Where a defendant puts forward a justification for the infliction of violence, such as self defence, provocation or resistance to violence, the onus is upon the prosecution to disprove these matters if a verdict of guilty is to be justified.
(Barry Davies, SAS)
Different attitudes
We encourage
you to be compassionate towards your opponent.
Do only do what you need to do and no more.
We teach restraint from the very start of the
syllabus.
Lawful
You
are far less likely to get yourself imprisoned if you practice restraint.
The ability to defend yourself without unduly injuring the other person should
not be understated.
Psychologically, you win the fight without needing to use all that you have.
If your opponent knows that you are being restrained, they are far more likely
to back down.
Should they press the attack, you can reasonably escalate the response
accordingly, having demonstrated that it is not your intention to cause harm.
Detached
A
calm, unemotional response to violence is always best.
If you can approach adversity with humour, it is often possible to avoid
problems before they arise.
Exuding quiet confidence is more effective than strutting bravado.
By practicing restraint you show that you have no personal stake in the
situation; it is inconvenient and nothing more.
Mercy
Restraint is a form of
mercy.
It considers your opponent beyond the narrow confines of the immediate.
Hurting somebody in class or on the street could severely damage their life in
the long-term.
You will be
responsible for that.
Is it worth the risk?
If there is the slightest chance of injuring your
practice
partner in class, you should
uproot yourself rather than damage the other person.
Page created 2 June 2004