Awareness & Avoidance

[Anonymous]

Good day (or evening) everyone. A question about an element of “Essential Self Defense” that is extremely important, but often not addressed well in self-defense courses. I’m new to the SDTS Program, but looking through it, I notice something that seems to be “conspicuous by its absence”… the critical areas of awareness and avoidance. Like some asset protection specialists would say, “If you have to actually protect your principle you have already failed the mission.” In our case, we (or family members) are the principle. Also presented as “A fight avoided is a fight won”. In almost every case, the attack begins long before the victim even realizes it (no awareness), and then doesn’t know he/she is being “interviewed” as a potential victim. I’d be very interested in modules where Damian addresses the pre-attack indicators to look for, how to ‘fail’ the victim interview, how to defuse a “hot interview” (aka “woofing”), Eye contact or no eye contact?, responses to typical ‘probing’ type questions (“what are you looking at?” “you got a problem?”, etc.). Aggressive vs. assertive vs passive behaviors that will determine whether you are selected as a target, or passed over for easier prey. How to provide the attacker an ‘honorable exit’?. And other tactical considerations like: Where do you position yourself when you choose a seat at a restaurant? (where you can see the entrances). Where to look at a possible attacker when he’s interviewing you? (his eyes aren’t going to attack you, what are his hands doing?). You get the idea. All of those essential elements that can determine whether a confrontation even happens in the first place. I’m sure with his background, Damian would have tons of useful info in these areas. I’m a new member and am very impressed with the physical stuff I’ve seen so far. The mental stuff can be even more important if it means the physical stuff (“plan B”) never comes in to play. I apologize if it is considered bad form for a new guy to ask this kind of question. It isn’t a challenge, only something that I think will improve upon an already excellent course.
Be well, Dave

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