Many people ask whether you can end an ugly situation with control and restraint. The short answer is no. By the very fact that the situation is ugly, control and restraint goes out of the window. You need to stop the threat instantly.

In this video lesson I explain my thinking. It is for self-defence students, door staff, security officers and anyone who has been taught that locks and holds are the answer to every problem.

What Makes a Situation Ugly

An ugly situation is one where someone is genuinely trying to hurt you. They are aggressive, committed and not interested in stopping. There may be more than one of them, and there may be a weapon.

Control and restraint techniques work best when you have some time, some control already, and a subject who is not fully committed to hurting you. In an ugly situation you have none of those things. Trying to apply a careful lock while someone is punching you, or while their friend comes in from the side, is a good way to get hurt.

Stop the Threat First

When things are ugly, the priority is to stop the threat as quickly as possible and get to safety. That usually means simple, effective actions:

  • Take the attacker's balance so they cannot keep attacking
  • Use a sharp, effective strike to a sensible target to create a reaction
  • Create distance and get away, or get help

Once the threat has stopped, control may become possible, if it is still needed and if your role requires it.

The Law Still Applies

Stopping the threat does not mean anything goes. Any force you use must be reasonable for the situation as you honestly saw it at the time. When the threat ends, your use of force must end too. Training should always include knowing when to stop.

Train for Both

Professionals who have to control people need both skills: how to stop a threat and how to control someone afterwards. Train strikes and pressure points with control and a cooperative partner, and keep it light around the head and neck.

Take It Further

If you work in security or law enforcement, the PPDT Online Course is built for exactly these situations. For everyone else, the Pressure Point Self Defense Course gives you a complete self-defence syllabus.