The term self-defense generates a certain image: Under attack by an assailant, you use a few martial arts techniques to counter his physical aggression, thus insuring your personal safety.

Those of you with fighting experience know that this is an unlikely scenario, and a very naive way of looking at violence. The phrase self-defense itself tends to perpetuate this false sense of security. I strongly suggest the use of a more proactive description. Instead of calling it self-defense, I recommend a more proactive phrase such as "fighting". It identifies the same process of violence from a completely different perspective. It infers an aggressive, proactive attitude that is not what one expects from a potential victim. The term self-defense implies that you will react to an assailant who has taken the initiative in attacking you. This perspective will contaminate your own self-image when you imagine yourself fighting against another person. It will reduce your ability to fight successfully.

Unless the aggressor is not very serious about hurting you, "canned" self-defense techniques, as well as many classical martial arts methods alone won't provide you with the tools necessary to survive and win a serious street confrontation. Technique alone is only a part of the solution. Successful fighting requires that you have good personal fighting attributes and a personal fighting methodology which is efficient, realistic and aggressive. Only then will you be able to apply the appropriate techniques effectively. This is where most martial artists fail. They get caught up in technique, ranking systems and the hype that pervades the martial arts.