The current trend is to judge a martial art according to its combat worthiness on the street.
Students of these styles can rest assured that what they are learning will truly work on the street.
For the cunning, to face an enemy in open confrontation would be a fourth rate solution for someone who has already made three serious mistakes: Not knowing the territory, not moving about in secrecy, and not evading a direct attack.
The following will correlate crime prevention and street smarts with the writings of East Asian military strategists to show that the ancient battlefield and the modern urban jungle are not so different after all.
Ask locals, such as waitresses, bartenders, taxi drivers, police, tourist and travel agents, questions such as: is the area known for street crime? Is there a lot of gang activity? Do buses and taxis go there after dark? Is it an area you should avoid entering? If it is, then don’t go there.
Keep alert, walk with a purpose, be attentive to your surroundings and prepare yourself mentally for an attack.
Think of a plan of action you would follow if you were attacked.
Expect The Unexpected It is a doctrine of war not to assume the enemy will not come, but rather to rely on one’s readiness to meet him; not to presume that he will not attack, but rather to make one’s self invincible.
If you must for some reason travel through territory known for street violence then you should be well prepared: travel with friends, carry a cell phone with the speed dial set for 911, prepare a decoy wallet, carry a legally concealable weapon.
Sun Tzu Do not allow strangers to stop you on the street for conversations, to give directions, or to light a cigarette.
These are stalling techniques used to set up an attack.
This will allow the robber to relax his guard if you feel you have no alternative but to attack, you can use your meek appearance to launch a surprise attack.
The Six Secret Teachings of the Tai Gong Another alternative when faced by a group of attackers is to play stupid.
In a street gang confrontation, humiliating an idiot brings only little face and hopefully they will get tired and leave.
Do not be led astray by stories of martial arts heroes who beat multiple attackers one after the other, the odds are just too much against your winning.
Miyamoto Musashi If the demand is for money take out your cash and hold it up for the attacker to see.
If traveling through high risk areas carry a decoy wad, that is a wallet that has a real money bill on the outside but play money or paper cut to size on the inside.
The decoy should look valuable, then if attacked or robbed you can throw the decoy in one direction while carefully and quickly leaving in the opposite direction.
Try to make the terrain between you and the attackers more difficult to cross.
If you are going to have to fight it out, then do it before the odds are any more in the attacker’s favor.
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