Self Defense and Intervening

I am all about helping others….it just needs to be done smart. SGT Strong in his book Strong on Defense talks about the many times in his career he pulled up on a man dying in his wife’s arms after playing the hero, and how heartbreaking that was. First and foremost unless you are a cop or firefighter never take any risk for material things, even your own. In my real world violence lecture I talk about how much smarter women are then men. If a woman is in a house and hears someone messing with her car or other property she will stay behind locked doors and call the police. If a guy is in the same situation he will rush out to confront the thief. How can we possibly know what we are walking into? It could well be three or four of them with weapons who just don’t give a crap about life and have killed before…for less. Property isn’t worth being the hero over!!
There are things worth risking life and limb for. It seems that most of America doesn’t want to risk anything for anyone. In SGT Strong’s book he talks about a woman who was abducted and tortured for weeks. She escaped once from the scumbag’s car on a highway as she was being moved. She ran down the highway and he chased her, grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back to the car. Not only did nobody stop to help, nobody even called the police! There are times to intervene…but it is dangerous to do so. I’m not talking about standing up for a lady’s honor in a bar because some biker slapped her on the rear. You aren’t the protector of the world. However, if someone is being seriously injured, even if a stranger, it is probably time to jump in.
When you do have to intervene, there are things to keep in mind.

1.  Just like with self protection when it is go time you go with all you have.  You go extreme and you go ballistic.  If you think that your response may be too extreme you shouldn’t be intervening.  Keep the pressure on and go until you and whoever you are helping are safe.  This is usually when the scumbag is knocked unconscious!  We aren’t looking to restrain or put in a “come along” type of joint lock.  If that is all that needs done nobody was in very much danger.  What are you going to do after you have them in a joint lock….walk them to the courthouse?  What do you do when his buddy shows up, let go and have two to worry about?  Unless you are law enforcement, a bouncer or a school teacher don’t “control” with a joint lock!  Do major damage with the goal being get the heck out of there.
   

2.  Keep the attacker in sight but don’t have tunnel vision.  It makes sense not to take your eyes off of the threat.  Watch his hands, are they going to his pocket for a weapon (keep in mind that every scumbag carries at least a blade)?  Is he heading for the pool cues?  Does he appear to know how to fight?  Although you have to watch him you can’t have tunnel vision and see only him.  Everyone, even scumbags, have buddies.  When you jump in they will jump you.  Again, go hard with the goal being to get yourself and the victim out of there.
   

3.  Be safe.  Anything goes.  If you are in a fight to save a life (and it’s yours that you are trying to save as well when you insert yourself into the problem) anything goes.  If the situation calls for it hit them with the car you are driving.  Pick up a brick.  Use whatever you can get your hands on.  Again, if you think what you are doing may be too extreme, the situation wasn’t bad enough to put yourself into.
   

When you have no choice but to put yourself into a bad situation to save another; be smart about it. Look at the threat as targets. If you look only at targets it doesn’t matter how big they are, how mean they look or even what they are doing to you. You see targets that need hit…and hit them as hard as you can. Remember to constantly be looking to disengage and get yourself and the person you are helping to safety. BE SAFE!