A few days ago, I stumbled upon a video of one of the Gracie family members (of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu academy) addressing the “new” Knockout game. This “game” has gained popularity due to YouTube, news and social media sites. The game’s objective is to see if one is able to knockout a complete stranger with a single punch. The idea behind this game is absolutely terrifying. The victims have been old women, a father, literally anyone could be attacked. Some have even died because of this “game.” My intent is not to scare or put you, the reader, in a state of paranoia; instead I wish to simply illustrate, what I believe to be one of the most important topics of self-defense. The video below presents this beautifully:
99 % of these…type of assaults can be prevented without having to make physical contact with anybody.
-Rener Gracie
Spatial awareness is of paramount importance in every day life. Simply being aware of a potential threat may prove to be the difference between life and death. Gracie’s video mainly focuses on the Knockout game. I insist, his points are valid for every moment of life.
Our homes purpose themselves as personal safe havens. At the end of the day, I will retire to my abode. Why? Because my home is safe! We all take precautions not to be victims while at home. Locking the door, or even having locks at all, are preemptive measures made to not victimize ourselves. Awareness within the home is still important. In the most extreme situations (e.g. home invasion, angry/drunk ex-boyfriend, etc…) we must be aware of our surroundings within the house. Where can I take cover, hide, or run to in the gravest of extremes? As soon as we leave our houses though, the level of awareness must be elevated because we can’t control as much and we may not know our surroundings as well as we know our homes.
When I walk into a restaurant, my first course of action is to observe the atmosphere, find all the exits (to the best of my ability), and either sit facing the door or facing the area with the most traffic/action in the restaurant. Why? Again, in the gravest of extremes, I choose life! I would rather run and live, than panic and be a victim of some sort. Suzanna Hupp put things in perspective for me.
Many situations and locations require attaining and maintaining a high level of awareness. Doing so may not always be easy, however I would rather not be another “sheep” in the crowd. I do not necessarilly have to make myself a “wolf,” but we must be mindful of potential predators.
Paranoid much? Possibly. I’m okay with it though.
Well, that’s my two cents for now.
-Daniel M.
Defensive Canon 