Empty-Handed Skills Are Required To Deal With Initiative Deficit
This guide synthesizes expert advice from John Correia of Active Self Protection on essential empty-handed self-defense skills. It emphasizes the critical importance of empty-handed techniques to counter an 'initiative deficit' in sudden attacks, particularly those involving weapons like knives. Key lessons include prioritizing weapon control, applying the 5Ds+1 defensive framework, and cultivating the mental fortitude ('emotional fitness') necessary to survive and prevail in a violent encounter.











