Self Defense:
The Weakness Of Strength
How An Aggressive Attacker Can Set Himself Up For Defeat
By Christopher Caile
He is angry, upset. He steps up to you barking insults, presses his chest
up into you and then takes a swing. He is looking for a fight and you
are it. His actions show he has lost control of his emotions.
This type of aggressor is ready to fly off the handle at the least perceived
challenge or insult. In response they try to control you by physical intimidation,
aggressive behavior, anger, and sometimes attack. Often too they cruise
looking for the weak and easily intimidated. You often see this behavior
around alcohol in bars and sporting events.
This type of aggression, the kind that leads to an assault, contains
its own weakness, its own seeds of defeat – the loss of control.
The roots of this personality type (assuming they do not have a mental
disorder) reflect internal conflict -- frustration, low self esteem, a
fragile ego and/or the inability to control a relationship with others,
such as with a spouse, or people at work or within their social environment.
This type of personality problem can also stem from internal anger, or
guilt generated from inability to control and shame over an addiction
– drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc.
Aggression is unleashed when this internal turmoil boils outward. He
finds compensation and emotional reward when he can control others --
in voice, in argument, in directed anger, in physical control or assault.
But the emotional reward from these ventures is momentary. Internally
they remain emotionally famished. External control can’t really
compensate. It only gives temporary relief.
The best way to avoid an assault from this personality type is to interact
non-emotionally, being careful not to feed their emotions by injecting
your own. By listening, by quiet redirection and patience, this type of
emotional confrontation can be reduced, if not avoided. But not always.
If the attack can’t be avoid, these people often exhibit a fatal
flaw in their attack. Their lack of emotional control creates a parallel
lack of physical control – the attack is often uncontrolled in an
attempt to make contact, knock out with a single punch, to strike out
and hurt – an attack which opens up the attacker to a counter. Wild
emotions can release wild actions. In short, the single minded strength
of their attack is also their weakness.
Thas is why traditional martial arts emphasize mental discipline and
mental control as well as physical control within technique. Thus kata
techniques are very disciplined and exact with form. Basic practice can
also be repetitious and difficult. Progress is slow and the process takes
sustained effort. Usually those seriously unbalanced find the effort frustrating
and discontinue training, but if they stick it out, it can help them control
and overcome their emotional issues.
By disciplining and controlling the mind and body you also discipline
your technique and actions. You don’t needlessly expose yourself
to counters, open yourself up or put yourself in a dangerous position.
Your actions even when countering are controlled and not wild and do not
overextend or overreach.
Thus, an important component of kata, free fighting and even self-defense
is your own mental and physical self-control. It is not enough to be powerful,
or strong – your strengths and actions must be measured by discipline.
If emotionally controlled, you are unlikely to be prompted into an attack.
You can also maintain an even voice and clear mind that does not feed
into and escalate emotions voiced by others. This dampens potential conflict
and aggression. You maintain control of situations by exercising control
over yourself. This way internal control becomes real power – a
method of its own self-defense.
Those who are humble are often the strongest, the most internally sure
of themselves and confident. There is no need for them to prove themselves
externally. Their calm demeanor and clear mind will serve them well.
About The Author:
Christopher Caile is founder and Editor of FightingArts.com
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