Chapter 2
Self Defense 101
I put all of the student at parade rest to keep them quiet. I had a lot to learn and so did they. They would be learning about the basics of self-defense and I would be searching for any telltale behaviors.
"Self-defense is essential in combat and important in everyday life. The key component most people miss is probably the most critical part. Most people disregard vital ability to be fully aware of what is around you. Your chances of surviving in a combat zone or an attack hinge on how aware you are of your surroundings." I paced in front of them.
Their cooperation earned them the opportunity to relax while I explained it further.
"Why is it so important to have a highly refined situational awareness?" I posed the question waiting for answers.
A young woman's hand shot up into the air.
"It's always good to know if there's any exits in case of emergency, sir." She answered confidently.
"You're correct. Having a means of escape can make the difference between surviving and dying." I acknowledged her answer.
Another hand appeared over a group of heads.
"Unsafe situations are avoidable if you go nowhere near them, sir. I've learned that if something seems off then it often is." The young man reasoned.
"That's another." I accepted the answer.
"The ability to recall details, sir. If you can describe what you have around you, a rescue is more likely." A voice blurted out.
His lack of courtesy annoyed me but still he had a strong point.
Every answer impressed me and also allowed me to have a greater insight into each student's personality.
"All of those answers are correct." I pointed out.
"It is always a good idea to find an egress route so that you won't get caught in a potentially bad position." I looked at the young woman first.
"And, yes, it's important to trust your instincts if a given situation feels wrong. Avoiding unnecessary risk eliminates your self-defense skills at times. Safe is always better than sorry." I looked at the young man who'd given me that answer.
"Knowledge of small but vital details about the environment around you and the assailant, or assailants, might be the expediting factor in your rescue. Those details just might save you and your team when faced with a life and death scenario." I finally addressed my last student.
I pulled the duffle bag of sparring gear within vision.
"Every single one of those steps should be memorized. They're practical and become natural over time." I unzipped the bag.
"One of the most useful rules of combat and of life is to never underestimate the power of your opponent. Whether it is on the battlefield or in everyday life situations, the mistake of underestimating what's in front of or around you will be costly. That person may know more about you than you know about them. You can't always be sure." I explained with authority.
I, myself, had learned that after facing off with some heartless criminals. Most of them were dead, of course. Each one of them had served to reinforce that idea. Every single one of them had left their mark on my memory and on my record book of what to avoid.
"Gender, height, weight, intelligence, and background are never the best ways to assess the threat your opponent is to you. Women can be as deadly and cold as any man. A short person can do as much damage, if not more, than a tall person. Skinny people can hide muscle that isn't obvious at first sight. A person of lesser intelligence can eliminate a genius with a little effort. Never ever overlook those skills." I had unpleasant flashbacks come back to my conscious thought after years of being forgotten.
"You in the back, front and center." I called a six foot tall kid.
He had the build of a linebacker and the intimidating height to add to it.
"When you look at the two of us, what do you see?" I asked the rest of the class.
I heard a chuckle coming from the back of the group.
"Okay Mr. Chuckles, enlighten me." I stared at him, annoyed.
"A very short match. You'll be out after one swing." His smugness couldn't have been more obvious.
"Come on guys. Look at the size of Staff Sergeant Braeden and Troy. We'll be needing another professor after this." He continued to laugh at my expense.
I couldn't disguise my smile. Mr. Chuckles was about to learn the lesson the easy way but it would still hurt. Humble pie never tastes good when you have it served specifically for you.
"Attack me." I challenged the giant in front of me.
His mock attack ended with him on the floor. I'd made sure that I didn't inflict permanent injury on the poor kid. It was just enough to teach Mr. Chuckles a point and squash any overconfidence that the linebacker might have had.
"I'll teach you the basics today. You'll practice each technique next class session. Everyone will take part." I heard the groans come from a few and noticed smiles on others.
"I will pair everyone up. You will be in teams of two. The best pair will be rewarded and the worst will also be rewarded. The difference in the reward is in the suffering that will follow." I noticed looks of determination on every face.
My linebacker put on protective gear and served as my visual aid. Before I knew it, it was time for them to move on to their next classes. Mr. Chuckles had been silenced. Linebacker left feeling pain of the experience physically and maybe to his ego.
I left campus after obtaining a class roster and reporting what I had seen to the dean. A little squinting might help to separate the likely suspects from the unassuming innocent.