is a better target shooter with a firearm then I am, but I am a better combat shooter. In her world (no disrespect), she has time to sight, she understands time, the rules, and what end result is desired. In the world of combat, the variables are constantly changing to include…everything. It’s the chess analogy.
When violence comes to you, how will you react? If you overreact, as defined by the courts, you lose. You may lose your house, possessions, and freedom. All because you acted as you were trained. You could also under-react, and end up dead.
There are conditioned responses in some training that cause a person to increase, decrease, or even stop what they are doing. Other responses are to continue until your opponent is no longer a threat. Either conditioning can lead to a bad end result. Reacting too small can get you hurt. Acting too harsh may land you in court. This book helps you find the area where you are most comfortable.
When dealing with force, there is the art of disengagement. You may ask, “What, run away?” My response is yes. Years ago a trooper from the state where I reside stopped a car and upon exiting his patrol car, four bad guys got out of the stopped vehicle with bats and sticks. The trooper was told to get back in his car and he would not be harmed. How did the trooper respond? He disengaged. The bad guys left. About four miles down the road, the trooper stopped the vehicle again, with backup. A lot of backup. Nobody got hurt, bad guys went to jail, and the incident was liability free. The trooper may have been justified to shoot at the four bad guys, but chose a different force option. Think about it.
In another example, a friend of mine was a recruit 25 years ago and saw what he described as “the shit monster in a beater car give him the finger.” He attempted a car stop, but the monster drove to his home. Once home, the monster got out of the car and started walking toward a shed that had chain saws and swing blades. My friend then saw four younger versions of the monster who had given him the finger walking toward him. He told me, “I thought someone was going to die over giving me the finger?” He disengaged. How would court have gone for him if he had not?
For the past 17 years of my 27-year career, I have had the responsibility of reviewing use of force reports looking for policy violations, state law violations, and liability issues. During that period of time, I have reviewed uncountable reports from Miller. I never sent a situation that he handled for investigation. Further I know that he has defused situations ranging from a drunken idiot to an inmate with a shank. I have served with him in numerous venues and have found him to be a sound operative.
Miller and Kane have taken their experience both in law enforcement and martial arts, and have created a book that should cause a reader to pause and think about a proper response to a given situation.
When violence comes to you, will you survive? Many have, many didn’t. Many wish they did.
Stay safe.
—RB
All conflicts are not created equal. Sometimes your life is on the line, while other times it’s just your ego. You might be able to choose whether or not to get involved, or you may find yourself with no option but to fight. The perfect response to one situation could easily prove disastrous in another. Win or lose, however, when things get physical, there will be consequences. Those consequences can be life-altering.
Some violence can be staved off simply by presence, that is, looking and acting like you’re more trouble than you’re worth. Bad guys don’t want to fight; they want to win. And they rarely mess with alert, prepared targets. You can use words to defuse many situations, or apply calming or directive touch to reach resolution without injury. But not always. Sometimes empty-hand restraint is required, particularly if you need to control a situation without seriously hurting anyone; bouncers, security guards, and law enforcement officers routinely use such techniques. Other times, less-lethal or even lethal force is necessary to save your life or that of a loved one.
These choices form a continuum, a set of options that may be drawn upon to resolve any situation you encounter:
1. Presence—use of techniques designed to stave off violence via posture or body language that warns adversaries of your readiness and ability to act or that poses no threat to another’s ego.
2. Voice—use of techniques designed to verbally de-escalate conflict before physical methods become necessary.
3. Touch—use of techniques designed to defuse impending violence or gain compliance via calming or directive touch.
4. Empty-hand restraint—use of techniques designed to control an aggressor through pain, or force compliance through leverage.
5. Less-lethal force—use of techniques or implements designed to incapacitate an aggressor while minimizing the likelihood of fatality or permanent injury.
6. Lethal force—use of techniques or implements likely to cause death or permanent injury.
It’s very important to enter this force scale at the right level. If you use too much or too little force, you are in for a world of hurt. Consequently, it is vital to understand the various options, knowing how and when to apply them judiciously.
It was May of 2004 when 29-year-old Jose de Jesus brought an eight-inch butcher knife to Herald Square in Manhattan, a popular tourist spot. A guy with a long history of severe mental problems, he had violently assaulted others, including relatives, before. Nearly killed one. And he planned to do so again.
Without warning, he pulled out the knife, randomly attacked 21-year-old Dmitri Malaeyeva, stabbing him in the chest. As his first victim fell, trying desperately to stem the bleeding while drawing a tortured breath through his punctured lung, de Jesus turned on another passerby and plunged the knife into his flesh.
Screaming in terror, most bystanders began running from the scene. Some dialed 911 on their cell phones. But George Robbins, a 34-year-old graphic artist, could not stand by watching the mayhem and do nothing. So he ran toward the madman, hoping to thwart his attack. Weaponless, his heroic attempt failed, and he became de Jesus’ next victim.
As Robbins fell to the ground hemorrhaging, Harold Getter rushed in and tried to disarm de Jesus. The 49-year-old security guard was unarmed and his martial skills were no match for the maniac and his knife. In moments Getter also became a victim.
And then an NYPD officer arrived.
Working with a squad assigned to thwart shoplifters in Herald Square, Officer Mary Beth Diaz was in the area, heard the screams, and rushed toward the scene. She was 23-years-old, just five months out of the Academy.
“Police!” she screamed.
De Jesus turned to face her and began stalking forward brandishing his knife.
Officer Diaz drew her duty weapon, a 9MM handgun. “Drop the knife,” she shouted. When he kept coming she repeated it again. “Drop the knife! Drop the knife!”
He was only ten feet away when she opened fire.
