Greg Newton
12-28-2011, 11:41 AM
This is an excellent write up of the various states of mind we carry ourselves in. Self-Defense and Martial Arts Instructor Gary Bowes sent this to me. It is similiar to the survival scale of awaremess you learn in law enforcement.
Always be alert and aware of your surroundings. Remember at any moment during your daily activities you can be attacked from the front, the left, the right, or from behind, and very possibly by more than one attacker. Attacks don’t just happen in bad neighborhoods but can happen in familiar places like home and work. We need to learn to be calm and aware, not nervous, scared and on edge, but calm and aware so that we can see and avoid potential dangerous situations. Just as we have learned to “look ahead” and be defensive drivers to avoid dangers while driving we need to look ahead and around while out of our cars also.
Being Aware - the 4 Basic Zones (states) of Awareness
Think of awareness as having 4 distinct Zones, from total unawareness to total involvement. We label them the White Zone, Yellow Zone, Orange Zone, and the Red Zone. When you are in the White Zone you are a prime victim. Unaware of the potential dangers that surrounds you, purse-snatchers, stalkers, drunks, and gang members.
Most people are in the White Zone most of the time. The person you see jogging down the street listening to music on a Walkman is in the White Zone. This is not a safe practice.
When you are in the Yellow Zone you start to notice some of the potential dangers around you. When you are in this Zone you do things like check the back seat before getting in your car, take note of the transient at the ally opening.
When you are in the Orange Zone you notice that the potential for danger is high. Perhaps the transient you saw down the street is now staggering in your direction. If you were in the White Zone you would not have noticed him coming in your direction. Now is the time for action, the action of avoidance. Move, cross the street, don’t allow this to progress to the Red Zone. Is a person’s behavior or tone of voice making you uncomfortable? You may be able to end the situation here using some verbal self defense or you may have to leave the location.
When you are in the Red Zone you are in the thick of it. The situation requires you to act, side step, block, kick, yell, call for help or strike. Had you been in the White Zone you may be so startled that you cannot react correctly. But if you started in the Yellow Zone, aware of your surroundings, you would have naturally progressed to the Orange Zone when the potential danger increased. Thus you would be much better prepared when you entered the Red Zone. By being in the Yellow Zone you should be able to act when you sense potential danger and avoid the Orange and Red Zones altogether. Trust that inner voice. If you feel something is wrong do not ignore that feeling.
There’s actually a 5th Zone, the Black Zone. The Black Zone is a progression of the Red Zone when you are in the thick of it actively defending yourself and things are not going well. We won’t spend any time on this Zone in this class except to say that being aware of your surroundings in the yellow and Orange Zones are the best way to prevent yourself from entering the Red and Black Zones.
Always be alert and aware of your surroundings. Remember at any moment during your daily activities you can be attacked from the front, the left, the right, or from behind, and very possibly by more than one attacker. Attacks don’t just happen in bad neighborhoods but can happen in familiar places like home and work. We need to learn to be calm and aware, not nervous, scared and on edge, but calm and aware so that we can see and avoid potential dangerous situations. Just as we have learned to “look ahead” and be defensive drivers to avoid dangers while driving we need to look ahead and around while out of our cars also.
Being Aware - the 4 Basic Zones (states) of Awareness
Think of awareness as having 4 distinct Zones, from total unawareness to total involvement. We label them the White Zone, Yellow Zone, Orange Zone, and the Red Zone. When you are in the White Zone you are a prime victim. Unaware of the potential dangers that surrounds you, purse-snatchers, stalkers, drunks, and gang members.
Most people are in the White Zone most of the time. The person you see jogging down the street listening to music on a Walkman is in the White Zone. This is not a safe practice.
When you are in the Yellow Zone you start to notice some of the potential dangers around you. When you are in this Zone you do things like check the back seat before getting in your car, take note of the transient at the ally opening.
When you are in the Orange Zone you notice that the potential for danger is high. Perhaps the transient you saw down the street is now staggering in your direction. If you were in the White Zone you would not have noticed him coming in your direction. Now is the time for action, the action of avoidance. Move, cross the street, don’t allow this to progress to the Red Zone. Is a person’s behavior or tone of voice making you uncomfortable? You may be able to end the situation here using some verbal self defense or you may have to leave the location.
When you are in the Red Zone you are in the thick of it. The situation requires you to act, side step, block, kick, yell, call for help or strike. Had you been in the White Zone you may be so startled that you cannot react correctly. But if you started in the Yellow Zone, aware of your surroundings, you would have naturally progressed to the Orange Zone when the potential danger increased. Thus you would be much better prepared when you entered the Red Zone. By being in the Yellow Zone you should be able to act when you sense potential danger and avoid the Orange and Red Zones altogether. Trust that inner voice. If you feel something is wrong do not ignore that feeling.
There’s actually a 5th Zone, the Black Zone. The Black Zone is a progression of the Red Zone when you are in the thick of it actively defending yourself and things are not going well. We won’t spend any time on this Zone in this class except to say that being aware of your surroundings in the yellow and Orange Zones are the best way to prevent yourself from entering the Red and Black Zones.