Have you ever noticed how some people in life have a “kick me” sign on their back, like they are repeatedly targeted by others? Have you ever heard somebody react to news of a violent crime with disbelief, saying “I never thought it could happen here?” Why does it seem that some are incapable of defending themselves when attacked, begging not to be harmed?
There are two kinds of people in the world – those who are aggressive and those who are not. Many of us have been taught from a young age to be kind and polite in words and deeds. Decent qualities for a decent society, but without the ability to be aggressive, that teaching sets people up for victimhood when the illusion of decent society melts away. Those who have been given occupational training (security, police, military, martial arts) know that alertness and aggression must be learned and channeled into something useful.
Finding The Fuel, Correcting Your Expectations
Before you can turn aggression into something useful, you must have it in the first place. Calm people may have the ability to be aggressive, but more often the most aggressive people you meet have a bit of inner turmoil. Aggression must have fuel, and sometimes merely possessing that demeanor is enough. I had an interesting incident almost ten years ago that illustrates this point: I had moved to a new state, and I had just gone through a divorce. Life was not good – I had little to live for, and a lot of anger. It was 2am, and since Walmart was open, I went for a little bit of retail therapy. I left my carry pistol at home that night. I was in a bad mood, and I just did not bother to put it on. After I parked my car in the lot, I was walking toward the entrance when I heard a voice behind me, “Hey man, can I see your wallet?” I turned around, faced with a young guy around my height holding a small pistol. I was livid. Two thoughts went through my mind. Thought #1 “Well, I could die tonight and I just don’t care.” Thought #2 “I’m going to get a free pistol. Beat him with it and take it from him. This might be fun!” I was more focused on that second thought, every muscle tensed up – ready to leap at him. Amazingly, the guy with the gun lifted his hands, muttered some kind of excuse or apology, and took off running in the other direction. I briefly considered chasing him, but decided I would rather get back to shopping.
There are a few takeaways from that little incident. First, I made the twin mistakes of not bringing my pistol late at night and assuming I was safe where I was going. I was new to the area, and I had not yet figured out that the local Walmart is risky after dark. Second, I was miserable and more focused on that than I was aware of my surroundings in the parking lot. That mistake could have cost me. Third, my misery and anger became fuel for a very aggressive demeanor. My would-be attacker sensed it right away. Either he had a fake pistol, or he was not confident enough to use it on me. Sometimes, attitude is just enough. You will need to do some self-analysis. What do you have in your life that you can use as fuel for aggression when the time comes? Pain? Unresolved anger? We prefer not to feel those things, and sometimes people even seek counseling to get rid of those feelings. They can be useful instead, when necessary.
Once you know that you have the fuel for aggression, you need to adjust your expectations. What is the true nature of the world? Americans in the middle and upper classes are often sheltered. Aside from those who experienced military or law enforcement service or were victims of a crime, much of the population has experienced an unprecedented era of domestic tranquility. The philosopher Thomas Hobbes describes the natural life of man as “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Examine for yourself and find this is true. Look at the lives of people in developing nations – their food, housing, government, and the risks they face. Then look at the lives of the working poor and homeless in this nation. Contemplate what the real difference is between them and you – merely location and finance. Do you expect that your life will always be sheltered and blessed, full of peace and plenty? Or can everything vanish overnight?
Only you can figure out how deeply trapped you are in the expectations of peace and plenty. You may be able to condition your mind by exploring video footage of war zones and poverty in other places. You may even get some personal experience traveling to the not-so-nice areas of some of the cities in the USA. Your method and your self-education will be your own path. Only when you accept that some stranger can randomly do you great harm (and that such an event is not only possible, but likely) will you remove your mind and instincts from the trap of idleness, from the vulnerability brought about by peace and plenty.
The Conditions of Awareness
With fuel for aggression and realization of life’s nasty side, you can move ahead and develop practical mental skills. Remember – mindset, skillset, and toolset. In that order. The first step is situational awareness. Firearms trainer and survivalist writer Colonel Jeff Cooper (pictured above) developed a system of color codes to describe our varying states of awareness. I learned these awareness categories while working for a state agency, and while there are a few variations of these color codes, the underlying principle is the same.
The condition of unawareness is called Condition White. It is estimated that 95% of people spend 95% of their time in Condition White. They are self-absorbed, totally unaware of their surroundings. In Condition White, you might be walking and texting at the same time. This habit has gotten so bad that in Germany, street signs and utility poles have been wrapped with foam, sarcastically labeled, “You’ll wish that the next car is also padded like this.” We all struggle with Condition White, as it is our natural state most of the time.
In Condition White, if you are surprised by an attack or an accident, your brain shifts quickly from Condition White to Condition Black. Condition Black is also a condition of unawareness, but your situation is worse. Condition Black is a frozen, incapacitated state. In Condition Black you are helpless. Your brain will choose to fight, flee, or freeze, and only those who have been aware at some point can fight or flee or do anything constructive in a situation.
The first level of awareness is called Condition Yellow. Condition Yellow is a relaxed awareness, observing your surroundings. Ideally, out in public you should be in Condition Yellow all the time. As a truck driver, I have learned a specific way of scanning my environment while driving – looking at each mirror in turn, glancing at the shadows made by other vehicles, and looking up to a mile down the road for any sign of trouble. You can do the same thing while walking, checking each side, close in front and then far ahead. People in Condition White stare off into space and daydream. People in Condition Yellow constantly move their gaze, checking everywhere, never settling on something specific. Condition Yellow becomes automatic, almost subconscious, but it never becomes the daydreaming of Condition White.
The next level of awareness is called Condition Orange. Condition Orange is a focused state of awareness. You have identified something that does not seem right. In a driving scenario, you may have seen somebody’s brake lights come on ahead of you and you instinctively prepare to stop. While walking in public, it could be somebody’s hand in their pocket in an odd way, an inappropriately raised voice, or a barking dog heading in your direction. In Condition Orange, you do not abandon your awareness of your general surroundings, but you give more of your attention to a specific potential threat.||
The final, most intense level of awareness is called Condition Red. This is a state of high alert, ready to act on a confirmed threat. In a driving scenario, you may see an accident ahead or a pedestrian running into your lane. While walking in public, it could be somebody approaching you directly, getting into your space in a threatening manner. In Condition Red, your aggression becomes your friend. You access whatever is your fuel for aggression, and focus it on the specific target. At this moment, you change the scene. You are not defending, you are attacking. That target is now your opportunity, if that is what you require to get through the situation.
Awareness Exercises
General James Mattis once remarked, “Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet.” It sounds like hyperbole, but it is a fundamental truth. You are not armed simply because you have a carry gun. You are only armed if you are a weapon in yourself. What you carry is only a tool to get the job done.
The first awareness exercise requires a couple of prerequisites. You will need a bit of basic knowledge about human anatomy, and you’ll need to be somewhat comfortable with tools or common household items. For the anatomy aspects, look into getting a copy of Gray’s Anatomy, coupled with US Army Field Manual 21-150 “Hand to Hand Combat.” What you want to notice is vulnerable parts of the body. M you look at the techniques described and the images in an anatomy book, examine your own body. Ask three guiding questions: Does it hurt? Does it break? Does it bleed a lot? Now, look at the tools in your kitchen and your garage. Ask three guiding questions: Is it heavy? Is it sharp? Does it burn? Keep the three anatomy questions and the three tool questions in mind for the exercise.
The mental exercise is ideally done with a partner, but you can do it alone. This exercise is entirely mental, and nobody around you should know you are doing it. Some might see this exercise as creepy, so you won’t be making friends with this. Pick a store. It does not matter what the store sells or what area of the store you are in. Look at someone nearby, and then look (without touching) at whatever is around you that is useful as a weapon. For example, a 2-pound head of cabbage in a large sack in the grocery section can inflict blunt trauma to the head. Yes, even a lowly cabbage is a tool! If you have a partner, that partner can give you an “assignment” related to a specific individual in your vicinity. Make it a game, seeing how many weapons you can find, how many avenues of attack, and how many obstacles might be against you. The idea is that you change how you think, forming new mental connections and a predatory attitude. The more you do it, the more possibilities you will see. The U.S. Marines say: “Improvise, Adapt, Overcome.”
The second exercise is related to visual and aural ranging. Your awareness is related to three “rings” around yourself. The closest ring is at “contact distance,” between 6 and 10 feet. The intermediate ring is at “threat distance,” between 20 and 30 feet. The outer ring is at “observation distance” somewhere around 75 to 100 feet. These rings are fluid and situational. For example, you would have a much smaller “bubble” of personal space in a crowded city, whereas out in the middle of a hay field 400 feet can seem close.
This perception exercise can be done in public, in a safe and controlled place. A public library, for example, can be a good starting point. You want enough people around you to have something to hear and look at, but not so many that you seem odd. Having a partner is helpful. The visual part of the exercise is easier. Sit down and simply look around you. Identifying people who are within the 3 rings. If you are unsure of distance, notice objects next to people. If you know the length of your average step (my walking step is exactly 3 feet) then you can walk from your sitting spot to the object you found and determine the distance. Do this over and over, and you gain the ability to estimate distance. Distance relates directly to your color-coded awareness. For example, if somebody is at “contact distance” of 10 feet or less, then you should be specifically focused on them at either Condition Yellow or Condition Orange.
The more challenging part of the exercise is the aural part. It is more easily (and honestly) done with a partner. If you have a partner, wear a blindfold. If alone, close your eyes. Either way, while seated, focus on what you hear and feel. Start with yourself – your own breath, the feel of the wind on your face. Feel the distance between your hands, and then reach out to what is around you. A car door closing. Footsteps. A bag rustling in the checkout line at the store. A bird in a tree. For each thing you hear, attempt to estimate distance and direction. If you have a partner, you can describe your estimates and receive feedback. If you are alone, open your eyes and check yourself. This will take some practice, and not everyone has great directional hearing. Over time, your mind will develop new connections and this will become an automatic part of your Condition Yellow and Condition Orange behavior.
Self-Presentation for Self-Preservation
There are two examples of how to dress and present yourself in public: The Gray Man and The Porcupine. Each style is useful, and it is totally your choice. The Gray Man dresses to avoid notice. By wearing common clothing in neutral colors, nothing sticks out. You are one with the herd. Sometimes our occupations dictate what we wear, which can make the Gray Man approach easier or more difficult. Evaluate your own situation.
Choosing your style of presentation is similar to choosing open carry vs. concealed carry. The Gray Man approach has an advantage if you are around others. By blending in with the herd, you are no more likely to be targeted than any other member. If you are faced by hostile authorities, you will not be singled out for persecution. The disadvantage is that when you are alone, you do not appear to be more threatening than any other person. If someone believes they are stronger, faster, or more violent than you, they will not be dissuaded by words or appearance alone. Your ability to fight will be tested.
The Porcupine approach is the one I prefer in normal times. While I do not receive the protection of anonymity in the herd, people are less likely to bother me one-on-one or assume I am a pushover. In style of dress, you can do whatever you like. I prefer solid black or dark colors, boots, and jackets even in summer. Who messes with the guy wearing a jacket in 100-degree heat? Nobody. It is simply assumed that you are carrying a pistol. Wearing a jacket also conceals my exact physical build. Am I 180 pounds of country-fried steak and mashed potatoes or 180 pounds of gym rat? Boots are clearly not tennis shoes. Boots help you climb and kick, and the leather jump boots I wear are popular with military and law enforcement.
Whichever methods you practice, improving your awareness and aggressive tendencies will go a long way toward stopping any fight you are involved in. Mindset always comes before skillset and toolset, and is the hardest part for some people. Like my Walmart encounter many years ago, it could even prevent an altercation in the first place.