Fronting

"Fronting": The dodge to get in close to you. The frontal assault, as opposed to the ambush.

Fronting can be either a direct confrontation (intimidation) or it can make use of "artifice", i.e. "got a light?", "got the time?", "how do I get to such and such?" Anything "innocent" to throw you off your guard and allow the assailant to "get into your safety zone". That is the area where action is ALWAYS faster than re-action.

The key here is NEVER TRUST anyone's "intention", NEVER!

Maintaining the "reactionary gap" is the single most important "thing" in this situation. In order for ANY attack to be optimally effective three things must "work" in the attackers favor: Time - Distance - Opportunity.

NEVER "allow" anyone within arms distance. If they are close enough to simply reach out and touch you, you have a BIG PROBLEM.

How did you get there?

I wish I had a dime for every self-defense "expert" that starts with this line - OK, the bad guy throws a punch...............

WHAT? Did he just appear in a cloud of smoke? Simply materialize from nowhere? What preceded this "punch"?

How did he approach you and manage to get into your safety zone? Is it an "ambush"? How did you wind up dealing with the attack? The equation for dealing with this is NOT the "defense", it's understanding our "triad", TIME - DISTANCE - OPPORTUNITY.

Increase the TIME necessary for the assailant to be effective.

Decrease the TIME necessary for YOUR attack to be effective.

Increase the DISTANCE necessary for the assailant to be effective.

Decrease the DISTANCE necessary for YOUR attack to be effective.

Remove or minimize the OPPORTUNITY necessary for the assailant to be effective.

MAXIMIZE your OPPORTUNITY to make YOUR attack effective.

The assailant has to TARGET YOU, COVER THE DISTANCE TO GET TO YOU, and then have THE OPPORTUNITY to implement his assault, in other words you have to be there when he gets there.

Now! Time - Distance - Opportunity = SPEED - POWER - ACCURACY.

That's the full "combat" equation. It works for the assailant AND it works for you.

So, I'm more concerned with "how" we disrupt the equation for the attacker and use it to our advantage, than I am about "defending against the punch".

Here are two good ones:

"A miss is as good as a mile" "Almost only works for horseshoes and hand-grenades"

That's also what I mean when I say look at the "big picture".

Combat shooting:

Speed and "man-killing" accuracy: "nail driving" accuracy is great as long as it doesn't affect your SPEED!

Distance: measure off the longest "area" in your home. Hallway, bedroom, kitchen, or all the places that an attack may occur. What's the distance? Don't waste time at firing ranges over that!

I know people that have weapons strategically placed around their living environment. Never know where you'll be when you need what you don't have, right?

How about the one place where you really are naked as a jay-bird? How about the shower? Drawstring or a plastic bag (waterproof) with you, in the shower, containing 230 grains of "soap". No, I'm NOT kidding. Better to have "it" and NOT ever need it, than to need "it" and NOT have it. ALWAYS, ALWAYS.....remember Uncle Murphy! The SOB will always show up when least expected, ALWAYS!

Copyright 2003 www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com ©

Carl Cestari began his study of the martial arts with judo at the age of 7 under the direction of Yoshisada Yonezuka. During the past forty plus years Carl has dedicated his life to studying the martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, history and religion. What makes Carl unique is his combination of martial arts, law enforcement, military and real world experience. Carl has been exposed to a multitude of people with a wide variety experience. The following is a list of some of Carl's ranks and honors.

Shinan (Founder) Tekkenryu jujutsu Ryokudan (6th degree) Koshinkai Karate under John Burrelle Godan (5th degree) Jujutsu under Clarke of the World Jujutsu Fedaration (now defunct) Sandan (3rd degree) Nippon Kempo under Narabu Sada Nidan (2nd degree) Judo under Masafumi Suzuki Shodan (1st degree) Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka Shodan (1st degree) Shukokai Karate under Kimura, Kadachi and Yonezuka Shodan (1st degree) Daitoryu Aikijujutsu Instructors Certificate- Charles Nelson System of Self Defense under Charlie Nelson

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