Is Your Self-Defense Training Based in Reality?

Rory Miller explains seven essential elements that must be addressed to adapt your self-defense training for common types of street violence. Any training that dismisses these areas leaves you vulnerable to a potentially deadly assault and may even set you up for legal consequences. Here's a breakdown of these critical components:

1. Legal and Ethical Implications:
Every martial artist must understand force law and explore their ethical boundaries. Mr. Miller helps you examine these issues so you can identify your personal ethical line, a critical yet often-overlooked aspect of self-defense training.

2. Violence Dynamics:
Many martial arts and self-defense classes fail to train for reality-based violence, neglecting how real-world attacks typically occur. Mr. Miller teaches you to anticipate attacks before they happen and recognize the type of threat you're facing.

3. Avoidance:
Escape, evasion, verbal de-escalation, and situational awareness are essential skills for staying safe. You will learn practical strategies to avoid dangerous encounters altogether.

4. Counter-Ambush:
If you're caught off guard by a sudden attack, you need a set of reflexive actions prepared and trained to respond instinctively to violent situations.

5. Breaking the Freeze:
Freezing during an unexpected attack is common, even for experienced professionals. Students must learn to recognize and overcome this freeze to react swiftly and effectively.

6. The Fight Itself:
Training must align with the realities of violence. Mr. Miller emphasizes the importance of preparing for how fights genuinely unfold outside controlled environments.

7. The Aftermath:
Engaging in violence, regardless of justification, can carry significant legal, psychological, and medical consequences. Understanding and preparing for these outcomes is essential for anyone serious about self-defense training.

Whether you are a self-defense instructor, student, or someone seeking a deeper understanding of violence, the insights provided in this program are invaluable.

Length: 2 hours & 9 min.