Sooner or later, you’ll find yourself in a potentially bad situation on the street. When that happens, you need to be prepared to evade – or confront – the situation.
Professor Ryan Young, from Kama Jiu-Jitsu, shares 5 tips on how to avoid a bad situation from happening to you.

1) KEEP YOUR HEAD ON A SWIVEL

First of all, you need to make sure that you’re paying attention to your surroundings. That you’re looking left-to-right, and not just because of the cars… But also because someone suspicious might be walking nearby. Someone, you need to be aware of – but you aren’t, because your head is burried in your mobile phone.

So, keep that mobile phone in your pocket and check your surroundings. Being situationally aware is the most important point to staying safe.

2) MAKE EYE CONTACT

Most people shy away from eye contact. But, if you see someone approaching you – and you don’t know that – make sure to establish respectful eye contact. For, it may be the thing that’ll let you know if they’re truly heading in your direction… As well as let them know that you’re aware of them.

3) GREET THE PERSON

If you’re now sure that this person is going towards you for one reason or another, professor Young then says that you ought to greet them.

Just say “hi”. It’s a friendly gesture and, if the other person has any ill intent, it takes away the surprise factor that most criminals are after.
Be it as it may be, you’ll be one step ahead of them if a bad situation happens.

4) MAINTAIN DISTANCE IN A BAD SITUATION

Now, if this person keeps going towards you, you need to maintain distance. That is to say: find a way to get away from them in a safe manner.
Remember… It’s always better to run away than to engage in a physical altercation, no matter the color of your belt. Anything can happen on the streets.

5) STOP AND COMMAND THEM TO BACK UP

And what if the person closes the distance with you? What if you can’t escape the bad situation anymore?
When that happens, you need to stop, face them, and command them to back up. As loud as you can, to assert dominance. Which you’ll be able to back up, if need be, with your Jiu-Jitsu skills.

Professor Ryan Young explains more on the video below: