De-Escalation And Martial Arts

Many who train in martial arts focus solely on combat techniques not realizing that avoiding the fight is also part of the practice. It is said that de-escalation is the apex of martial arts expression, and this thought is important. When confronted with an aggressive person who has not yet become violent, we must do everything we can disengage from them and walk away from the situation. Is this always possible? No. But often times it is. Is de-escalation easy to achieve? It depends on the situation. They are all different. So we must practice in training.

When attempting to de-escalate a heated situation we have to take a few things into consideration.

1. Our de-escalation attempt can fail. While trying to cool the situation down, put your body in a position that is conducive to fighting but that looks non-aggressive. Blade your feet slightly for balance and mobility and raise your hands in a non-threatening way for fast reactions.

2. Move in circles. This will help you to manage your distance and will also keep you aware of your surroundings.

3. Don’t let your emotions get the best of you. If we let anger take control, all hope for successful de-escalation is lost. Keep calm, cool, and collected.

In our martial arts practice we should 100% hone our skills that help us deal with a violent scenario but we must also not forget that a non-violent resolution to conflict is the best possible outcome.