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Do You Have Bad Intentions?

Welcome Back!

Jim West was recently at our studio to provide some expert instruction on a few new weapon projects. As expected, we had a great time. Jim has a way of tossing out nuggets of combat wisdom in passing that really stick with you. Here’s one thing he brought up that many of us don’t give enough thought to:

“Bad Intentions”

Jim pointed out that in a life or death self-defense situation, you MUST have bad intentions. If you aren’t mentally prepared to hurt your attacker, you are much less likely to survive. The survival mindset is an aggressive one.

For Jim, it’s about flipping the switch from polite citizen to “ass kicking” mode as quickly as possible. How fast can you make the switch? Seriously, think about that for a minute…

Most of us grew up being told we have to be kind to others… and we should. Most of us were scolded for hitting others at a young age… also a good thing. Because of our parent’s strong values and guidance we developed into kind and respectful citizens.

Here’s the Problem…

If kindness and respect are your norms, how do you “flip the switch?” For some, it’s very difficult and can take a second or two. For others, they just can’t seem to make the switch. Why is it so difficult for us? We are conditioned to be non-violent. Criminals expect good victims, and for the most part, people are. The criminal’s instinct is to take what they want through intimidation, deception, and violence. Ours is to earn what we want through honest, hard work.

In the critical few moments leading up to physical contact, most of us are looking for ways to de-escalate the situation, or are simply paralyzed by fear (or an ingrained hesitancy to hurt another human being). All this works to the criminal’s advantage.

So You MUST Be Proactive

If you wait for a life-threatening situation to decide what to do, you are leaving too much up to chance. You must decide ahead of time where your “line in the sand” is. And if it’s crossed, how far will you go?

Ask yourself the following questions:

  1. How dirty will you fight?
  2. Are you out for blood?
  3. Will you wait to be hit first?

How To Pick Locks. (Who Needs Keys?)

You may find this shocking, but picking open a standard "tumbler" lock, (like the one on your front door), is pretty damn easy when you know how it's done.

And in a "meltdown" survival situation, (once the smash-n-grab crowd has stolen everything not tied-down), the food and water and secure shelter will all be behind locked doors, (which explains why Special Forces are often trained in lock picking... and why they carry a set of lock pics with them).

It's a lot of fun learning this skill, (it doesn't take long)... and kinda nice to help out that buddy locked out of his house after the wife discovered what really happened on that "no money down" real estate seminar in Vegas.

>> Check Out "Lock Picking Kit" Here. <<

Don’t Get Me Wrong

I’m not suggesting you fly off the handle at the slightest chance of a conflict. But when trouble comes knocking, you’d better be mentally prepared to take care of the problem and resolve yourself to do what you think is necessary.

Keep in mind hundreds, if not thousands of people have been killed with just one punch. So, as far as I’m concerned, there are no “little scuffles” in the street. This isn’t the playground. A grown man trying to hit me IS life threatening, every time. When you engage you must truly intend on hurting the person. You can’t fake it.

Aggression and self-preservation are basic animal instincts. Use them. If you are simply defending (as in, only using defensive moves) your attacker will likely keep at it, until he has worn you down. Your defense has to hurt him. It must have those bad intentions.

The Reality Is This

With the exception of a skilled counter-fighter, aggressors control the encounter. If you willingly let the attacker maintain his role as the leader in the encounter you are leaving too much up to chance. Hoping he’ll give up, hoping somebody will come to the rescue, hoping he won’t hurt you too bad, or hoping he’ll leave your family alone.

Don’t hope… ACT. We’ve talked about mindset before and this won’t be the last time we talk about it. But I think Jim West has a unique and valuable way of looking at this issue, that may resonate in a different way than some of our previous articles.

What Do You Think?

When trouble comes, will you have the strength to flip the switch? Let me know in the comments below!

For a safe life…

Dean Horine, Special Projects
FightFast/TRS

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696 thoughts on “Do You Have Bad Intentions?”

  2. I’m in this mostly for knowledge. I’m 73. Just had open heart surgery. So I’m always looking for ways to end things quick. I worked in mental hospitals all my life. Mind-set is no problem for me. But, I can’t last. I’ve got my C.C. for Or. but not CA. For a guy with no money, I need advice mostly. You do a good job. Keep it up. When the s.h.t.f. it’s guys like you who will pull us through.

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  3. Thank you so much for all the lessons you’ve taught me, I just need to get them down!! I was raped September 29 the this year, I wasn’t prepared damb it! My neighbor cought me out side walking in the evening,I turned it in. But I’m saying you really got to set this stuff in your mind like stone! Because I thought I was ready, but I didn’t practice enough!!! Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!

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  6. I believe in God completely, and he will guide me in all my ways. He will protect me and make me stand strong beside him without waver! I am a warrior! What needs to be done will be done!

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  7. Interesting article. Like everything else in life, you have to play the game and not be complacent. In life/death situations there aren’t any “do overs”. The rules are final. Play the game.

    Would like to read more about this.

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  8. Growing up I participated in martial arts and jiu-jitsu because I was smaller and my parents worried about me & I fought a lot out of necessity to protect myself. As I grew older, larger, and more skilled (wrestling, hand to hand combat & mma training) fighting became less of a necessity and the occassional dust up or rumble was fun, but now as a 35 yr old husband and father of two I have a much different perspective….thankfully I am physically imposing enough to discourage almost all physical confrontations. A few years back though my wife and I were walking back to our hotel room just off the main strip in Vegas late one night, and we made the questionable decision to cut through an alley, sure enough trouble found us in the form of a knife wielding thug. Thankfully, due to my years of training and the mentality explained above, our would be attacker found himself in the back of an ambulance with a crushed trachea, blown out knee, a severe knife wound to the forearm, and a police escort. I have no desire to trade blows with an opponent, or test myself…if faced with the threat of “bad intentions” I will act to end you. Not just to hurt you. Not to intimidate you. Not just to stop you, but to end you. As quickly as possible. It may sound extreme, but I have every intention of seeing my family cared for and protected. I make no apologies for that.

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  9. As a retired sheriff sergeant our mantra was “never give up”. 36 years of that mindset and I’m still alive.

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  10. I was what youvwould calk a tom boy in younger years and If I even thought someone was going to attack me I was ready. Youchave to think quick your moves. That’ good advice. It’ s either your opponent or you will go down and it wouldn’t be me.

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  11. As a disabled vet or for that matter , anyone with limitations , this is an important article . I can’t speak for everyone but as for myself I have learned to be more aware of my surroundings and situation ” BAD INTENTIONS ” ?? You had better believe it. Old age and treachery will overcome youth and attitude.

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  12. During my 28 years in the military I had my share of fights. When it was a dust-up between me and a military brother we were never trying to permanently hurt each other, usually it was because of booze or over a gal. Now, at age 72, I try to be alert as possible and remember the things that I picked up on the service and from your martial arts tapes. Our laws limit how much reasonable harm you can do to someone that you get in a conflict with, so that is on my mind always too. I may be an old ex-GI but I still have the same amount of Irish in me that I always had! Cheers!

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  13. Jim West is a 100% Correct but I Need to Contact my local Law Enforcement on what to do if a Man gets into my Face and Space and Threatens to Kill me and the Man Who Did that to me which I will not Mention his name but I Knew this man all my Life and all he does is he wants to Hurt me or If we were in a Bar he will knock me across the Room and at another time this Man wanted to Knock my Teeth out and when I Do not Cause him Conflict He looks to Hurt me Verbally or Physically and he said he does not want a Relationship and I tried to make Peace with this Person and he wanted no Part of me but that is Life but he did One Favor to me and Since Trump is Running for President he had an Add Called Fight Fast and I brought Lots of Materials From Fight Fast and my Goal is to Get 85 DVD Sets of all Fight Fast Fight Instructors to teach me How to Fight in the Streets and as I Discipline myself to Learn how to Fight being Proactive Physically I Have to Look at all the Targets my attacker Shows when he Looks to strike at me when he uses his Mouth to Kill me and if I May see Him again in my Life Time I Will be Mentally prepared to Fight Him but I Will not Fight Him I will Keep My Guard up at all Times I see Him and be ready to strike Him when we get into Arguments But I have to Keep This Person out of my Life For Good and he Told His Father I hope you Really Hope you Die 6 Times and I am a Good Friend of this Bumbs Father so I Needed to make a Comment about Jim West Fighting System and I am a Law Abiding Citizen and never got into a Fight but I came Close getting into a Fight with this Thug Who Called me a Bully and He knew that If I was a Bully which I am Not I Will Let Him Know that if he wants to Fight me Lets Go and I Learn that Quote by Chris Klugston and I Intend to Buy his Material and Learn how to Fight Like Cathy Long and Mike Gullette

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  14. I’m just an old long haired, who is God fearing, country loving, gun toting Republican. Who as one collapse lung & the other isn’t in much better shape. If I’m ever forced to get in to a knife fight first threw will be for the throat & after that will more than likely be on the ground gasp for air. I feel I have a better chance if there 21′ or closer & fear for my life, then I’ll just pull out my Sig & will guarantee thell go down and stay down. Charlir

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  15. I like all the blogs that I receive, they have a lot of good advice on how to protect your self. Keep them coming.

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  16. I agree you must be in control.ALWAY’S BE FIRST! Otherwise you can be hurt and they are pumped up and ready to strike.always be first i always say get in my safe space and get hit.i would rather feel bad about acting on my golden rule of get in my space gethit in the face.then to be hurt or worse!! I had tthat happen once and got stomped down was out of work over two years! Never again alway be first.

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  18. I am not afraid to back people off. I was told one time at work I was intimidating. I was surprised. But then I noticed that any time there was a combative patient, a patient who didn’t want to do what the doctor wanted, wouldn’t take their meds, a doctor who was difficult to work with, my co-workers would come get me. Physical therapists would come get me if patients wouldn’t get up. I wasn’t mean, just confident and more determined than the patient. Yes, if attacked I would use any measure to fight back.

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  19. I read this and realized that in a situation where I had to fight to protect myself or a loved one I had to forget all the “manners” I had been taught. This article made me think and other woman in the same situation need to change their attitude also and be prepared to defend and or attack their assailant.

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  20. I (and my friends who truly know me) know that I would have no trouble coming up with “bad intentions” if threatened. Your tapes just show me how to respond. I already had the attitude, I just need the skills. Thank you

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  21. I am always suspicious when I am in a different environment than I am us to. I watch everything, no surprises for me. My family knows that I will take on anything.

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  22. Hey Folks I am 67 years old so when there is an altercation I have to be all in. I mean with anything and everything I can handle. Speaking of which I love the knife, crossbow and torchlight I bought, but being on a very limited income I can’t buy everything I like. But keep on putting them out there and I will do what I can.

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  23. I’m glad I read this. I have led a charmed life, when I think about it..Last time I was in danger, a man with a loaded gun, shoved in his waistband, angry, looking for one of the prostitutes in the next apt., had followed me upstairs, and as I fumbled with my keys, came up nearly pressed againt me & asked “you one of the girls in 3B? His face, furious.
    I always have relied on making a connection to the decent person that everyone wishes they were…what new baby, if asked what they wanted to grow up to be, would answer: ‘A great big A**hole!’ So that day, him, having a loaded gun & not believing I wasn’t one of the girls in 3B, I looked him in the eyes, as I held 2 grocery bags, and decided all I could do was talk to the guy that wasn’t on a killing, angry mission. I asked him if he could help me open my door…and help carry the heavy bags in,.
    He looked kinda confused…and did help me…opened my door, returned the keys, carried my bags in and put them on the table.
    I thanked him…and the furious dude was now no longer in that mood (as I hoped he wouldn’t kill the hookers) He had regained his composure…headed out the way he’d come in, and I never saw him again.
    BUT …I realize that though, SO many times I have escaped danger usiing that premise…and by luck, not met pure evil…if there is pure evil, that I ought to re-assess the way I have dealt with the similar situations my interesting (not in the happy way) life has afforded me.
    I am now, a married mother of 4 sons…
    who all, incuding my husband, tower above 5’1” 104?lb. me…
    I realized the day my first son was born, 2 things:
    1. I had never experienced a love like this before, & nothing could have prepared me for it.
    2. I could kill…

    Time and the relative safety of my life has eroded that instinct. And maybe, my idealist view of humanity needs adjustment.
    At least this article has pushed me to consider that I ought not toss the keen edge
    that is really a part of me, out.

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  25. The average street thug is successful because he has no regard for human life, not even his own. He chooses victims that appear weak or vulnerable (due to a complete lack of situational awareness whenever they are out in public). This is because, usually, the victim’s face is planted in their cell phone of other personal electronic device that they have become addicted to . . . And this makes them an easy ‘mark’.
    Yes, it’s true – Good people need to develop a killer mindset so they can successfully come out on top when their personal space is aggressively invaded . . . . But, they could prevent the vast majority of attacks from occurring in the first place by exercising consistent mindfulness of their surroundings wherever they are.

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  26. I used to be very passive aggressive. Then I joined the Army in 1985. I attended the Military Police School and came home “slightly” different: 185lbs instead of 243lbs. Head up, shoulders back, instead of slouched feeling loser, and a new device I developed- my warrior ethos On/Off switch.

    I had a nemesis in the neighborhood that intimidated and at one time he and his brothers attacked me all at the same time, I help my own as I was standing 6.2 ft and probably 230lbs then.

    Just after coming home from Basic I saw them beating up to smaller guys in the park one night. I was getting ready for my weekend drill on the National Guard and threw my cammies on an ran over. When I got there they looked up and asked who I was. When I told them they about needed diapers! I walked the two guys home w the “gang” following me. As I turned to go home they started threatening me.. Click… Wrong thing to do… I approach all three now in Warrior mode.

    A few years later I was in a store and saw the older brother alone and asked if he would like to fight now, right there in public. He coward and said leave me alone. I guess the Click was heard and understood.

    We all have flight or fight instinct, if we develop the Warrior ethos of the fight said- for the Right reasons- our Persons, families, cities and nation will be great again! Truth and Justice is a key component of Americanism!

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  27. Well, I’m happy to know there are like minded people out there like me.
    I will try to be the “ass-kickin” granny you would like me to be. I can’t promise how far up to that ass I can kick but, I sure can shoot a gun.
    Glad to be aboard and God Bless you and your mission.
    Sharon Gray

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  28. I learned at a very young age in school, if you let people know that you will fight, 99 percent of the time, you won’t have to. And if you strike
    First also is in your favor.

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  30. I am a former USMC , and I do not believe in waiting . I take control of the situation from the git-go ! You may not be able to if you wait .

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  32. Well, I agree with everything you say. My background. I enlisted in the US Army in 1970 for a three year hitch. At that time you could be recruited right out of BCT by US Army SF if you were outstanding and passed their muster. I went straight to Jump school at Ft. Benning and from there through Ranger RASTS and became Ranger tabbed. I then took and made the cut in the SF “Q” Course and went through Phase training including sniper school at Benning and the SOTAC training at Bragg. I spent two TDY tours in Vietnam. I think I know where you are coming from. To me, self Defense is knowing there is going to be a fight and you then take the initiative.

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  34. You’re ABSOLUTELY right … ya just CAN’T “DO” self-defense … ya GOTTA inflict some SERIOUS PAIN!!!
    Thanks for a GREAT article.

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  35. Hey! You’re absolutely right about getting on top of a situation. Using what is in hand saved me in Los Angeles when I was about 21 yrs old. I hit a would be rapist in the nutts with a 5 pound bag of potatoes. At 1am after work. I did bruise my fist on my drunk husband’s face and then divorced him. Oh yeah, when I was 15 I walked into my bedroom and found a man sitting on my bed. I ran into my moms room to get to the phone but after he threatened my little brother, I let him in and clobbered him with a lamp. He had stalked me for almost 3 months before he made contact. I am now 67 years old and alone, but I keep a wasp killer propellant can by my bed. This will help in a tight situation. Your tips really help, they have given me much insight in protecting myself and what to look for. No, I’m not a paranoid old broad, just a careful one. Thank you so very much.

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  38. Hey Bob your words of wisdom are very inspiring and I will always keep them in mind But I never forget the old saying. You snooze you lose

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  40. If there’s just one thug I won’t throw the first punch; I’d let him miss with his, step into him and do my thing. If he’s about my size and weight I’d throw an arm lock on him and take him down by his throat, or I’d smash his face into my head, depending on his stance. If he’s significantly larger than I am I’d still step into him but slice him across his brows. I won’t set myself up to be jailed for aggravated assault, manslaughter or murder.

    But if he’s armed with a weapon I would then try to strike first with a lethal move, regardless of his size. I’d rather be tried by twelve than carried by six, as my dad used to say.

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  41. When you engaged you must act with a mindset to repeatedly injure your attacker to stop the attack do not become the victim

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  43. I woke up one morning and discovered I had just spent my first night of a long prison sentence, I was raised just as the intro to this blog site explained about nonviolent lifestyle and didn’t have “bad intentions”, not only didn’t I know how to flip the switch to bad intentions to survive I also didn’t know how to flip the switch back off to nonviolent life again which is how I ended up in prison, thank God a judge recognized I wasn’t a bad kid and found myself in a kill or be killed senario which lead me to his court room and convicted me of involuntary manslaughter still resulting in a 29 month prison term and this is where I honed my “bad intentions” and my ability to switch it on and off at will. I am now 50 years old and I have trained my son to recognize how and when to turn it on and off, I discovered turning it off in time is equally as important as turning it on in time to survive. Thank you for starting this blog site I never realized this ability was commonly known I was forced to learn it simply to survive my first week in prison

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  44. Always expect the unexpected. Most attackers have nothing to lose & dint care. They arent afraid to do what ever they can to make sure they dont get caught while getting away with whatever… We must be willing to go to that level and come out on top

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  46. Expect the unexpected and don’t hesitate to do what you think is right to defend you and/or your family. Most people think that it would never escalate to physical violence but what happens when it does? You’ve got to be ready.

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  48. So true, seen it many times before. A thug in your face talking trash. There you stand hoping he will back down if you be quiet. That is thinking like the victim you will soon become. Make no mistake, by this point you have been targeted and your life is in peril. Now you must ask yourself…man or mouse and act. As for me, in the immortal words of Mr T, “I pity the fool!”

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  49. This statement says it all…
    “Don’t Hope…ACT!”

    I’ve learned to pay attention to others’ intentions…watching their body language.

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  50. I was told at a young age that the guy that fights fair rides in the ambulance. I had a dirt bag in an airport try to pick pocket me. While he was screaming over his dislocated kneecap I took HIS wallet. Little bastard had more cash than I did. I totally understand where that line in the sand is.

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