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It was another domestic call, and officer Patti Smith was headed to the incident on her own. Domestic disturbances can turn ugly pretty quick, and she was the closest unit responding. That would mean she alone would deal with whatever was happening by herself before any back up arrived.

As she stepped out of her squad car she saw what looked like a couple, standing few feet apart, screaming mostly obscenities at each other. A crowd had gathered, some young guy was shooting the next YouTube viral phone cam video, and things looked to go south really fast if she didn\u2019t gain control of the situation right away.

Just as soon as her foot hit the hot blacktop some presumably engaged onlooker yelled, \u201cHey lady cop, why don\u2019t you jump back in your car, do us favor, and go do a donut run. We got this!\u201d Officer Smith knew at once she was being challenged, and dismissed before she could even get started.

With big smile she looked straight at the large man and said, \u201cJust ate half a box, my personal trainer is going to kill me during my session, you know how leg days are. I\u2019ll be lucky to keep anything down without puking my guts out tomorrow.\u201d The heckler was immediately DEFLECTED, the crowd, including the couple went silent, and someone chuckled. \u201cNow I\u2019m going to need y\u2019all to take about 10 steps back to that curb while we get this sorted out\u2026Thank you.\u201d Immediately, her DEFLECTION turned into a direct, and powerful request, as she took control.

In self-defense we DEFLECT kicks, punches, pushes and grabs. The science behind a deflection is asymmetrical triangulation, resulting in non-linear interaction. Officer Smith was out numbered, and force was directed at her through a direct challenge to her authority, and her ability to take control. Her verbal self defense training kicked in and she DEFLECTED

Direct confrontation in self-defense, team interaction, or an angry teenager\u2019s exchange almost always ends badly. This is due to the fact that either one gets pummeled into submission, gives up and \u201clooses face,\u201d or both parties receive damage and nothing is resolved.

Who wins in a fight? No one. That\u2019s why asymmetrical DEFLECTION is a great place to start when attacked head on. So consider DEFECTION when you are confronted first. The damage will almost always be lessened without a fight, life will most likely be saved, the relationship will probably improve, a fight is less likely, and most importantly you may survive\u2026

#lifedefense #deflect #allenhughes

Photo by ANTONI SHKRABA: https://www.pexels.com/photo/stationery-on-a-desk-in-an-office-and-woman-expressing-frustration-at-a-meeting-with-team-6632536/