There will be some scientific details in what follows. Feel free to ignore it. Unless you are doing research, the background science is not important. The concepts are. And you know what? I’m not a scientist, so don’t take my word on anything. Again, like Maslow, this is a model, not a theory. Many models … [Read more…]
I want you to do a thought experiment. Relax, take a deep breath, and answer a few questions. First, imagine that no one is going to help you and your children are in danger of starving. What would you be willing to do? Would you steal food? Would you rob (use violence or the threat … [Read more…]
Quick Maslow recap:The basic idea is that there are five states or levels of struggle. Each level must be addressed in order. The most basic level includes survival needs: food, water, shelter and protection from immediate dangers. If any of these are threatened, you don’t really care about much else. The second level is security … [Read more…]
For the record, I have totally gone off the lesson plan. In seminars, I usually do social violence first. Oh well. And I am getting back to this because I don’t want to lose the thread, not because I don’t have other things to write about. Those will have to wait, though. Let’s get started. … [Read more…]
Maybe that should be Uncomfortable Safety. Or something else. The techniques that fall under martial arts are basically heinous crimes except in a very narrow set of circumstances. We are playing at causing pain and suffering. You can choose to be mindless about that and see it as a fun hobby. But if your students … [Read more…]
It’s not just you. It’s not just the threat. There is a layered interplay between and through the involved people in any situation. It is affected by other people who might be around (witnesses and also audience) and even geography. People who feel trapped respond very differently than people who feel free to leave. The … [Read more…]
How you tell a thing is at least as important as what you tell. http://chirontraining.blogspot.com/2011/06/tried-by-twelve.html Preface– I am not an attorney. I am a Use of Force instructor. Don’t construe this as legal advice. It might surprise you, but I don’t teach SD legalities as a decision making course. Truth is, things are likely to … [Read more…]
“From my place at the front of the room I have complete responsibility to speak clearly and with fearless honesty. I accept full responsibility for communicating with my students and for seeing to it that the message does get through. But that 100% responsibility on my shoulders does not lighten the student’s responsibility at all.The … [Read more…]
People are always asking me about pre-attack indicators. Here is the #1 pre-attack indicator: YOU’RE BEING AN ASSHOLE! With that simple line, I figured out something that has been bothering me for years. Something that it took Conflict Communications (http://www.conflictcommunications.com ) to put into perspective. When it comes to violence, there has always been something … [Read more…]
I’d rather be judged by 12, than carried by six … When someone mouths this cliché, I have a hard time keeping my cool. Because most people’s understanding of the concept means the next 12 people they come across will be the 12 dudes raping them in the prison showers.Now, I really don’t care about the … [Read more…]