Pre-Attack Behavior by Fred Bauer
Several months ago, I reviewed an article that examined the body language an aggressor may exhibit before attacking. The article was given to me by GHCA Instructor and 20-year-veteran of the Camden Police Department in New Jersey, Kevin Strang.
Handwritten on the article was a note from Instructor Strang, “I studied this and found it very useful on the streets in Camden.”
Enough said!!!
I have since researched body language signs prior to an assault and have included my findings:
Regardless of the term given to body language signs, whether they are: “Ritualized Combat”, “Pre-Attack Indicators”, “Pre-Attack Cues”, “Pre-Incident Indicators” or “Pre-Contact Cues”, the one common theme of a pre-attack situation is that these physical gestures are almost always present. As such, they are sufficient warning signs an attack is imminent. Nonetheless, to utilize these to our benefit we need to first know what the signs are and then train to be able to pick up on them.
Following is a list of the more common signs but take note that one of these body language indicators alone may be incidental. However, if two or more signs are present a red flag should raise that an attack is imminent.
FIGHTING STANCE is any change in a person’s original stance or if he blades his body itself. Be aware of any shifting of their weight or stance. Watch for the person who will lower his body weight while putting his head and chin down. The attacker may also start by having his head,
neck and shoulders rolled back with the chest pushed out, as psychologically they are attempting to make themselves look bigger.
BREATHING that becomes fast or shallow should be looked for. Instinctively the body is oxygenating itself in preparation for a physical altercation.
CLENCHING of the teeth or of the jaw is another sign to consider. Constriction of the muscles indicates stress and perhaps readiness for an attack. Watch for lips being pushed forward baring teeth. You see this same action in wolves and dogs before they attack. Remember, there is no single, essential difference that separates human beings from animals at the primal level.
SHEDDING CLOTHING is another common occurrence. To see an attacker remove articles of clothing/accessories prior an attack such as a jacket, shirt, hat or jewelry indicates they may feel the clothing may hinder them during a physical altercation or to protect their property from damage/loss during a fight.
DIRECTS ANGER TOWARDS INANIMATE ITEMS such as throwing chairs, tables or punching holes in walls. This indicates a potential he may turn that anger on you.
IN A QUICK TIME BECOMES COMPLETELY COOPERATIVE AFTER BEING UNCOOPERATIVE gives the appearance of a decrease in aggression but should raise a flag. People normally de-escalate over time. Doing so in a quick, almost instantaneous time, is unusual and may indicate the person is now calculating or has decided on an attack.
THE THOUSAND MILE (YARD) STARE is when a person is looking right through you and it shows they have disengaged mentally from reality.
TARGET GLANCING is the preoccupation an attacker will have with a particular area of your body. Attackers will glance at the area they will attack or go after be it your chin, nose, throat or weapon.
LOOKING AWAY/AROUND (FIGHT OR FLIGHT GLANCING) is essentially when an individual looks around for any police, cameras, bystanders (witnesses) just prior to launching the attack. Often the attacker will turn his head over his shoulder or looks up for cameras to see what’s around/behind him to ensure the “coast is clear” to attack and flee.
During my research I considered how these body language signs could be beneficial to our GHCA training. A large part of our combative curriculum is Preemptive striking/attacking. We all know someone standing in front of us with their fists clenched saying; “I’m going to kick your ass!” is a sign of an attack. In such a situation, based upon our combative principles, we
would launch into an explosive preemptive tiger claw or edge of hand strike. By doing so, we immediately adapt from a preemptive state to a counter attack or stop hit mode.
Over the past few months we began to add these body language signs during our man-on-man training. During these drills when we recognized an attack was imminent through one or more of the demonstrative signs of attack we preempted that confrontation in a counter attack/stop-hit mindset.
I recommend you challenge yourselves, as a group and as individuals, to come up with and demonstrate some of these indicators to other members in your Chapter. Make it a part of your training regimen so as to benefit and become aware of the common “indicators” of an attack.
The ability to familiarize ourselves with these behaviors will increase our management of the individual displaying the behaviors. Additionally, we must be familiar with the behaviors themselves and be able to clearly articulate these behaviors/body positions. Doing this as part of our training provides us with the ability, in a liability situation, to clearly and objectively explain why the actions of our adversary created a necessity for you to defend yourself in the manner in which you did.
Below I listed references I used for the research in this article. I suggest you review them and expand on this issue through your own research. Furthermore, utilize the internet for footage of street attacks and pick up on the signs immediately before the attack. Finally, the subject matter of these Pre-Attack Behaviors should be included in any seminar you may be developing.
References:
Ritualized Combat phrased by Roland Ouellette
Pre Attack Indicators phrased by Gavin DeBecker
Pre Incident Indicators phrased by Kelly McCann
Pre Contact Cues phrased by Tony Blauer
Sujet: Pre-Attack Behavior by Fred Bauer (Lu 5926 fois)
