Personal security and self-defense training classes are grabbing a foothold in the wellness and fitness industry. Evasion, redirection, loosening and escape techniques and specific conditioning for self-defense provide new opportunities to infuse your current conditioning and boot camp activities. But there’s much more you can teach your clients about being safe.

Tim Rochford, the creator of the Proactive Personal Security system, identifies four progressive strategies for dealing with an aggressor:

• Recognize and avoid conflict
• Deal with conflict verbally
• Exit or depart from the conflict
• Defend from the conflict physically

“To be safe is 90% awareness, knowledge, self-esteem, attitude, confidence and choice. 10% is strategy, de-escalating language, physical defense tactics and protective tools and technology.”

Recognize and Avoid Conflict
Become educated about and aware of potential conflict situations during specific routines and activities. Learn to recognize potentially negative confrontations and avoid those situations when possible. If you are unable to remove yourself from a threatening situation, remain calm and aware.

Deal with Conflict Verbally
This means communicate, verbally and nonverbally.

Maintain a clam and confident appearance
• Stay physically balanced on both feet and keep your shoulders squared to the aggressor.
• Speak calmly and be empathetic (not sympathetic).
• Prepare for movement.
• Move your limbs slowly when speaking or listening.
• Act as if you know the aggressor. Recognition may create uncertainty and can disrupt the aggressor’s plan.
• Cooperate with the aggressor without increasing the danger of the situation.
• Exit or Depart from the Conflict

Always leave the area of conflict quickly, if possible. Avoid getting into a vehicle or going to an unknown building with an aggressor. Going with an aggressor eliminates any control you have over the situation.

Defend from Conflict Physically
The very last recourse is to fight! All attempts should be made to resolve the conflict peacefully. Make noise if possible – yell FIRE (not help). Everyone will rush to see a fire, but not many want to get involved to help in a conflict. If aggressive action must be taken, there can be no delay or hesitation once the decision has been made. You must instantaneously decide how to strike, where to strike and what to use when striking. Do not stop the attack until the attacker retreats or is completely subdued. Then exit immediately and contact authorities.

To gain more insights and skills for improving your self-defense tactics, join Tim Rochford as he demonstrates attack evasion movements.

Go to Empower Self Defense for more information on Tim Rochford’s CE course.