The term ‘Mindset’ gets thrown around a lot in the self-defense and training community, and a lot of people don’t really understand it or articulate it well. Many of the “Survivor Mindset” and “Warrior Mindset” proponents talk about mental attributes as if they were bolt-on parts and once fully kitted out you will be ready. I would argue that it is a little more complicated than that.
Disregard the irrelevant. Mindset is less about adding attributes than it is about stripping away the irrelevant. Most of our daily lives are spent focusing on things that don’t really matter. Paying the rent seems really important, unless you put it up against something like breathing. Embarrassment, fear, and other emotions are just that – emotions. Get back to thinking about the mechanics of the situation.
There aren’t any rules. People are hampered in real self defense scenarios by the rules we normally live by. They don’t realize that all doors marked ‘employees only’ are now available for their use. They don’t see the sidewalk as drivable terrain, or that stoplights are simply suggestions in an emergency. They are conditioned by the rules that we live under to a point of mental paralysis.
Take action. Many victims reach a point in the encounter where they quit. As soon as they are emotionally and mentally overwhelmed they curl up on the ground in an instinctive surrender posture. This leaves all of the decision making up to the assailant. Make a decision and execute. The earlier you begin to take action the better.
Discard and run. Unless it would mean abandoning someone you care about, focus your efforts on getting out. If that means breaking things then do so. If that means leaving behind stuff, then that stuff can be replaced later. Make sure that anything you need for your escape is on your person (car keys, cellphone, etc.) because you might not have the luxury of rummaging for it.
Make the assailant fear for his safety. If you are fixed in a location because running didn’t work or wasn’t viable then fight. Fight dirty. Use whatever is a hand. Environmental weapons are not only things you can hit the attacker with, but things you can hit with the attacker. Shove him into traffic, slam him in a door, throw a chair. Improvised weapons aren’t a very good substitute for real weapons, but can be better than nothing.
Spend no time thinking about losing. Losing is what was happening before you started doing something. Even if the assailant is tough enough to beat you, he might not be committed enough to continue after he his hurt. Statistically people who fight back have better outcomes than the people who quit.
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