Conflict  is inevitable...combat is optional

How we view the world will certainly affect the way we might approach our Martial Arts training.

If we are prepared to believe that there may be a threat on every street corner then our Martial Arts techniques will probably be different to a person who might view the world through rose-tinted glasses. The bottom line is that violence is ugly and unpalatable. There is nothing redeeming about it at all. Violence doesn’t solve anything but the reality is that on some occasions, violence is the only option left to us. Self defence is warfare in miniature. The rules are very much the same.

If a country decides to go to war then usually they have exhausted all other options before they resort to bloodshed. They know if they take this final option that no matter what happens, there will be consequences and repercussions to their actions.

When it comes to personal defence, it is no different. If you train in a combat system and become proficient in it then you carry a great responsibility in how and when you might use it.

In this day and age, we can encounter conflict almost anywhere.

If you for instance socialise in the city centre pubs and clubs, conflict and violence may be higher on the menu than if you drink in a quiet country pub.

But we cannot be so naive to think that we are a 100% safe wherever we go.

Danger and violence can suddenly explode from the most unexpected sources and when it does, we have to be prepared to deal with it.

Firstly, cerebral self defence is better than physical. If you practise Martial Arts for self defence purposes and you are only training the physical aspects, then you have a problem. If your first line of self defence is punching somebody in the mouth, then you better start searching for other options quickly.

I am amazed that a lot of good Martial Artists cannot use sound tactical verbal dialogue to diffuse a potentially violent situation. Because they are confident in their physical skills, they will wade into a situation in an aggressive or confrontational manner as if looking for the excuse to unload their favourite technique.

Now if you are really good at the right cross, elbow strike, kick or choke, unless it is justified, you will be putting your Martial Arts skills to daily practice in the shower of one of her HMS prisons.

When we look at our forces, police and security world they all have very good physical training but their first options are to always diffuse and negotiate. They will do everything to try and reach a peaceful conclusion. If this is not to be, they will then judge their response on the threat level they are facing. In the case of the police, do they move from negotiation to assertion to restraint to cuffing or do they deem the use of CS gas or the ASP baton? Circumstances will dictate their actions. They are trained to make the right decisions. We as Martial Artists should also be trained and skilled to make the right decisions.

It is not always easy but if you are serious about your training, you must do this.

Remember, physical response is always the last option. I know as a young man in my twenties training in some pretty hardcore stuff, I was walking around like a ticking time bomb daring for somebody to kick off so I could use my new found and hard earned skills. That was a dangerous thing to do.

As I got older and had a wife and children to think about, suddenly I was more wary of losing my liberty to some meaningless fight.

Although I would ferociously defend my family to the death, I wasn’t going out of my way to court conflict. Instead, I started to avoid it.

The more I practised Martial Arts and the better I got at it, the more reluctant I was to use it outside of the controlled arena.

In fact, I got to the stage when after testing myself thousands of times in the controlled arena; I got to even dislike hurting somebody in training.

I realise a lot of these things come with age. We all learn by our mistakes.

Now in my mid- fifties, I still train and teach but outside of this violence doesn’t interest me. It no longer excites me. I don’t watch many DVDs now on fighting or MMA etc because I have done them to the death. Martial Arts/Self protection is my job and has been a massive part of my life.

If I get a person come to me for training, I will try and teach the principles the right way, building layers of self protection skills, tactics and strategies before we get too the physical.

I will impress upon the individual this really is the last straw. It is like pulling a firearm out and cocking the trigger preparing to fire. There is no going back.

In this instance, if you need to know the most vicious and potentially lethal response to a life threatening situation, I will show you them because now you will have justification on your side.

Over my 40 + years in Martial Arts, I have unashamedly, hunted down and trained the most destructive methods of how to inflict pain on another human being with and without weapons. I have made a life time crusade out of it. I got very good and very knowledgeable at it.

Violence doesn’t frighten me anymore but I don’t like it and will go the extra mile to avoid it because nobody wins a fight.

As an instructor or serious student of Martial Arts, I feel this should be your first priority. It is the right approach and the professional approach. Being prepared to fight is different than wanting to fight. Don’t ever mistake kindness for weakness. Some of the kindest people I know can be absolute monsters if pushed to the ‘dark side.’

We don’t have to walk around dragging our knuckles, snarling and wearing the fight T shirt to be true warriors.

When it comes to using violence we will be guided by the legal law of the land but also our ethics, morals, beliefs and codes. These will differ with each individual in what they believe is right or wrong or acceptable. Be aware and respectful of this.

As president Roosevelt once said, “Walk softly and carry a big stick.”

Remember, sometimes conflict may be inevitable but combat isn’t.

Peace.

Kevin O’ Hagan