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The 6 Dragons Kung Fu’s S.A.F.E. method for self-defense

Reconnecting us with the discussion about the use of martial and psychological abilities in terms of self-defense (read The 6DKF’s diagram about the use of violence), we want to share a method that, in many cases of danger, can be easily applied (once acquired the correct mindset).

Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our home study classes here Learn Kung Fu online: a beginner-to-expert course).

We have developed what we call the “S.A.F.E. method” after:

Several experiences (direct and indirect)
Studies and comparisons with other methodologies

The S.A.F.E. acronym has been chosen because it is simple to memorize and it reminds us, in every situation (even in a fight-or-flight situation), what to do and in what order; its meaning is:

S for Safety
A for Argument
F for Flee
E for Engage

A note by Master Kongling – What we noticed is that even in a stressful scenario (read /// Subscribe (it's free!) or Login to see this content ///), a so simple pattern is the right key to address any criticality. Following this path, we have the possibility to avoid being victims of our own instinct.

Let’s see how it works in detail.

The S.A.F.E. method: how does it work

Without repeating what has already been said (read for example Self defense: how to behave) and without going too far into the detail of each practical scenarios, here is the significance and practical application of each of the 4 S.A.F.E. “commands”:

Safety – It means prevention (read /// Subscribe (it's free!) or Login to see this content ///), alert (read Constant attention: what is and how it works), both in terms of active danger (set an immediate defensive strategy, do not raise the tension level beyond the limit, make sure being legally protected, reaching or contacting other people / law enforcement, etc.) and in general (planning our activities, avoiding dangerous places, inappropriate behaviors, risky encounters, actions that make us vulnerable, etc.)
Argument – It means maintaining a critical situation under control through a peaceful, respectful but assertive dialogue (read /// Subscribe (it's free!) or Login to see this content ///); we must keep the right concentration level, we must discuss (read Self defense: 10 correct attitudes during a quarrel), negotiate (eg. giving what’s less important, like money, etc.) and / or use deception if necessary (for an example see the article Personal defense and psychological tricks); any non-violent / lawful way is preferable (read Best martial arts for self-defense) to ensure our safety and the one of who is with us (or at least to make us gain time)
Flee – It means eliminating the problem by moving away from it, to reach a safe place (law controlled, crowded, inaccessible, etc.); in doing this, if possible, we must move slowly and discreetly, without ever showing any fear, anxiety or rush; if the aggression is already started, naturally we could have to run but in all other cases, walking (and talking) offers advantages not to underestimate; to act with calmness it does not trigger forcibly rapid reactions, it approaches us to our safety point while still keeping our energies almost intact (and this can be indispensable in a hypothetical second time where we might have forcibly to run, fight, etc.); the flee may appear simple but it is not, it’s the most difficult action to take (read /// Subscribe (it's free!) or Login to see this content ///)
Engage – It is and it must be the last option, no one knows how a street fight will end (read The 6 types of martial clash); we are saying this not only because 6 Dragons Kung Fu promotes peace but also (and above all) because a no rules combat is not a game, its consequences can be lethal and/or legally devastating (for all the persons involved, including us); in addition to this, it must be said that we rarely know enough about our aggressors (their real number, what are they capable of doing, what they are willing to do, with what tactics, abilities, weapons, determination, etc.); in 90% of cases we do not necessarily have to respond with violence to other violence but if we have come to the point of not being able to prevent, discuss or escape and our lives are directly in danger we must face our opponents with everything within our reach (technique, deception, proper / improper weapons of defense / attack, etc.); in doing this, we must not forget that the goal is simply to put an end to hostility and to stop the people from attacking us; where possible / reasonable we must try to defend ourselves in the least lethal possible way (blocking, disarming, dislocating, breaking, stunning, terrorizing, etc.); an excess of defense is not preferrable, it could bring us endless problems (revenge, legal problems, remorse, onerous legal fees, etc.)

A note by Master Kongling – Remember, in any scenario, we are the first and the worst enemy to face: we must not become victims of our superficiality. Each of these phases must be triggered by the failure of the previous one. From prevention to struggle, nothing must be skipped or left to chance.

Final notes

A few thoughts and conclusive tips:

Let’s not underestimate the fact that in moments of real personal defense mental lucidity is very difficult to maintain (let’s think of stuttering, legs trembling, blood to the head, adrenaline, etc.), we will never act impeccably but a simple and clear strategy is certainly easier to be followed
It must be stressed that for it to work, the transition from a phase to another can and must be instantaneous; for example, if we are attacked by surprise by a person who hits us in such a way as to put us in danger, it is clear that we must immediately move on to the engagement stage, but it is also clear that every small occasion will be good for starting again from phase 1 (and deescalate the situation)
in conclusion, let’s not delude ourselves, our method is not this single article, without good psychophysical preparation, the mere use of the word “safe” will not change our approach to the self-defense scenarios; only if we relate it to our school’s principles, tactics and techniques (mental and physical), it can really make a big difference (and in some cases, probably, even between life and death)
…

In-depth video courses

Self-defense basics: how to – The full path to self-defense of our school
Self-defense: not violent self-preservation – Methods to solve self-defense scenarios without recurring to violence
Basic 6 Dragons Kung Fu exercises – The exercises to build a reactive body for the martial practice
Mind self-control hacks – How to dominate our mind and focus it on our specific goals
Worst combat errors to avoid – The small mistakes that make us weaker than we could be almost without effort
Weapon disarming: what works and what not – Techniques, limits and opportunities of weapon disarming
The basics of the knife – A path toward the mastering of the most diffuse weapon

In-depth articles

Self-defense: aggression in front of a supermarket – A real example of how the use of violence can be avoided
How to prevent an aggression for robbery purpose – A contextualized and practical example of how to prevent a danger

Questions

Reply in the comments and share your experience:

Which is, in your opinion, the most difficult step to apply?

Author: Master Kongling

Founder of 6 Dragons Kung Fu.

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