TECHNIQUE; SUB-PRINCIPLE: Positioning

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Position is what one will take when defending but also holds importance when determining the attack, i.e., positioning is one of the five stages used by an adversary to attack you (intent, interview, positioning, attack, reaction). The karate-ka and martial artists whose intent is self-defense must understand how positioning governs self-defense. 

The position we take in both social and asocial circumstances matters as it would apply toward avoidance. The position we take within our minds often governs how we apply self-defense in both the avoidance (also escape and evasion) model and the self-defense physical model. We can’t avoid conflict and/or violence if we assume a proverbial position as governed by our monkey brains such as participation in the monkey dance.

Positioning is how we defend physically as well. Where we locate and actively move governs our control over an adversary who attacks us. Our taking a position that puts distance between us and the adversary along with taking a position with obstacles that provide barriers between the adversary and us is also critical especially when you need to remain within the self-defense circle. It the adversary is also, by our actions and active movement, placed into a position where they cannot act against us then we have positioned him and ourselves in a positive, dominant and protective position. 

Positioning, as it regards the five stages of an attack, also means how an adversary achieves an “attack position” as described earlier in this book. It means the adversary has closed the distance, achieved good positioning, assumed an attack position and all that remains is his attack.

Other principles and sub-principles such as the triangle guard and angling influence the superior position of your positioning. A part of superior positioning in one sense revolves around our orientation toward the adversary except when circumstances allow to position ourselves into an even more superior position such as positioning ourselves to their rear to perform some appropriate methodology as a grappler might in applying a choke out hold (is that keeping in the SD circle and is it appropriate force to the situation?).

Whether you need to take proper positioning also relies heavily on JAM as well, i.e., jeopard, ability and means, as it applies to their ability to get into proper distance in order to assume an attack position with a proper attack posture resulting in the attack. 

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