| There are a lot of self defense systems that | | | | |
| claim you will be able to learn how to fight, | | | | - Does the system teach verbal conflict |
| but each and every self defense system will | | | | resolution? |
| have a different interpretation of what fight | | | | |
| means to them. Some systems believe that a | | | | - Does the system practice and teach dirty |
| fight is a sports orientated match between | | | | tactics such as eye gouges? |
| two people, others a wrestling match on the | | | | |
| ground. However, is this a true reflection of | | | | - Does the system practice tactics from |
| what the common person is searching for when | | | | standing, knee high and on the ground? |
| wanting to learn how to fight? | | | | |
| | | | - Is the primary edge weapon and impact |
| If you are like most people you are probably | | | | weapon defense tactic to grab the limb? |
| looking for a RBSD (reality based self | | | | |
| defense) system that deals with grabs, | | | | - If learning firearm defense, does the |
| punches, kicks, weapon attacks etc. | | | | trainer have any credible firearms training? |
| Situations that happen in real life, | | | | |
| tournament matches. Situations that dictate | | | | - Does the school train in shoes? |
| street survival tactics not sports orientated | | | | |
| techniques. Remember, sport has rules and | | | | If you have answered yes to all of these you |
| boundaries, it is a fair and even playing | | | | have probably found a good self defense |
| field. In the street there are no rules just | | | | school. Although you will be the final judge |
| your survival at stake. | | | | because these are just guidelines. |
| | | | |
| Unfortunately, finding a good RBSD system can | | | | Remember a good self defense training system |
| be like finding a needle in a hay stack. I | | | | covers all possibilities that may happen in |
| have compiled some good guidelines below to | | | | the real world. This includes compromised |
| help you make the right choice when choosing | | | | positions like knee high and ground tactics. |
| a RBSD system | | | | A good system will make sure that everything |
| | | | is realistic and that you are attacking |
| - Does the instructor have any real world | | | | targets on the body that will allow you to |
| experience? | | | | escape and evade the situation as quickly as |
| | | | possible. |
| - Is the teaching method easy to learn and | | | | |
| logical? | | | | Your primary aim in learning how to fight is |
| | | | to protect yourself. It doesn't have to look |
| - Does the system cover both attack and | | | | good to be effective. Always remember that |
| defense with all weapon systems? | | | | movies are movies and what you see there is |
| | | | not a real fight. Real fights are dangerous |
| - Does the system keep kicking as low as | | | | and messy by nature due to all the |
| possible? | | | | unpredictability of the situation. Sport |
| | | | fights are clean due to all the |
| - Does the system teach you mental training | | | | predictability, after you both follow rules |
| aspects? | | | | in sport. |