Rory Miller: The Practical Problem of Teaching Self-Defense
Rory Miller of Chiron Training:
Unlike police or military force training, you will use your skills alone the first time. Police and military do everything in their power to make sure that rookies don’t go into their first bad situation alone. The new officer is paired with a FTO (Field Training Officer). The infantry private is assigned to a squad with, ideally, an experienced corporal or sergeant as fire team or squad leader. A civilian will not get into his/her first violent assault with a partner who is a veteran of multiple self-defense situations. You’ll be alone.
And unlike anything else, in this unexpected problem experienced under pain, surprise and adrenaline, you will be held to a legal standard. Your decisions will be scrutinized by people who were not there, who did not feel the adrenaline or the pain. And they will question whether you needed to use force and if so whether you used too much.
These are the things that make teaching real self-defense such an incredible challenge.
Challenges and Possible Solutions
I could probably write a book about these challenges and possible solutions. (Hmmmmm…) Truth is, I don’t have answers. But I have some ideas. Here are a few.
1) Teach the way humans naturally learn…