I was uncertain whether this topic should be posted in "Personal Improvement" or here in "Health and Healing". I decided to post in here because this topic has to do with survival.

If you are threatened at gun-or knife-point, what are the some effective strategies for evading the situation a) unscathed and b) without creating a future enemy?


e

I would guess that there is no safe way to answer that question generically. The outcome would depend obviously on the mugger, the victim, and the way they interacted. Without knowing any of the specifics, the generic advice is to comply, stay calm, and do whatever it takes to survive.

Most people have a limited ability to control their own state. We can all think clearly in some states and less clearly in others. If you are able to stay calm and think clearly, I imagine this would greatly increase your chances of surviving. Each moment has a thousand choices available, the more one is in a highly aroused state then the fewer choices one sees. In addition, they tend to see choices in the style of fight-flight-freeze which may not be the best frames and could very likely cause the mugger to also become even more aroused and violent themselves.

So assuming you can relax yourself, and think clearly - I imagine a few behaviors/attitudes that might be useful:
1) be honest
2) present your self as non-threatening
3) create a connection, so they see you as a person - not an thing or an obstacle
4) stay alert for opportunities to escape safely

In general though, if you find yourself aroused and unable to think - just follow instructions and relax as best as you can.

theRiver wrote:

I was uncertain whether this topic should be posted in "Personal Improvement" or here in "Health and Healing". I decided to post in here because this topic has to do with survival.

If you are threatened at gun-or knife-point, what are the some effective strategies for evading the situation a) unscathed and b) without creating a future enemy?


e

this isn't so much about survival as self defense. the two aren't necessarily the same

the superior strategy is to take martial arts training

gstandard wrote:

the superior strategy is to take martial arts training

hi Jim,

I have to admit that your suggestion is much more simple and practical than any of mine. In fact, I had initially added something similar to the end of my earlier post, but decided to edit it out.

In reality, I think it's a mix of two things that would increase a person's odds of safely exiting a situation of that sort: 1) martial arts skills and 2) the right attitude. I can think of plenty of situations where having one without the other could get a person killed or hurt. And of course, there are plenty of situations where a person could do "all the right things" and still get hurt.

In my imagination, it is easy to picture some gung ho black belt getting shot because he/she imagined that their training would somehow make them bullet proof and provide them the opportunity to increase their status as a "superhero." Or someone with enough training could even get into trouble because they believed it was their obligation to magically save everyone in a hostage situation. The wrong attitude could cause someone with combat training to be literally "chomping at the bit" for the first available opportunity to leverage their skills. With the right attitude and some patience, one is much likely to quietly blend in and observe - while being on the lookout for the right moment to take action. And of course, all the patience in the world isn't going to help if one lacks the skills, training, and confidence to take take the right action at the right time.

And I'm well aware that the OP wasn't asking about a bank robbery or hostage situation, but the word "mugged" - which is a momentary hostage situation - is in the subject line.

In any case, I'm glad you added in the martial arts suggestion. Good common sense there. My reason for deleting it from my own post was a concern that someone could read "martial arts" and then misinterpreting it as a suggestion to try to use force or violence without the proper training. For those who have the training, they don't need to be told. And for those who lack the training, the suggestion possibly sends the mind in that direction imagining tv stunts with magical outcomes. So my deletion was more for the purposes of:

"If something like this happens to you, and you currently lack the training - stay calm, relax, and practice kissing ass like you life depends on it." Even pretending to be accommodating temporarily could easily be a life-saving move if one is doing it as a way to help the aggressor feel "in charge" while internally one is scanning the situation for ways to get to safety.

Cheers,

David

David Pimentel wrote:

hi Jim,

I have to admit that your suggestion is much more simple and practical than any of mine. In fact, I had initially added something similar to the end of my earlier post, but decided to edit it out.

In reality, I think it's a mix of two things that would increase a person's odds of safely exiting a situation of that sort: 1) martial arts skills and 2) the right attitude. I can think of plenty of situations where having one without the other could get a person killed or hurt. And of course, there are plenty of situations where a person could do "all the right things" and still get hurt.

In my imagination, it is easy to picture some gung ho black belt getting shot because he/she imagined that their training would somehow make them bullet proof and provide them the opportunity to increase their status as a "superhero." Or someone with enough training could even get into trouble because they believed it was their obligation to magically save everyone in a hostage situation. The wrong attitude could cause someone with combat training to be literally "chomping at the bit" for the first available opportunity to leverage their skills. With the right attitude and some patience, one is much likely to quietly blend in and observe - while being on the lookout for the right moment to take action. And of course, all the patience in the world isn't going to help if one lacks the skills, training, and confidence to take take the right action at the right time.

And I'm well aware that the OP wasn't asking about a bank robbery or hostage situation, but the word "mugged" - which is a momentary hostage situation - is in the subject line.

In any case, I'm glad you added in the martial arts suggestion. Good common sense there. My reason for deleting it from my own post was a concern that someone could read "martial arts" and then misinterpreting it as a suggestion to try to use force or violence without the proper training. For those who have the training, they don't need to be told. And for those who lack the training, the suggestion possibly sends the mind in that direction imagining tv stunts with magical outcomes. So my deletion was more for the purposes of:

"If something like this happens to you, and you currently lack the training - stay calm, relax, and practice kissing ass like you life depends on it." Even pretending to be accommodating temporarily could easily be a life-saving move if one is doing it as a way to help the aggressor feel "in charge" while internally one is scanning the situation for ways to get to safety.

Cheers,

David

David

thanks. to me, wisdom before imagination.

(in this particular context, I happen to be on track for a belt( 4 away from the black belt, part of which includes gun and knife disarm training. it doesn't guarantee anything yet it certainly provides.....an "edge")

Hi Kyle,

Here are some thoughts which will lead to some basic strategies. However, everything will have to be practiced and tested to make sure they will be available to you when the fecal matter meets the cooling device. Do you have a friend to help you?

You will most likely feel fear. The fear response will likely lead to you restricting your breathing. Restricted breathing will mean all kinds of physiological responses very unhelpful to survival, the worst being reduced oxygen to your brain which will lead to bad decisions.

A great strategy is to start to consciously breathe the earliest possible moment when you notice physical tension in your body in response to fear. You can practice by having a friend stand in front of you at a long distance holding a real knife. Signal your friend to start walking toward you very slowly. Watch your friend and at the same time pay attention to your body. When you notice any tension start to creep in, simultaneously do two things. 1.Signal your friend to freeze in place. 2. Start breathing quickly, in through the nose, out through the mouth. Shake out any remaining tension, note how far/close your friend is from you, and then have them go back to the original starting place and do it again. You will likely find that you can stay relaxed with them at closer and closer distances.

There are many, many other things you can do/think about, but I think the above is the most important. If you are interested, I can throw out some more as well as give you some excellent resources to go to.

Good luck!
Charles

theRiver wrote:

If you are threatened at gun-or knife-point, what are the some effective strategies for evading the situation a) unscathed and b) without creating a future enemy?

You've gotten some good advice already. (I like the idea of martial arts training not because of the self-defense factor but because there's no better way to learn to stay calm when faced with someone who wants to hurt you.)

I'll offer the best advice I've ever received: if someone demands your money or your life, give them your money.* Specifically, throw your wallet in one direction and run like hell in the other.

The exception is if he demands that you go somewhere with him. If he does that, he intends to hurt you really badly for a really long time and then kill you. If he tells you to get in the car, fight like a crazed animal. It's better that one of you kills the other right there.

*If someone demands your money AND you're life, tell them you're ALREADY married.

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rubenseeth wrote:

Energetic NLP has wonderful processes for helping you to enhance your health, vitality, and ability to heal.

And this has... WHAT, exactly, to do with the topic?

Every post of yours I've seen looks disturbingly like the last one. Do you have something to add to the discussion?

Kyle,

One of my Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu trainer once said: "The ability to defend yourself enables you to relax." It fits nicely with Michael's comment:

Michael_DeBusk wrote:

(I like the idea of martial arts training not because of the self-defense factor but because there's no better way to learn to stay calm when faced with someone who wants to hurt you.)

If you want to learn how to defend yourself, check out Target Focus Training at:

Self Defense Training | Tim Larkin | Martial Arts Training - Target Focus Training

I haven't trained in the system myself, but have reviewed most of their material. Tim Larkin's philosophy on violence and self-defense is the most lucid I've encountered so far.

I hope this helps.

Steve