When the Unexpected Packs a Punch...or Blade
How to be better prepared...
This post was actually written some time ago, on a March 15th, the Ides of March and so it felt appropriate to start it off with this quote from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.....
'No one is so brave that he is not disturbed by something unexpected.'
It's worth taking heed of Caesar's words. Caesar had faced many battles. He excelled as a military commander and invariably was a brave man. I recall the story of how when captured by pirates and held for ransom, he maintained a steady sense of calm, as he engaged with his captors. Later upon release, he also hunted down these pirates of the Aegean sea, quelling their marauding activities and ending them...
Looking closer at Caesar's words, indeed it can be the case that even someone who is of robust disposition or well trained, can be disrupted by the unexpected. I don't just mean in relation to a street scenario but also in terms of what life can send our way.
The point is we can get caught off guard, caught by surprise or be genuinely shaken by a sudden incident or piece of news. The unexpected can pack a punch.
Even a seasoned warrior can drop their guard...
Part of the resilience tier of Tri-Tier is exploring ways of quickly re-calibrating. Effective training drills can be helpful, when the unexpected comes in some physical form. There are ways to flow, ways to restore balance or breath and find centre, under pressure. Internal training methods can also be of some help here.
Street aggressors will utilise the unexpected to gain advantage over their target. Also, when we address edged weapon scenarios, I will often mention how in the urban environments- surprise attacks and blades can be a problem. Noting how Caesar met his end, he survived so many battles, only to be ambushed and assassinated in Rome. The unexpected blow...
Given that this is Elusive Ways, let's return to the theme of self-protection. Let's take a look at how the unexpected is used in some of the martial arts and in the fight dirty realm of the streets...
The U Turn:
Sometimes a street aggressor will walk past the targeted person. There may still have been a hostile exchange or a bludgeoning glare...maybe even a shoulder barge. Then, the aggressors carries on walking.
The other party may just they had a close shave or an unpleasant moment that's marred their leisurely summer afternoon stroll but they think they're now free from that passing cloud of aggression. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the attacker returns now storming in with momentum and malicious intent. The other party did not see them coming. The unexpected has left them off guard.
A Casual Projectile:
A person working in retail finds themselves in a tense verbal exchange, with someone who has been shoplifting. Aggression levels are rising. They are caught off guard, when the thief closes in with a jacket grab or strangle, driving the shop assistant backwards. Why? The aggressor was simply holding a packet of frozen meat but this is what they first throw, at the shop assistant's face.
This was not a glass bottle or a brick but it was a sudden unexpected action that caused the the assistant to freeze. When someone is in rage mode, anything can get hurled at the target; even seemingly harmless items.
Concealed Blades:
In some of the South East Asian fighting arts, intricate hand movements, deceptive ploys, unpredictable rhythms and feints are just some of the combative tricks that the fighter may use.
Many of these systems place a great focus on weapons, so the practitioner will attempt all kinds of surprise attacks to get an edge. They see the fight as taking place under law of the jungle. They will also sometimes keep hidden blades that emerge very suddenly. The blade may be small and the drawing of the weapon may be masked by the intricate hand movements.
The Delayed Ambush:
This is similar to the sudden U Turn but the time frame might be extended. Door Supervisors sometimes have to watch out for this, or even those who get into some heated exchange in social venues, such as a bar or club. Here the aggressors may seemingly fade into the night or out the venue, but they wait outside, where they can use the night, blind spots and the element of surprise, to catch the targeted person by suprise.
Situational awareness is once again essential. Threats don't always just walk away without a clash.
Prepare for Unexpected Situations. Harness the Unexpected...
In the personal safety courses, attendees are also reminded how the unexpected can be used to one's advantage, when trying to get out of a bad situation. It can create a distraction or confuse the opponent. Maybe, it can also be helpful in other areas of one's life, to do something unexpected...
Whether you're involved in the martial arts or a more specific tactical role, study the unexpected. Incorporate it into training drills. Understand how it exposes one's vulnerabilities. See what you can do when the unexpected is that first move, made against you. How does one bounce back? How does one see or sense the unexpected and spoil his plans.
How you adapt to the unexpected will also depend on the circumstances through which it has appeared. The time factor must be considered. Is a fast recovery needed or a more reflective regrouping?
It may be that the impact and effects of the unexpected’s sudden arrival may have to be processed or addressed once the immediate threat is handled.
Sometimes a retreat may be needed, to give one time and space to re-calibrate. Either way, restore breathing, restore alignment, return to centre.
More likely though, in life, is that there may be that time when the unexpected, far away from rare moments of primal survival, will come in some other more pervading way. When it arrives, it may induce uncomfortable emotions and test our spirit, not just mind and body.
For this reason, my feeling is that a significant part of...not just our training time but also how we live and interact with others, should allow us opportunities to realise and embrace our spirit.
Aran
About the author
Based in London, Aran Dharmeratnam is the founder of Tri-Tier. He specialises in personal safety and training, often working with high-profile figures and their families. With experience in various areas of the security sector, Aran also works with global security companies involved in private investigations and strategic intelligence. He’s been deployed on the ground, in numerous cases. Aran’s insights have appeared in The Financial Times, The Spectator, Aviation Security International, and Security Management Today.
For consultations or training contact: office@tri-tier.com