targets include the eyes and throat; mid-line is the groin and low-line is the shin and top of the foot.  If he puts his hands up, then attack the groin.  If he has bladed out sideways, protecting his groin, then kick him in the shin.  Remember, these are all just entries that need to be followed up by the appropriate use of force, which is always dictated by the scenario.

3.       Make Your Opponent Come to You

While it may sometimes seem advantageous to breach your opponent’s space, it is generally not a good idea.  Let him breach your space that is associated with entering an unfamiliar area.  As he moves towards you aggressively, intercept him while exploding with forward motion.  This way, you will end up “doubling the force” of your attack.   

4.       Use Natural Distractions in Your Environment to Confuse Your Adversary

There are many environmental distractions all around us that you can use to manipulate your adversary.  Many people espouse that it is only what you say to him that will create a cognitive drift (a brief mental disconnect causing momentary confusion), but these distractions can be caused by any of the five senses and influenced by what is going on in the environment.  Remember, you are just looking for a window of opportunity for an entry.  Loud noises, smells, crowds of people and odd occurrences can all help to distract your opponent giving you the opportunity for your attack or counter.

5.       Feints

An adversary will always reinforce whichever area of his body that he feels is threatened.  By doing this, he must reduce his awareness in other areas. So by faking on one line and then striking on another line opens some interesting opportunities.  Some simple faking combinations include:

-        Fake on 12 o’clock, strike at 6 o’clock

-        Fake at 6 o’clock, strike at 12 o’clock

-        Fake at 3 o’clock, strike at 9 o’clock

-        Fake at 9 o’clock, strike at 3 o’clock

 

6.       Circumvent the Odds

The greatest military planners of the world are not guaranteed with absolute victory from the outset.  Chance always enters into the equation and subsequently windows of opportunity must be sought and exploited.  You need to ask yourself these questions:

-        What would I do if my opponent had a weapon?

-        What if I was taken to the ground and pinned by a bigger and stronger adversary?

-        What would I do against multiple attackers?

If your main strategy is to “gallantly” address all of these scenarios with a series of safe empty hand tactics, then you need a BIG reality check.  It is these situations where you need to absolutely cheat with dirty tactics, learn to fight with weapons and be able to fight on the ground efficiently.

Sun Tzu's Art of War

The great Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu said:

“While following the rules of strategy and tactics be prepared to take advantage of circumstances not covered by conventional thinking.  If opportunities present themselves, then the leader should be flexible in his plans and adapt to the new circumstances.”

Until next time…

Dedicated to YOUR Survival

Joe