SHIELD Psychology of Self-Defense

Training your Mind

The power behind the psychological characteristics of self-defense cannot be understated. Predators and attackers have a singular focus, and are immediately affected when that focus is disrupted. You owe it to yourself to be that disruption should a violent encounter come your way, and to train your primal responses during such events — both mental and physical — to be full-force and devastating to your opponent.

Action not Apathy

We built the SHIELD System through comprehensive analysis of real-world violent attacks, reverse-engineering them in order to develop the best defenses against such attacks. Further study of the psychology behind criminal intent has broadened that knowledge, as has identifying the biggest psychological vulnerabilities that individuals display in their daily lives: a sense of helplessness and/or apathy about the violent world we live in. These attitudes only further enable the attacker.

If you’re still reading, chances are feeling helpless or apathetic is not your style, and you’re ready maximize your own potential. All of us, regardless of age, gender, or skill level, can always learn, and can always improve our self-defense capabilities.

Fact: Exposure to high-stress scenarios and potential real-world impact builds your mental game as much as your physical one! We seek to build up those defenses everyday, teaching the SHIELD System.

Harnessing Fear

Fear is a tool, one that has kept humans alive since the dawn of time. In situations of immediate high stress, like a violent event, fear can turn to panic (all but guaranteeing a negative result), or fear can be embraced as a challenge (presenting an opportunity). How we employ fear is a psychological weapon at our disposal at all times, and one we must learn to effectively utilize.

Mental and Emotional Team Building

Individuals and groups will often not take a self-defense course because they think it’s too hard, they’re inexperienced, or are afraid of embarrassment and failure. Just the opposite is true! Everyone — EVERYONE — can benefit from learning how to best protect themselves, regardless of skill level and past experience feeling afraid or overwhelmed.

Our instructors can accurately read a room and cater to individual needs and capabilities within a group, promoting a sense of psychological strength alongside developing defensive physical ability. It’s an excellent way to build team unity and confidence — and ingrain lifesaving skills — for employee groups just like it is for individuals.

Always Aware, Always Ready

Paying attention to your surroundings, picking up on verbal and social cues that may proceed an attack — these skills in situational awareness can greatly assist in diffusing and deflecting a possibly violent event before it happens, and they are important techniques to internalize. Just as your body must be properly trained to physically neutralize an attacker the second violence erupts, your mind must be conditioned to understand that attacker’s motivations as another weapon to use against them.

The SHIELD System | Self-Defense is Not a Sport

Take Control Now!