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Self-Defense Advice Pitfalls

The Problem With Appeals to Authority
By
Defensive Options® Instructors Krav Maga Mixed Modern Combatives

Self-Defense Advice Pitfalls

In the brief clip below, you’ll hear self-defense advice from a ‘former secret service agent.’ The clip, which I came across while doing some research, initially provides sound pre-contact suggestions. However, as the advice progresses, it becomes clear that there are some significant flaws in the approach. 

Logical Fallacy: APpeal to Authority

Appeals to authority are not strong arguments. However, we should not ignore the claims of experts who have shown they know much about a topic unless we have similar knowledge and access to evidence. This requirement for similar expertise and access to evidence should make us feel informed and prepared, as it’s also possible that an expert or authority can be wrong. Their expertise does not automatically prove that what they say is true or false.

The martial arts and self-defense industry is rife with ‘appeals to authority.’ These are often guised as bedazzled bios to gain trust and thwart any potential pushback. It is incumbent upon the consumer of the information to determine if the experience is genuinely relevant to the topic (‘Does being a secret service agent make someone a self-defense expert?’) and to seek out additional sources. This thoroughness should make you feel reassured and confident in your decision-making process.

Simple Is Not Always Better

One of the most ubiquitous and dangerous fallacies proffered by these “experts” is the idea that “simple is better” and that an untrained person can easily overcome a committed attacker by “just” kicking the shins or clawing the eyes. While these things might (and have) worked (well, I don’t know about shin-kicking), they are not an equitable substitute for legitimate self-defense and fight training. For at least a brief moment, the defender needs to be better at violence than the attacker, and the odds of simply summoning some “savagery” at the moment against someone who is experienced in violence is mostly silly. Also, beware of anyone that recommends an overreliance on “tools”, especially tools that might seem gimmicky, don’t “require” any training, or give the attacker a choice.

Vet your sources. Choose someone to give you self-defense advice the same way you’d choose a doctor or attorney or realtor or childcare provider. Don’t just rely on a CV, website or soundbite from a “credible” source.

About the Author

Ryan Hoover Ryan Hoover is the owner of Fit to Fight® Gastonia and Fit to Fight® Charlotte. He is also the founder of the Fit to Fight® affiliate organization. He holds a 2nd degree black belt in Krav Maga and is a black belt in BJJ. He has co-author of three books on Krav Maga and is recognized by the state of North Carolina as a Subject Matter Expert in addition to playing a critical role in developing defensive tactics and training curricula for law enforcement at the state level. Helping people healthier, safer lives is Ryan’s driving force. He has trained professional athletes, military and law enforcement officers, actors, stay-at-home moms and dads, and busy professionals all around the world. (including James Anderson (NFL) and Tracy Spiridakos (Actress)). 

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