Again I totally agree with you, it is certainly risky, but there are times when you should make the decision to act forcefully and decisively. I make my best effort in order to we train every day, both in the techniques of defense and the ability to tell when it’s really necessary to make use of our training: I consider this last point it´s the real key.

John, I send my best wishes of Peace
Gus Romano

As a young man I ended up fighting mostly if threatened because I could and as you point out – one does not really know the robbers intentions.

As I get older I find myself feeling safe where I live and work and really it is the exception to have anything bad happen.

I mostly get along well by avoiding bars and wild parties, places I would have frequented as a younger man.

That being said though I still would not hesitate to defend myself if needed be but if I was only worried about my wallet – I’d just give it over.

Using distance and depending on the weapon, one can mitigate the risk a bit – for instance if the bad guy has a knife – I can stay out of range and comply but if the attacker gets closer – I have to defend myself or put my life at risk.

So I guess I am saying that I wholeheartedly agree with you and would strive to keep safe even if attacked and if the situation dictated – fight back… mostly to keep me safe.

You know it is always tough to hear about bad social/political situations but one thing I think is universal the world over – human life is valuable… it is important to live and let live and teach our children. Hard to do sometimes but always a goal to strive for if we are ever to make strides in improving the human condition the world over… perhaps out of scope for this blog but I think someday an attainable goal!

Thanks for your wisdom Gustavo! Los Mejores Deseos!

If you allow me to speak from actual experience that we live daily, as I´ve already said before, one thing is to train based on “potential situations”, and another very different, is in “real situations” .
Unfortunately, day after day in my country, takes place increasingly violent episodes, with ever younger players and with varying degrees of violence unthinkable for any normal human being. Politicians can´t handle this situation and the lack of control is increasing. Every day I receive in my Aikido´s Dojo, people interested in learning to defend itself. ” The speech that I give them is similar to the comments you make on this blog, but none of this is enough and are increasingly further from reality. Many people know my experience of other defense and combat gear, but since I have embraced Aikido (more than 18 years), so far I’ve tried to explain to stay out of combat techniques. It is true that often “we play” by combining attacks and techniques but I try to always be in a friendly environment.
Anyway my point is that we see every day in the news, young people (and not so much) who kill the innocent for no reason, as you say, even after access to all their demands. I keep the same thought as you and common sense. Unfortunately (I apologize if I sound hard) have experience in controlled environments like a dojo, does not make us experts on defense in extreme situations. It´s seems interesting to me to make this contribution because the reality we live now is very different than you can imagine and live.
I had to rush to change a lot of my thinking, in order to make a contribution that really serves in these extreme situations. In fact, comes to my Dojo members of police and military forces to learn basic techniques of control. They leave their schools with small classes and then never again they are forced to stay in shape!
Soon, my feeling of responsibility was telling me I should do something against this rising tide of senseless violence, and that the words that any “expert fighter” could say, are not practical at this point. If we consider that in any corner, a 11 year old child, points you whit a gun fire and after submitting all to him, shoots you anyway … I think that soon we must change our way of seeing reality because this is beyond us.
Aikido is peaceful by nature, therefore I have proposed finding a balance between self-defense and end up dead. We can´t forget that we no longer can applies the principle: “If you give everything you have and do what they tell you, they will not hurt you.” Here, this is not true anymore. We must start from reality that they’ll hurt you anyway. With this view I develop techniques. However, no training is based on a simple fighting because that would promote survival of the fittest and competitons: all illusions (sorry, not my intention to discredit any martial art, on the contrary, I greatly admire the great contribution they make). The training that I propose is to all who want to feel safe: to sharpen the mind and senses, overcome fears and learn to interpret every moment and every situation as unique. Based on these ideas, with proper training, each of us will know what to do at the right time. Of course this is no guarantee of anything, I know.
For the confused people who choose the hard way: training in the arts of peace, share their frustrations and fears, may be together seek another path to their needs…
But do not forget: the reality that we live in, follow to the end what the offender says, is no longer synonymous of out alive. ”

Wishes of Peace and Harmony from Buenos Aires!
(As always apologies for my spanglish)
Gustavo Romano

(I am currently developing a non-profit association in order to reach people who need to appease his spirit. I consider this delicate problem we are experiencing, should also be taken from their roots)

Hey James! Great logic… and reading the title of your blog… totally agree there too… As soon as you go to the ground and assuming you are a great grappler… you can only fighting one attacker at a time. Thanks for you take on this.

It’s been suggested here to minimize the benefit to a potential mugger and save yourself a lot of trouble and administrative hassle: don’t carry too much cash on you, don’t put all your valuables in plain sight… All sound advice, especially when going abroad. When credit cards are stolen it’s not such a big deal as long as you immediately call your bank to have them blocked, same for passports, insurance papers and such.

Children should be taught to use common sense and keep themselves safe. However do teach them they have responsibilities too: if you see someone being severely beaten or a woman being raped you don’t have to step in (could be very dangerous for you too) but at least call the cops, yell or do something. It sickens me that people are so selfish these days, especially when they’d want as much help as they could get if they were in the very same situation.