What would you do?
This thread is all about trusting your life to your art. So far, we have been talking a lot of generalities and that is cool. Now what if we narrow it down to a specific attack? Name an attack or respond to one. Make it one from todays headlines or one from experience. What would you do?

The Environment You are at a friends birthday party at his/her house. There are several people in a medium sized room. There is a good atmosphere and things are going nicely. Earlier someone was asked to leave. They did so with a minimum of unpleasantness. The Attack Suddenly, the front door 3 feet away from you flies open. Four thugs wielding machetes, charge in. Immediately an attacker with a machete tries to decapitate you. You are not armed and there is no warning. The Question What do you do? Machete attacks are becoming all too common here in Canada.

What would you do 2
What would you do 2 This thread is an intellectual posing of a reflex response. So I’m not expecting long intricate answer here. Here is another one. You are giving a demo on a raised platform. There is a microphone in front and a curtain about 4 feet behind you. You have set up a dazzling finish for your audience. On cue, you experienced assistant will burst from behind the curtain. Then he’ll stab at your back with a katana while you are speaking. He mistakes the cue and charges out unexpectedly and ahead of schedule. You hear the curtain rustle and have the time it takes to cover 4 feet. What do you do? This is a real life experience: In Olafs case he used the second temple motion, “Breaking the Branch”. His pivot defense was too close for demonstration purposes (in my opinion). The sword perforated the both sides of robe he was wearing but not him. Now I have used flashy scenes here but this thread is also about ordinary stuff.

What would you do 3
What would you do? You are at the local mall. It is crowded and the parking lot is full. Finally you pull into a free space. As you get out, a man rushes up to you. He claims you have stolen his space and demands it back. For the purposes of this thread you say no, it is yours. He steps forward and grabs both your jacket lapels. What would you do?

I'm not sure what your point is with all this. Are you expecting people to answer with a step by step of how they would move block and strike? Isn't that kinda silly? Or are you looking for more general answers like I defend myself or I run for the hills? I'm trying to see where you are going with this but describing what you would do is in no way remotely close to taking action in a RL situation. When it comes to the moment you react as you were trained, there is no time left for thinking out what you'd do, and certainly no time to refer to you forum notes. That's what repetition is all about.

OK maybe I'm a bit too uptight. I'll play along. 1) Assuming I see the machette attack coming I defend with maximum force until I feel the threat is neutralized. If I don't see the attack coming, I'd die I guess. 2) I'd do as Olaf did. Well I'd hope to but when you really get caught off gaurd is when you fall back on what you trained. Hard to say what would fly out of me. 3) Easy if I feel threatened, he has both his hands engaged and both my hands, feet and forehead are free. Closest weapon closest target. Would depend on my frame of mind somewhat the exact technique but the possibilities are endless.

Hello Current Student, You ask a good question about what this thread is all about. I had thought I’d made myself clear, But in retrospect I can see that I have not. I will try to now. When I posted and read at the first forum, I was struck by the deep seated anger, resentment, etc. Everyone wanted to talk biz (in one form or another). I was even guilty of this myself. Nowhere did I see people posting of their art. When this forum started up I was amazed and impressed. Students and instructors of Moh from different eras actually speaking politely. That is what this particular thread is all about. It is a continuation of a debate about real life experiences that we have all had. “What would you do if it got thick?” Here, on this board, are hundred of years of martial experience! We may not always agree. And that is a good thing, in my opinion. Specifically, I expect people to give short answers. Something like, “Stepping into a forehand swing the safest place to be.” Then there’s, “Did he really use a razor sharp sword?” Or perhaps, “I’d block his hands away before he got hold of my lapels.” In essence, I want to talk about what you did, do, might do, etc. I am posting about what I did, would do, etc. There is nothing like a shared real life experience to get people to talk to each other. I’m starting to repeat myself so if I have not been completely clear, let me know.

Hello Current Student, I see we crossed posts, l.o.l.! Yes, your response are quite what I'm looking for.

My responses are: 1. The machete I have never been attacked by a machete. But I once had a student who was attacked with a cavalry saber. If it had been a machete, he would probably have lost some fingers. Provided I saw it coming, I'd like to say that I'd step into it, block, trap and counter. That is the way I train for edged weapons encounters. But in fact, as Current Student pointed out, ya just don't know. 2.Olafs defense I have tried to duplicate his moves but from in front and with a wooden sword. Sometimes I was successful but more often I was not. 3. The parking lot When this happened to me, I smacked the guy. But I held back and then I was in for it. We went round and round for a bit. When the RCMP showed up nothing happened. But only because he had moved first.

What would you do 4
What would you do 4 You are walking down the street to your corner store. It is sunny and warm and there is not much traffic. Your neighbor is walking his dog about 25 feet in front of you. You see that it is an aggressive and vicious Shepard cross. It is straining at its leash. Suddenly, it snaps the leash and ignores its owner’s commands. To make matters worse, it charges straight for you. There is no doubt that you are in serious trouble here. Also, there is no time to run and no place to hide. What would you do?

What would you do?
You are the head instructor of the studio. A strong, aggressive young man has been training there for awhile. He makes much of the fact that he can perform many abdominal exercises. One day you are leading a large skills class. He boasts that he can take your punch to his stomach. This is an obvious challenge. What would you do?

Kick him in the head! Seriously, then explain to the class that you are training to avoid being hit. There are no cut/dry scenario's, now you may practise all kinds of opponent does "A" and I'l do responce "F", reality has a tendency of throwing you "F.5" and not "F". That would be the essence of zen or tao, be actively engaged in the enviroment, not waiting to react to it.

Hello Cam, L.O.L.! "Kick him in the head." Seriously, Thank You for taking time to post. When it happend to Olaf in the Calgary studio, he kicked this pro football player a bit lower. Then, while the guy was in fetal position, Olaf explained. He said, "I'd be a fool to hit this guy where I know he can take it."

Well I've never said olaf was a dummy! Other things yes!! The Dog Attack! It will either stop short or it will attack. If it attacks, is the dog trained and trying to subdue, or is the dog trying to kill you? If the dog is trying to kill it will go for your legs, arms groin or throat. You must not let it get your throat or your groin, so offer your arms. I would think your only hope would be to choke/rip the dogs throat before it gets yours!! The dog has only one weapon, those very lethal teeth!! A human has got two hands, in this case two vises, or of coarse if you have a knife, or a rock! Even your shirt!

Hello Cam, It was a bright August afternoon when this happened. The dog was interested in my throat and nothing else. I dropped back to a bow and adopted a defensive position. This actually brought the dog up short. But he was a smart dog and he circled until the sun was in my eyes. I blinked and he lunged for my throat. He actually latched onto my rear upperarm. It was in front of my throat at that moment. I backhanded him across the upper torso. Then he ran back to his owner.