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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?

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?”

  1. Do you just give them what they want to deescalate the confrontation, be it a wallet or your recent purchase in a bag? Do you refuse to give them what they want? Do you just jump right in and kick ass? I have fortuantlly not been in a situation like this. I am a pretty lg person and I guess I look rather intimidating but a gun or a knife ginda evens all that out. How do you evaluate a situation?

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  2. Good comments, Dean… I agree with most of what you’re saying. I’ve had enough training to know that street assault is no game. I’m kind of an old guy, so I am aware that allowing an adult male to strike me might mean curtains. I am perfectly willing to strike first, and “neutralize” my assailant.., whatever that may entail. I still feel some religious/ethical reluctance to get wrapped up in the negative energy of constantly preparing to really f*ck someone up. I want to be able to deal with the situation, but I don’t really want to become the “steely-eyed killer” of some of your advertising. On a practical level I wouldn’t want the cops/court to see me as some kind of ninja assassin.

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  3. Very insightful.

    In the few confrontations I have had I recall hesitating, in one instance another driver who came out of his car bla bla bla, in the end I was wanting him to leave but it got physical. Once he knocked me on the head I grabbed both wrists and he could not get away (I have some limited martial arts). At this point a wide range of techniques came to mind and as he was struggling I was ready to break bones and put him down… here’s the kicker: I worried whether he had kids and would be prevented from earning a living because of me… Ta Daaaah!!! end of fight… I let him go and he left right away and so did I… we were in the middle of the street, many witnesses, and I would of course been seen as the aggressor because this idiot was trying to get away and I would have hurt him severely…

    In hindsight, a) I won’t get out of the vehicle, b) if I am being pursued/stalked, I need to not think once I have the upper hand or think I do, I need to put them down immediately … then I can think of consequences.

    Those moments of thought could have been fatal if the other guy had that intent and not in front of witnesses.

    I am afraid of being hurt, but I’ll be damned when I recall instances where my greatest fear is harming someone else…

    (gotta learn how to take out a whole limb without a weapon… :o) …)

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  4. Awesome advice. I love this app
    At 73 yet healthy I reall appreciate the articles
    Any advice for armed alert senior citizens would be good.

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  5. I think this is key in surviving a confrontation that mite become deadly. I am not a large scary man 5foot 5 165 pounds i must hurt someone in order to get them to stop it has never bin hard to do this for me but we are not taught to act this way. A person must commit , violance of action has to be your mind set

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  7. If and when it comes down to it I will fight with the mind set as to hurt or kill so I can protect myself and my family I will not play fair and will do what ever it takes

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  8. I’ve waited a long time for someone to come out and say that ! Fighting,any fight is never nice,it’s dirty,and people ARE trying to hurt you,so this is refreshing,keep up the good work my friend,let people know !

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  9. I agree 100%. Those of us with a Martial Arts background will be a little better prepared than someone possessing no skills or experience. However, just as it is recommended that one never presents a weapon that they are not prepared to use, anyone possessing skills involving hands and feet must be prepared to use them in defence of their safety or the safety of others. Fortunately, the average potential attacker didn’t bother to learn any skills – so his aggressive attitude should be his undoing.

    Great stuff, Bob! Keep up the good work!

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  10. I don’t think any of us wants to look like the aggressor. However, neither do we want to get our asses kicked, so unless we know the guy is probably going to try and hurt us we have to go on the offensive before he can do that. So part of us has to make a judgement call in possibly
    no time at all. I 5think the training Fight Fast is sharing with us is giving us a very good advantage. I’ve learned prior to F.F. by having been in a few fights, but none of them life threatening. F.F. has helped me in changing my thinking and taught me how to handle myself better.
    I,m 79 now and will probably never have to use it, but the training has given me a higher degree of confidence if I am in that kind of situation.

    Keep up the good work.

    BW

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  11. I have never been in a “fair” fight!!!Everyone wants an advantage over an opponent. I am not a big person, but will fight with every means available to protect myself, and if you don’t, you will not survive!!!

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  12. I have always been a person who goes out of my way to respect and help people and I am a person of small stature. As such my mindset flips to the extreme when my attempts to neutralize are ignored and I am confronted with unrelenting danger because I then view that opponent as pure evil. (I am a Vietnam Vet and trained in Karate while stationed in Okinawa)

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  13. It tends to make me nervous I’ve seen a side of me that was like that at a very young age and didn’t want myself to be that person anymore now I have fear gripped around me not only because I have no fighting experience but because of what I did long ago I know the fight is coming soon but not only me but people there at that time are afraid I may not know what I am doing and seriously hurt that person beyond what was necessary and that other side of me well that time was enjoyed and I fear that the most.

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  14. When I am threatened I naturally become aggressive. Even though I’m not a large person I will respond with all I am capable of and with any tool at my disposal. Good information for for survival.

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  15. Love seeing that someone else out there understands about being polite and being professional and have a plan to kill everyone you meet.
    I started self defense when I was 8 years old after 3 of my class mates bullied me and my friend down at the swimming hole that all us country kids went to. They were smoking cigarettes and acting big and trying to burn me when I was going to jump 10 feet into the 6 foot deep creek.
    They did that to make me jump and not letting me back over the railing. (You where a man if you couldn’t jump into the 6 foot deep water off of Michael Bridge dairy farm).
    My friend stood up for me and he got a bloody nose, from one of them then we jumped our bikes to ride the one mile home.
    I’ll never forgot that and 8 years later a POS bullied him when he was sick and going to his grandmas house after basketball practice
    My father showed me how to break wrists, ankles, forearms, knew cap, and legs from a WWII hand to hand combat.
    I was enlisted into wrestling at that time and spent 11 years in that combative form. Since that time I trained in many MMA.

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  16. I agree completely,when in law enforcement years ago,in a large county jail,having this mind set saved me from being hurt numerous times,getting mad,losing my temper,getting off first and faster is a mind set you have to decide on before your in the “shit”.

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  17. Having a mind-set before any thing can happen to me or to loved ones is a mind-set I do every where I go. I must be aware of my surroundings, the people I walk by, the mobile traffic – both directions, and people coming out of alley ways plus on the street corner, yet I still want to glance backwards. This is my every day! Hello, I’m in full agreement. Best, always, Marvin Maddess.

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  18. My mind-set was messed up by unrealistic karate training, which had ingrained in my mind, to kick above the belt. That was my only regret when my attacker pulled my head down to the ground from behind. One mistake, and the whole incident took on a different turn.

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  20. There was a time when I may have waited to ‘Defend ‘ myself ‘ but those days have long past. Now I anticipate and not hesitate.

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  22. From a young age I learned to hold my temper, I come from a Violent family background. That said, If I see Harm to my family coming, Get out of the way. I can and will Let it loose and that is one hell of a monster on the loose. The last time I let loose I was young, I came back to awareness in a jail cell, shackled to the bench. It seems that when the Cops arrived I was still in monster mode and I attacked them as well. I had been jumped by a small gang in an alley on a shortcut home. I was scratched and had a couple minor cuts. 3 of them were in hospital. 2 got away but were damaged. Word went out, I was never bothered again. But the monster is still there, if I need it. And If I see a weapon targeted on my family, the Monster Will Be Set Free. I may not survive it as I have no defense that way, but the ones attacking will be crushed and my family will be unharmed. What is it? I have traced my roots to the Vikings, so I got it there, it runs in the family, I just got it full strength. RAGE, lots of Rage and it is not pretty in action.

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  23. When someone threats my life they threatens my family’s ability to survive. When they seek to take something from me there is a very high probability that it belongs not to me but my family. There is nothing more important than family and those who threatens my family does not deserve to be treated as respectful kind citizens.
    I move to their mindset ‘Predator or Prey’ where there is no defense only attack.

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  24. I’m a retired marine raider I agree with you it’s better to be respected for what you know than spit on for what you don’t you can’t count on the system for justice all you can count on is yourself the system is weak and is compromised for the crooked I like the system you show it’s a now bullshit way to take care of what needs taken care of I strongly recommend it for the times they are a changing my friends I’ll be damn if become a victim anyone always faithful always moving forward

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  25. Great advice and your right the No Mercy rule applies on the street when your in a critical situation, you cant think of holding back for a second do your worst then get to safety…….

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  27. You are100 % right! Sometimes you need to play dirty like they do. This is really good advice and people should seriously consider it. Learn to flip your switch but don’t clock out. Make sure you know all the key points of the body to strike and take them down and do not hesitate.

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  28. Good morning I totally agree that there is a need for self preservation, that our response is split second& that your mindset has to move from complacent to warrior immediately which is a hard thing to do but totally necessary as is self defense training.

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  29. Two thumbs up for showing this perspective. I’m with the majority here that haven’t thought of an encounter this way. Thank you for the insight and knowledge that your site provides.

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  30. I noticed an interesting trend on here. Many talk about kicking ass when the time comes for defense. It sounds like touch talk, but everyone here expresses a desire to survive and nobody is looking to show off or prove anything. Everybody is being realistic and utilizing more of our ability to be self aware (to think and reason) in order to contradict our own human nature (to be fearful and angry) to guide our behavior and actions for a positive outcome.

    On the other side of this need to focus aggression and fear in order to react and engage in whatever actions will ensure self preservation is the awareness of the law, our own dislike for violence and suffering the aftermath of a confrontation or fight where we have been forced to become vicious and ugly. Even thought we know we have a right to protect ourselves, most of us do not relish the thought of hurting another person and causing damage or loss of life with weapons or just our bare hands.

    I feel for those here who have shared lingering pain from bad experiences and violent encounters. Nobody should have to endure cruelty from another as nobody has the moral right to inflict pain on another person. Yet these same punks, bullies and scumbags are often protected or ignored and often never punished even in a court of law. It sickens me that it can be so easy and convenient for others and people with authority or people who could get involved to downplay a fight, to reduce or eliminate the blame of the aggressors and worse of all…. to point a finger at the victims when all they are trying to do is avoid being coerced, avoid pain and possible long term disability and at times trying to stay alive.

    I guess for the ignorant, self-righteous bleeding hearts who always choose to be on the other side of the fence just to make a point, it’s more politically correct and civilized to take a beating than to save oneself from harm.

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  32. Our sifu always taught us,. Learn the ways to preserve, rather than to destroy. Avoid rather than check, check rather than mame. Mame rather than kill, for all life is precious, nor can any be replaced.

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  34. It is life or death no matter what the attackers start with the escalation will increase unless you stop them. I live in rural areas and help will be too late, if it comes at all

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  35. Then one also has to overcome the fear of consequence or failure. Overcoming that fear takes real fighting experience or confidence in one’s skills from adequate practice.

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  36. Christmas greetings. Like to fancy the saying, “Do me good and I’ll do You better, do me bad and I’ll do You worse” I’m just saying, hey now, thank You .

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  37. I enjoy chewing on the “nuggets” received on a regular basis. Really good when they are repeated. Repetition is the key to learning. Two things I always consider when thinking about returning home every day.
    When seconds count, the police take minutes.
    Like the tshirt says “I am armed because I’m too young to die and too old to take an ass whippin’.”
    Keep those nuggets coming.

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  40. Your fight fast tips stays in mind I no I will use it when time comes I practis against any thing standing or hanging in my garden

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  41. When I trained myself and my students, I expected the ying and yang to be our guide. During training, you teach the beast, but live your life on the light side. Be a good person, but you must be ready to defend yourself. When the worst of our society puts you in a position of no escape.
    Release the beast!
    Good gets good, mallace gets the beast

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  42. I believe we all could learn alot from you an keep your teachings in our frontal lobes. As with the Masters such as Bruce Lee there’s mental an physical methods of training according to different occurrences. (Be like water.)

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  43. Excellent advice. It is only common sense to take the initiative and use everything at your command to prevail in such a dangerous situation.

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  44. Words of wisdom, I do not walk around with attitude, or arrogance, I’m humble and mature, I do not represent the physically strong or fit, I do not come off as an alpha male, which in itself presents challenges and opportunities for advantage. From time to time my will is tested by alpha males.and even though I’m considered the weaker opponent in their line of sight, more common than not, hesitate I do not In the moment of truth…..destroy your enemy, see them driven before you.then humbly walk away with a smile and his girl…..:) indeed.

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  46. My Wife and I are both licensed CCW in NM. We have discussions about different situations on a very frequent basis. We are mentally prepared to face the evils of today’s society. We have a Glock laser semi-auto replica laying near a frequented path through the house. and on instinct pick it up and double tap random things on shelves and the wall. We are both very precise after a couple of years of practice. Also as seniors, We are more aware of our surroundings at all times.

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  47. “Flipping the switch” — when I was playing hockey, that’s the expression we used to describe jumping from a shoving match to dropping the gloves and getting down and dirty serious. It’s a good way to frame self-defense decisions because you gotta know where your line is in advance — you can’t make it up as you go along because then you’ll always be behind the situation.

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  48. As a combat veteran and 16 year career in the U.S. Army I know the importance of being able to flip the switch as you say. As I tell people I am not a fighter I am a killer. If I am in a self defense situation my mindset is to kill the enemy before he has a chance to kill me. Bottom line. End of story.

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  50. I’m fifty…neck hurts from a 15 year old car accident…I’m still active , construction worker, only 5′ 7″….would rather learn quick debilitating aggressive moves to not only defend against an attack but also moves and common objects that can quickly render an attacker immobile….I’m not out looking to prove whose the better fighter…I’m out to destroy a malicious attack on me…or anyone in my fold….

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