What are the one or two moves you should know?
I get this question a lot and the answer isn’t what you think.
First of all this question illustrates a huge problem in the world of self defense. You have been forced to learn moves or counters to specific situations. The more “moves” you know the better off you are.
This is bullish!t.
In fact the amount of moves you know has no bearing on your ability to protect yourself .
I’ll give you an example.

In every other system on the planet your training looks something like this: Attacker grabs your shirt collar, you practice a counter defense. Then your attacker grabs your throat and you practice yet another defense. He pushes you and yet another defense.
3 different defenses, for 3 different attacks, meanwhile all of those attacks could be defended against with one simple set of skills.
You train for every possible attack and the truth is, when your fight of flight mechanism kicks in all of that goes out the window. The problem is you won’t realize this until you’re really attacked since it is IMPOSSIBLE to recreate a life or death situation in training.
The reality is this: MOVES ARE NOT IMPORTANT. Tactics and Mindset are what’s important. Moves are just the method to implement those tactics and mindset.
Tactics
I always try reduce any possible situation to it’s base common denominator, then work from there.
First of all, no matter what type of attack it is, from a punch to a knife assault, an assailant must get to you.
How does this happen? Only one of two ways. He makes the approach, i.e., covers distance to get to you, or you give him the opportunity by

allowing yourself to get close to him, i.e., passing close to places of concealment, entering an unknown or confined area without assessment or unaware.
Realizing these two primary possibilities allows for you to plan a strategy, a tactical way of living that affords the best or most reliable mode of operation. Still, always expecting the unexpected!
Knowing a potential danger (a known rapist/assailant in the area), well, the old adage, “forewarned is forearmed” really applies. Collect your information and act accordingly.
Mindset
This may bother some people.
Some authorities like to say that you should become your own “police officer” or become your own “bodyguard”.
Well, try this attitude: Become your own “HITMAN” or should I say “HITPERSON”?
Sounds a little melodramatic, huh? But think about this for a second. Abject ruthless brutality, single minded ferocity, total commitment to your “objective”. BELIEVE that no matter how bad your assailant thinks he is, YOU are IN REALITY HIS WORST NIGHTMARE.
Here it is in a nutshell: Unless you kill me outright, you’re gonna wish to god or the devil you were never F#CKING BORN!
Some who have heard me say this respond: “That’s INSANE!”
I reply, “Yes it sure as heck is.”
Let me ask you, is a violent, potentially deadly criminal assault NOT INSANITY? It’s sure as hell ain’t “civil”. So fight fire with MORE INTENSE FIRE!
You’re NOT a victim, NOT PREY, NO, YOU’RE A PREDATOR FROM HELL!
You know all that rage and anger inside you?
Turn it into a IRON SPEAR and RAM it down his throat.
Now go Train.
Until Next Time…
Train Honestly,
Damian
Have your 12 set video library. Love it! Just all makes sense!
Really enjoy all the articles you post! Always a great read! You definitely have more than one talent! I’ll be sure to say hi to Bob XL for you!
Thanks Skip! If you want, we have a special offer for people who own the SDTS Combative Program. Fill out a support ticket or send me an email and I’ll give you the link if you’re interested.
You nailed it Damian. I have a muscle disease Upper body is weak but I make do. lower body is weak and unbalanced still train every day but always looking for ways to compensate for my weakness. Would love your opinions on this. Great article
All the training, martial arts or not, will do you no good without the above two, tactics and mindset. That is why, at SDC, we teach soft skills. This includes pre-flight, during the fight, and post-fight as well. The above two are part of the pre-fight skills. They are the reason we teach, “If you have to fight, you have already screwed up.” Using the tactics and mindset above you should be able to avoid surprise and get things stopped without violence. L-5
Seriously ? Kind of hard for flight. Glad the advice was free
Huh?
Point well taken. No attacker is going to grab you and then stand there waiting for your defensive countermove. If it isn’t already in motion, you’ve just lost round one (and quite possibly the entire fight).
Right on 100%! Even if you beat me it will cost you! Maybe more than you can afford. However, it has been my experience that practicing moves, throws, and strikes builds muscle memory, increases reflexes, and reduces response time. Even flowery stuff like sticking hands and Thi Chi can be great for teaching singleness of mind and movement in the face of terror. But be careful. I remember when I was 18 or so I was in a special school and we all went on a field trip. One of my teachers being friendly walked up behind me and without saying anything put his arm over my shoulders. It caught me off guard, and scared me. I grabbed his hand ducked under his arm and brought his arm up behind his back and dislocated his thumb. OOOps! That was my 18 year old Judo, Karate, Hungar, Wing Chung practice my moves single mindedness. Since then I have committed to increasing my awareness and balance.