DLS Weekly Progress
75%
Recap on – Strikes and defense, human body, pressure points, Body Positioning, Ranges, grabs, holds, chokes, Survival skills – weaponizing yourself, close quarter techniques, multiple defenders, Deadly Force, Daily Wear and ground work techniques
Multiple defense and Crowd Phycology – positioning and awareness
The beauty of the human brain is endless. As we stated before – self-defense is a way of life and not just something you do just to while away time.
The human brain wants to survive and will remember what it needs to move past danger but it MUST be maintained – this can be done by recapping some mental scenarios, by reading more books on self-defense or body language, by actual physical practice of the moves and techniques regularly. Staying positive and incorporating most of the self-defense drills in your daily fitness routine keeps you always ready without you even knowing (muscle memory).
: Mental resilience is as critical as physical strength in self-defense. Strengthening focus and mental agility allows for quick, clear decision-making under stress, reducing the risk of panic or hesitation.
Exercises:
Building and Maintaining Muscle Memory
Training Techniques: Repetition is key for developing muscle memory, enabling your body to react instinctively under pressure.
Drills: I. Shadow Boxing: Practice defensive and offensive self-defense moves without a partner to reinforce technique. II. Partner Drills: Work with a partner, focusing on specific techniques through repetitive practice. III. Reaction Drills: Have a partner randomly simulate attacks to test and reinforce your defensive responses.
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Maintaining your training and state of mind-
The beauty of the human brain is endless. As we stated before – self-defense is a way of life and not just something you do just to while away time.
Speed and Reaction Time drills
Most martial artists have conditioned parts – conditioned in the sense that a particular part of their body has been worked on or modified with training and practice to receive double the resistance. This is not a martial arts class and keeping your body conditioned for physical confrontation is not our goal.
Body Conditioning and Readiness
Goals: Improve speed, strength, and Reaction Time for enhanced response in high-stress situations.
Conditioning Exercises:
Example Physical Drills:
Drills I. Cognitive Drills: Pair up with a partner to practice memory, visualization, and pattern recognition exercises. II. Muscle Memory Drills: Engage in regular shadow boxing and reaction drills, focusing on technique and responsiveness. III. Conditioning Drills: Perform strength and agility exercises with a partner, motivating each other to push harder and improve endurance.
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By regularly practicing and refining these techniques and conditioning exercises, you’ll maintain a high level of readiness, staying both mentally and physically prepared for self-defense situations.
Section Assignment Assignment 1: Shadow Boxing Practice · Spend 10 minutes practicing your self-defense techniques (e.g., Strikes, blocks, and escapes) in front of a mirror. · Focus on smooth transitions and maintaining proper form. · Write a reflection on which moves felt instinctive and which need improvement. Assignment 2: Physical Conditioning Challenge · Perform the following circuit 3 times at home: o 10 push-ups o 15 squats o 10 burpees · Record your time for each circuit and aim to improve daily. Reflect on how this conditioning supports your self-defense training. Assignment 3: Mental Focus Exercise · Practice 5 minutes of visualization daily. Choose a potential self-defense scenario and imagine your response step by step. · Write down one scenario you visualized and the techniques you used. Reflect on how this exercise helped build your confidence. |
Body Conditioning and readiness – speed and Reaction Time drills: Most martial artists have conditioned parts – conditioned in the sense that a particular part of their body has been worked on or modified with training and practice to receive double the resistance.
Have you ever been confronted by a crowd, or been in an area where there were groups of people about to engage in a protest? Or maybe from your daily day to day running, you see a group or religious individual forcing their beliefs, or a frustrated group of political thugs wanting revenge. Mass hysteria can happen for many reasons and at any time, the aim is to know how to identify the threat areas and focus on not being the center of attention for anyone (active group individual) in the group. How do you keep safe in this situation?
Crowd Phycology & Safety
Overview
Understanding crowd psychology is essential for maintaining safety in large, unpredictable groups. Crowd behavior can shift quickly based on external triggers, such as perceived danger, excitement, or conflict. By recognizing how individuals react within groups, you can make safer decisions, maintain control, and reduce the risk of harm. This section covers essential concepts of crowd psychology and provides strategies to stay safe in crowded environments, whether at large public gatherings or unexpected crowd formations.
Safety: In the context of crowds involves strategies and practices designed to protect individuals from harm in situations where large groups are gathered. This includes understanding the dynamics of crowd movement, identifying safe zones, and using techniques to navigate through or away from potentially dangerous situations.
Types of Crowds: Protests, riots, and rampages each have unique characteristics.
Key Concepts of Crowd Psychology
DLS safety measures with a crowd (Safety Zones and Techniques)
Understanding crowd psychology and applying these safety techniques can significantly increase your chances of staying safe in volatile situations. Practice and awareness are key
Section Assignment Assignment 1: Exit Strategy Awareness · Objective: Practice identifying safe zones and exits in crowded environments. · Instructions: o Visit a public place (e.g., mall, park, or event venue) and do the following: 1. Identify at least two exits you could use in an emergency. 2. Note any barriers (e.g., walls, pillars) that could serve as protection. 3. Observe the flow of people and assess the best path to the periphery. o Submit a short summary of your findings, including how you would position yourself to stay safe. Assignment 2: Crowd Navigation Simulation · Objective: Practice navigating through a simulated crowd scenario safely. · Instructions: o Use a hallway or open space in your home to simulate a crowded environment (set up objects or ask others to walk around slowly). o Practice: 1. Moving with the “crowd” to avoid resistance. 2. Using small, deliberate steps to maintain balance. 3. Gradually making your way to the “periphery” or an imagined exit. o Reflect on: 1. How confident you felt navigating through the “crowd.” 2. What challenges you faced and how you overcame them. Assignment 3: Dealing with Aggression Roleplay · Objective: Develop skills to de-escalate and protect yourself in a crowd confrontation. · Instructions: o Partner with a friend or family member to simulate an aggressive situation in a crowd setting (e.g., verbal escalation or physical proximity). o Practice: 1. Using calm, verbal de-escalation techniques (e.g., “Let’s talk about this calmly”). 2. Adopting a non-threatening Stance (hands visible, open posture). 3. Creating space using defensive techniques, such as stepping back or angling your body. o Submit a written reflection on: 1. What techniques worked well. 2. How you felt managing the simulated aggression.
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Reminder for Practice and Safety
As with all self-defense techniques, practice this week’s material slowly and with control, especially when learning new movements. Your goal is to build muscle memory and understand the mechanics of each technique before applying speed or force. Ensure that you have a safe practice space and, if practicing with a partner, communicate clearly to avoid any accidental injuries
Multiple defenses – positioning and awareness
The practice of multiple ways of defending against most Strikes and attacks – focuses on conditioning the mind to deal with a situation that warrants many/multiple threats.
Positioning and awareness
Practice of multiple ways of defending against most Strikes and attacks – this focuses on conditioning the mind to deal with a situation that warrants many/multiple threats.
Imagine faced with 3 or more threats, all the skills you have learnt over the past weeks should assist you –skills such as, basic perceptions control, Ranges, Situation Analysis, offensive Strikes, Strategy, foot work etc.
Defense Against Multiple Threats: Strategic Positioning and Mobility
Overview
Defending against multiple threats requires a combination of strategic positioning, quick decision-making, and controlled movement. In such scenarios, it’s essential to manage your space, minimize potential vulnerabilities, and stay mobile to avoid being surrounded. The primary goal is to escape safely whenever possible. However, if escape is not immediately available, your position and movement must ensure that only one attacker can engage you at a time, reducing the risk of being overwhelmed.
DLS Key Principles of Defense Against Multiple Threats
DLS Defensive Techniques for Multiple Threats
Drills and Exercises for Multi-Threat Defense
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Section Assignment Assignment 1: Threat Awareness and Positioning Drill · Objective: Practice positioning yourself to manage multiple attackers effectively. · Instructions: o Use household objects (e.g., chairs, pillows, bags) to simulate multiple attackers positioned around you. o Practice the following: 1. Stand in a position where you can see all “attackers” without turning your back on any of them. 2. Move in a circular pattern to keep all “attackers” within your line of sight, avoiding blind spots. 3. Identify potential escape routes or barriers to limit their access. o Write a reflection on: 1. How positioning improved your control over the situation. 2. Challenges you faced maintaining awareness of all threats. Assignment 2: Mobility and Angle Creation Drill · Objective: Develop footwork and mobility to evade and reposition effectively. · Instructions: o Set up small markers (e.g., shoes, cones, books) to represent attackers. o Practice: 1. Moving laterally to create distance from each marker. 2. Pivoting and angling yourself to face only one “attacker” at a time while keeping the others at bay. 3. Combining side steps and quick pivots to evade attacks and reposition for potential counterattacks. o Repeat for 5-10 minutes and gradually increase speed. o Submit a written or video reflection on how mobility helped you stay in control. Assignment 3: Barrier and Distraction Utilization Drill · Objective: Use barriers and distractions to manage multiple attackers. · Instructions: o In your environment, identify items that can serve as barriers (e.g., tables, chairs, walls). o Simulate attackers closing in: 1. Position yourself behind the barrier to block their approach. 2. Use an item (e.g., a pillow or bag) as a distraction by throwing it toward a simulated attacker, giving you time to reposition. 3. Practice combining these tactics to create space and escape. o Write a brief summary of your experience: 1. What barriers or distractions worked best? 2. How did these tactics improve your ability to manage multiple threats? |
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Basic crowd psychology– how to best deal with mass hysteria or panic
Have you ever been confronted by a crowd, or been in an area where there were groups of people about to engage in a protest?
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