SCALING FORCE DYNAMIC DECISION MAKING UNDER THREAT OF VIOLENCE
Understand
How to stop violence before it happens
How to choose the right response level
How to avoid going to jail for defending yourself
by
Rory Miller
&
Lawrence A. Kane
YMAA Publication Center, Inc. PO Box 480 Wolfeboro, NH 03894 800-669-8892 • www.ymaa.com • [email protected]
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-59439-250-4
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-59439-251-1
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
Copyright ©2012 by Rory Miller and Lawrence A. Kane
Cover design by Axie Breen
Editing by Susan Bullowa
Photos by the Lawrence A. Kane unless otherwise noted.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Publisher’s Cataloging in Publication
Miller, Rory.
Scaling force : dynamic decision making under threat of violence / by Rory Miller & Lawrence A. Kane. – Wolfeboro, NH : YMAA Publication Center, c2012.
p. ; cm.
ISBN: 978-1-59439-250-4 (pbk.) ; 978-1-59439-251-1 (ebk.)
“Understand how to stop violence before it happens, how to choose the right response level, how to avoid going to jail for defending yourself.”
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Violence – Prevention – Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Self-defense – Handbooks, manuals, etc. 3. Violence – Psychological aspects. 4. Martial arts – Handbooks, manuals, etc. 5. Fighting (Psychology) 6. Self-defense (Law) – United States. I. Kane, Lawrence A. (Lawrence Alan) II. Title. III. Title: Dynamic decision-making under threat of violence.
GV1102.7.P75 M557 2012
613.6/6–dc23
1110
Warning: While self-defense is legal, fighting is illegal. If you don’t know the difference you’ll go to jail because you aren’t defending yourself, you are fighting—or worse. Readers are encouraged to be aware of all appropriate local and national laws relating to self-defense, reasonable force, and the use of weaponry, and to act in accordance with all applicable laws at all times. Understand that while legal definitions and interpretations are generally uniform, there are small—but very important—differences from state to state and even city to city. To stay out of jail, you need to know these differences. Neither the authors nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for the use or misuse of information contained in this book.
Nothing in this document constitutes a legal opinion nor should any of its contents be treated as such. While the authors believe that everything herein is accurate, any questions regarding specific self-defense situations, legal liability, and/or interpretation of federal, state, or local laws should always be addressed by an attorney at law. This text relies on public news sources to gather information on various crimes and criminals described herein. While news reports of such incidences are generally accurate, they are on occasion incomplete or incorrect. Consequently, all suspects should be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
When it comes to martial arts, self-defense, and related topics, no text, no matter how well written, can substitute for professional, hands-on instruction. These materials should be used for academic study only.
Printed in USA.
CONTENTS
FOREWORD—CLINT OVERLAND
FOREWORD—RON BISHOP
Situational awareness during a fight
