MacDonald Academy of Martial Arts

Kenpo Karate, Krav Maga, and Fitness for the Boston / Watertown area

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Sign up for our newsletter!
GET STARTED!
  • Home
  • GET STARTED
  • Seminars & Events
  • News & Articles
    • Announcements & News
    • Kenpo News
    • Krav Maga News
  • About
    • The Academy
    • Our Instructors
    • What People Are Saying
  • Programs
    • Youth Kenpo Karate
    • Adult Kenpo Karate
    • Krav Maga
    • Law Enforcement
  • Class Schedule
  • Student Area
    • Kenpo Student Area
    • Krav Maga Student Area
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Krav Maga News / On being mentally prepared

On being mentally prepared

08.24.11 By Danelle 1 Comment

I wrote about a few good books a while ago that focused on self-defense and reaction. Rory Miller, in his book Meditations on Violence, had a good suggestion that I’d like to present to our community. We train physically in self-defense and fighting and aggression, but what about our mental training? One key element in the mental preparation is knowing when. At what point to you decide to engage physically? At what point do you decide that the “Hey man, calm down” isn’t working, or giving someone your keys and wallet isn’t enough?

One thing to do now, when you are in a safe place and can think about it, is to make a list of what scenarios might happen in which you will fight or intervene. Now, I’m not talking about the mugger who just wants your cell phone and wallet and will walk away when he gets those. In those situations, hand over what they want and hope they walk away. But what happens if they don’t just walk away?

Here is my list:

  • When I feel my life is being threatened (yes, this is broad and can be very individual and interpreted in several ways)
  • When a mugger wants to move me to a different place
  • When a loved one is being threatened
  • When I see a child is being threatened

Please feel free to add yours in the comments.

Filed Under: Krav Maga News, Self-Defense, Training Tagged With: "when", situational awareness

About Danelle

Danelle Marable is a Krav Maga Worldwide-certified instructor at the MacDonald Academy of Martial Arts. She enjoys hikes, long walks on the beach, and lifting heavy things.

Questions? Comments? Post 'em Here! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

  1. erin ramage says

    08.30.11 at 11:46

    that list seems perfect to me. would it not be self-deffense to be rational and reasonable and even have some universal righteousness on your side? i thought about all the things that would raise my hackles–’cause they exist! and they raise involuntarily and usher in the fight or flight mechanism and it’s awesome and super animalistic…i was mightily impressed, which is probably silly– and they’re all on your list. but what do you do if you’re just stuck following your judgement? what if you don’t particularly trust your own judgement?

    Reply

Important Posts: Read These!

  • Academy Announcements & News
  • Academy Closings
  • Academy Policy Updates

Archives

Categories

Our Instructors

Our instructors are highly trained and certified in their respective disciplines. Brian … Learn More

Magazine Covers

What People Are Saying

We're proud of our achievements as a school and in the community. Awards: We've been voted "Best of the Best" Martial Arts in Watertown - from 2003 through 2013! MSA and GKM are survey … Learn More

Academy News

Easy Like Sunday Morning

02.04.22

Fall 2020 Live & Online Schedules

08.28.20

COVID-19 Update 03/20/20

03.20.20

More Academy News

Contact Us

MacDonald Academy of Martial Arts
6 Riverside St
Watertown, MA 02472 · USA
phone: 617.923.4248
Click here for directions and e-mail
Sign up for our newsletter!

  • Announcements & Academy News
  • Kenpo News & Articles
  • Krav Maga News & Articles
  • * SEMINARS & EVENTS *

Copyright © 2025 · Privacy Policy · SITEMAP
Site Development by Patrick Sanders