Is anyone else afraid to use their martial arts if they need to?

Question

I fear using my martial arts to defend myself because I am afraid of getting in trouble with the police, or getting in trouble period. I have heard stories where an assailant has sued the person they were robbing because they got hurt. How do I get over this fear?

Answer 1

Don't worry about it..
I doubt if anyone else worries much about it...

Answer 2

Legal Considerations

You must have a reasonable fear of harm to use physical force to defend yourself. If you inflict serious bodily harm or take another person's life, you must be legally justified. Only when you fear for your own life or that of another can you use lethal force. Under English common law, deadly force is never justifiable to protect property.

Reasonable force is best viewed on a sliding scale. The level of force employed is often dependent on an assailant's capability, opportunity, and the intent. You can measure an attacker's capability in several ways. A weapon, large physical size, or displayed martial prowess, such as a fighting stance, all increase the assailant's measure of capability. American law, for example, generally recognizes a "disparity of force" when an attacker possesses recognizable physical advantage or prowess, such as significant height, strength, weight, or trained fighting skills.

To assess the necessity of using force, you must look at several factors, including your opportunity to retreat. Retreat can be problematic if you are with another party such as a child, your wife, or an elderly person, or if you are in an enclosed area. Intent often involves the wielding of a weapon and verbal threats to your life and limb.

You should not have fear, you should have confidence in how well you were trained, and how you react.

In Krav Maga, every student must sign a declaration that they understand the law (as I stated above) as part of their contract...this isn't done where you learned martial arts?

Sued? If your life was threatened, or your loved ones, I wouldn't worry about being sued, I would be concerned about being alive tomorrow.

Talk with an advocate, lawyer, or your local police department.

Answer 3

Get educated, find out what you can and cannot do in your State, country etc. I believe you can issue equal force to protect you and family members*. If I disarm someone that has a knife, I cannot take that knife and stab them. If I knock them down I cannot kick or beat them... they are down. I talked with some police officers and some SWAT folks, very enlightening...
Talk to the police or even a lawyer in your area, find out what you can and cannot do. There was a great article on this in the Black Belt magazine...your description has to be on...is it a strike to the face or an open hand slap to stop the attacker from further harming? BTW both are the same...one sounds like it is a lesser attack.

Answer 4

I would never want to apply what I've learned because I am aware that I can badly hurt someone. I can take being called a coward for walking away from a fight. It takes more of a man to do so than someone who has no control and readily gets in trouble. Believe me, it is very hard to do so especially when I am confident about my skills.

Being attacked is another matter altogether. I will use extreme prejudice in the appropriate moment.

Answer 5

In general I try to promote peace. I do not enjoy physical conflict. When I was younger I thought it was "cool'.
Now I have gained a great respect for the human body. The thought of using my full ability on someone sickens me.
I do not however fear the law. I hope that I have enough sense to use what I have learned sensibly.
I will not distract myself in a moment of self-defense with thoughts of legal matters. Self-defense is a matter of survival. I would rather be alive and in a legal battle than dead or injured.

Answer 6

Martial arts is all about self-defense. The application of martial arts is to achieve maximum effect with minimum effort and for less harm for yourself. If the assailant wanted to stab you and you break his arm or even break his neck to immobilize him, you could not be sued (only the law enforcers could be sued for undue or excessive use of force) since you were fighting for your survival (that's why self-defense). Problem is when you have already broken his arm that he could no longer stab you but you followed it up with breaking his neck and vented your rage that he was reduced to pulp. That can no longer be called self-defense.

By all means use what you know to defend yourself. You only live once and absolutely no one may interfere with that life of yours for his own purpose.

Answer 7

Simply be aware of the amount of force you expend when doing your techniques. You don't want to be over-zealous and cause needless pain to another, you just want them to stop their attack on you or the person you're protecting. An example of being too harsh (in my opinion) would be breaking an arm or leg due to a person physically, lightly shoving you. Of course you have to decide what is the appropriate reaction to one's attack. Proper training and the proper mind-set will guide you in the right direction.

Above all....do NOT be afraid to use your skills if the need arises. That's like having money and being afraid to spend it on food even though you're starving.

Answer 8

Here is something wierd, i often have dreams that i get into a fight, but am unable to strike the person i'm fighting, or get them into any lock. I am an accoplished fighter, but in my dream when i throw a punch it feels like im in water. as for defending my self the other person can't touch me but i just end up knocking them off balance or throwing them and they keep coming back at me. this dream relates into my life, it is hard for me to hit some one I don't seriously hate. I'm not too good in a prize fight cuz i am too worried of hurting the other person, and i've only been in one fight and i overly maimed that person. so yeah i know exaclty what you mean.

Answer 9

Think about this, which would you rather to do? Lay in hospital struggling to breath to stay alive because some bastard stab you in lungs or stand in court room and try to prove that you were in serious danger and have somewhat decent chance of walking away free?

That's why it's better to be ready to attack to do as much damage as possible than try to do some stupid thing such as hold down the person or non lethal attack/counter.

Answer 10

Your hesitation has already defeted you.

My old instructor use to say
You will never rise to the occasion but sink to your level of training.
and;
If you dont want to find trouble, dont hang out in the same places trouble hangs out in.

The only times you get to think about getting into a fight you are prolly already there, they just have yet to throw. Throw first, break something, get away.

I doubt you will rip out thier heart and take a bite out of it or anything like that.

Answer 11

1. God did not create you to be a victim!

2. Many of my friends that are police officers say that it is better to be tried in court than carried to the grave.

3. In court just say "I feared for my life." no one can argue with that.