The 5 A’s of Self-Defense
- william demuth
- Nov 7
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 9
Here’s a straight-shooting guide to the 5 A’s of self-defense: Awareness, Alertness, Avoidance, Anticipation, and Action. Use it to train, to teach, or to refresh your own habits. Keep it simple. Keep it repeatable. Keep it real.
The 5 A’s of Self-Defense
1) Awareness: know what reality looks like
Awareness is noticing the world as it is, not as you wish it to be. It is the wide lens you carry everywhere.
What to do
Keep your head up, eyes moving, hands free.
Scan for people, paths, exits, obstacles, and oddities.
Notice baselines. Quiet street, one person loitering near a choke point. Bar is closing, tempers rising by the door.
Track your own state. Tired, distracted, on the phone equals lower awareness.
Red flags
Someone matching your pace for more than half a block.
Unsolicited approach with a reason that forces you to stop.
Blind corners, parked vans, stairwells with limited escape options.
Micro-drill Walk your daily route and identify three exits, three blind spots, three lighting failures. Do it again at a different time of day.
2) Alertness: raise your internal signal
Alertness is the switch from casual noticing to focused readiness. You are not panicked. You are prepared.
What to do
When something dings your gut, upgrade attention. Look, reposition, make space.
Free your hands. Put the coffee down. Pocket the phone.
Pre-stage tools you lawfully carry. Keys in hand. Flashlight in front pocket.
Set boundaries out loud early. “Stop right there.” “I can’t help you.”
Red flags
Approach at an intercept angle, hands hidden, excessive eye contact with your pockets or waistband.
Requests that corner you. “Can you show me on your phone,” delivered while stepping closer.
Micro-drill Practice firm phrases at normal speaking volume, then louder. Record once. If it sounds apologetic, fix it.
3) Avoidance: choose the boring win
Avoidance is not cowardice. It is strategy. The safest fight is the one you never had.
What to do
Cross the street. Change doors. Take the longer route with better light.
Break conversational traps fast. “Sorry. I can’t help you.” Move.
Control distance. Two steps back, angle off, keep obstacles between you and them.
Leave early if the vibe shifts. If you feel the room sour, you are not imagining it.
Red flags
“Just one second.” “Come closer so I can hear you.”
Someone mirroring your footwork as you try to angle away.
Micro-drill Pick three common places you visit. Define a safe exit, a backup exit, and a place to rally if separated from your people.
4) Anticipation: think one move ahead
Anticipation is pre-planning. You decide in advance what you will do if A turns into B.
What to do
Run if-then scripts. If a person closes past arm’s length after I said stop, I move, I shout, I get a barrier between us.
Pre-load directions. Know where the cameras are, the staffed counters, the lit areas.
Consider accomplices and second threats. Most ambushes are not solo.
Prepare your report. After any incident you will need to explain what you saw and why you acted.
Red flags
The glance-past. They look behind you before they move.
The pretext that requires isolation. “It’s quieter over there.”
Micro-drill Pick one everyday situation, like unlocking your car. Write two if-then branches. Rehearse them while you stand at the door.
5) Action: move first, move decisively
Action is the moment you execute. It can be verbal, physical, or both. It must be clear and committed.
What to do
Issue one command, then act. “Back up.” If they do not, you move.
Use gross-motor, high-percentage tactics if it turns physical. Strike hard to the face, eyes, throat, groin. Drive through, then get out.
Move your feet. Angles beat speed. Distance beats strength.
After you break contact, call for help, get to people, and document.
Priorities in order
Escape to safety.
Protect dependents or companions.
Call authorities.
Medical check, even if you feel fine.
Notes while memories are fresh.
Micro-drill From a neutral stance, practice a quick step back and angle, hands up, with a clear command. Add a short burst to a focus mitt or heavy bag if you have one. Then practice the exit.
Putting it together: a quick flow
Awareness: scan and baseline.
Alertness: something pings, raise your level.
Avoidance: change path, create space, leave.
Anticipation: run your if-then and stage your exit.
Action: command and move. If needed, defend and go.
Common mistakes to cut out
Arguing with your gut. If it feels off, it is off enough to act.
Freezing in politeness. You can be respectful and still say no while moving away.
Over-explaining. One firm sentence is stronger than a paragraph.
Tunnel vision. After an incident, look for additional threats before you look at your phone.
Train it weekly in 10 minutes
Minute 1 to 2: walk-through of your space, identify exits and choke points.
Minute 3 to 4: voice commands, twice at normal volume, twice loud.
Minute 5 to 7: movement reps. Step back, angle off, create distance, add a barrier.
Minute 8 to 10: two if-then scenarios, one for home arrival, one for parking lots.
For instructors and team leaders
Build drills that force decisions, not just techniques.
Test boundary setting with role players who escalate if the student waffles.
Grade on movement, distance, and clarity of speech, not just strikes.
Debrief with a short written note: what you saw, what you did, why you did it.
Final word
The 5 A’s are not theory. They are habits. Most problems disappear at Avoidance. The few that do not are managed by Anticipation and finished by Action. Keep it simple. Do the reps. Stay safe.
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