The Bite – January 2014
The Knockout Game The Manufacturing of Hysteria By Mark “Six” James For the record, I despise the senseless violent assaults commonly referred to as "the knockout game." Unlike most games there is no sport or fun attributed to these violent acts. I hate anytime cowards choose to inflict violence upon innocent often defenseless people. Contrary to what some would have you believe this game is not new? It has been practiced for decades by Whites, Blacks and people of various colors all over the world (United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and Russia). It has served as rites of passage from gang initiations to secret introductions into hate groups to simple assaults by misguided thrill seeking youths. While the assaults are real, so is the often biased and unbalanced reporting which continues to contribute to the manufacturing of the hysteria which is often being driven by those with ulterior motives and often divisive agendas. Race baiting, fear mongering and consistently sensationalizing events, often distorts the judgment of seemingly rational people who are often culturally neutral in their observations and actions. Despite statistics, logic or common sense, fear is a huge motivator. You have a greater likelihood of being struck by lightning than you do of being a victim of the knockout game.
The Bite – “The Knockout Game”
However one person assaulted is one too many. We have seen Blacks, Whites, Browns, Yellows, Jews, Gays and many others senselessly attacked for no reason other than being at the right place at the wrong time. The common denominator in all of the attacks is a lack of moral fiber and a predatory mindset by the attackers, and innocent people with no sense of situational awareness. So, I would like to offer some precautionary advice on how to avoid becoming a victim. Maintaining Situational Awareness While you cannot control the mindset or actions of another you can control your sense of awareness when out in public. Learn to take the ear-buds out of your ears so you can stay attune to environmental sounds and be able to hear someone walking up from behind you. Open your eyes and observe the reflections in store windows or off of shiny cars when you walk down the street to notice someone closing gap on you from the rear. Be mindful of people whose actions may be triggered off of yours or people invading your personal space, etc. If you find a group of youths walking in your direction and you feel uncomfortable don’t be ashamed or afraid to casually step into a retail establishment as if you are browsing for merchandise to allow the youth to pass. If the situation dictates you must walk past the youths, don’t walk on a similar line. Remember distance is your friend, as it increases your reaction time.
The Bite – January 2014
Positioning Try to always stay a step and a lunge away from the approaching individual(s). Since ninety percent of the population is right handed percentages would dictate if you are going to be attacked from the rear, there is a greater likelihood that the potential assailant will attempt to hit you on the right side of your face and head by utilizing their dominant hand (see the photos below).
Below please find an example of what covering up or reducing the target area in a frontal assault may look like. Feel as if you are combing your hair to the rear, your reaction hand slides down your head and covers your ear, as you step into the attacker.
The point of your elbow serves as a spike targeting the attackers face, throat or the crease of the shoulder and armpit. The more aggressive the attackers punch the more he will feel the adverse effects of your spike (point of your elbow).
(The above photos identifies the initial threat recognition. The below photo represents the cover position).
The side the stranger is approaching you from is the cover side. If you have a cell phone or are presently talking on your cell phone by transferring it to the appropriate side of your face the stranger is approaching from it provides a low profile way of presetting your arm in the appropriate cover position and shortening your reaction time if required.
Consequently if you are going to be assaulted from the front you will most likely be attacked on your left side. Learning to cover the appropriate side of your face can help lessen the impact of a potential blow. While the initial blow has been known to cause injury more people who are knocked unconscious experience more blunt force trauma from the fall itself.
The Bite – “The Knockout Game”
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The Bite – January 2014
The best way to avoid being a victim is to maintain your awareness while not losing your ability to trust. We have seen too many over reactions by civilians injuring and killing innocent people who were only seeking assistance in an emergency. We must not become that of what we fear. While we must all stay vigilant and aware to maximize our personal safety we cannot allow that vigilance to become vigilantism for that type of reckless behavior only puts us and our families at a different type of risk.
Mark “Six” James is Founder and Executive Director of Panther Protection Services, LLC, and an internationally published author.
For those who seek to harm innocent people we should impose stiff penalties designed to curtail that behavior. However, do it because you seek justice not vengeance. Don't cosign hate mongers race baiting tactics who continue to try to drive a wedge between others and when convenient try to paint it as a black or white issue. I don't hear anyone speaking out in favor of these idiotic acts of terror (Black, White, Yellow, Purple or Green). However, what is equally disappointing is when seemly educated people buy into senseless rhetoric spewed by the token few who every chance they get use it to fuel the flames of racial intolerance. They make money on the business of hate. Hate mongers are like any other terrorist the act of terror (sensationalizing events) is far less impactful than the hysteria it creates. Violence is violence. It is not Black or White it is violent, plain and simple and should be treated and dealt with as such. We must focus on fact and not fiction. Let’s not become a culture of intolerance based on manufactured hysteria and displaced aggression. Standup against the injustice be it the attackers, biased reporters or the hate mongers.
The Bite – “The Knockout Game”
Panther Protection Services is a full service protection agency focusing on Risk and Crisis Mitigation, Protective Services, Self-Defense Training, and Firearm Instruction. For additional information contact us at info@pantherprotectionservices.com
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