A student at Krav Maga Detroit asked a very interesting question: Are there any human instincts or reactions that are counterproductive in self defense?
I immediately thought of one - freeze. Pretty obvious, right? But I kept thinking about it. Could it be that it’s wrong all the time? If it is, why do we even have it?
I was intrigued and wanted to dig deeper. What I have found I’ll share with you over the next few weeks.
In a self-defense situation, several natural human reactions to a threat can be less useful or even counterproductive. These reactions are often instinctive, driven by the body’s fight-flight-freeze-fawn response to stress or danger.
Let’s examine the few main reactions that may not be helpful in self-defense:
1. Freezing
• What it is: The “freeze” response is when you become paralyzed or immobilized in response to a threat, often due to shock, fear, or sensory overload. Your brain is processing the danger but struggles to decide on an action.
• Why it’s not useful: Freezing can delay or prevent defensive action, leaving you vulnerable to an attacker. For example, if someone is advancing with a weapon, standing still might give them an opportunity to strike or overpower you. That’s why in Krav Maga training we emphasize reacting quickly and decisively. Interrupting attacker’s OODA loop with the violence of action.
• Context where it might help: Freezing can be briefly useful if it allows you to assess a situation (e.g., identifying an escape route), but prolonged freezing is generally detrimental.
Check back next week to learn more…
Pawel Cichowlas