Defense Against the Most Common Form of Attack: The Hakuda Method
by Stan Hart and Nate Meiers

Many martial artists train themselves to be prepared for any situation. It is ironic, then, how many neglect to train themselves in how to defend against the most common form of attack. This article will claim the push as the most common form of attack, explain why and how the push most often occurs, and introduce the Hakuda method as the best means of defense against the push.

To understand why the push is the most common form of attack we look at the natural progression of most confrontations. Many physical attacks do not occur unexpectedly. Those who study self-defense will recognize the three stages of confrontation that build upon each other toward physical aggression.

The initial level, posturing, begins when someone takes offense at another’s words or actions. Posturing can also be instigated when someone feels threatened either physically or socially. Whether the offense or threat is intended makes no difference in the confrontation. The actions taken at this stage may include harsh words and an aggressive physical stance.

If the initial phase is not successfully defused by the martial artist the secondary level, pushing or grabbing, is reached. But between a grab and a push, the push is most common, probably because it is the least committal of the two attacks. When grabbing the attacker must have his next step planned; not so with a push. A push can establish superiority with minimal commitment on the aggressor’s part. A push requires no training or skill. Few are trained in defending against it. Most aggressors are bigger and stronger than their victim. A push uses the strength and weight to their advantage. A push makes the attacker appear superior by creating the visually impressive effect of moving the defender across a lot of space. Also, a push makes for an easy surprise attack, with little physical cues such as making a fist or winding up to warn the defender.

Reacting incorrectly at this level could prove very detrimental to the defender. At best the result will be another squaring off of the two opponents. At worst, without a proper response, a push can put the victim in a hard-to-defend position such as on the floor, against the wall or other object, among a group of aggressors or further from the exit. In this situation the confrontation could quickly escalate to the tertiary level, or punching where the aggressor is grabbing and striking with hands or feet.

But this third level can be avoided. A martial artist can maneuver himself to an advantageous position if he responds properly to the push. Self-defense training and kata can prepare us to respond to this secondary level attack, preventing the escalation to a tertiary level of confrontation. We can prevent the dangers of a push listed above and even defend ourselves against the very common situation of multiple attackers.

We should note at this point that there are exceptions to this three-stage building of physical aggression. On occasion a mugger or rapist purposes to attack with no provocation. Many times, however, a push is they’re first means of attack. Perhaps they hope to move their victim to a strategic (for the attacker) position, or disorient or knock down their victim. But regardless of whether the martial artist anticipates or is surprised by the push, the philosophy and methods of Hakuda will be applicable.

Before discussing the philosophy and methods of this ancient Buddhist art, it is worthwhile to first understand the psychology behind the push. What kind of a person pushes another? All people can probably be divided into three types: passive, assertive and aggressive. The passive person may be taken advantage of by the other two types. No true martial artist can be passive in the sense that he or she allows wrongdoing and injustice to occur when they have the means to confront and stop it.

Rather, the martial artist should seek to be assertive, meaning that he won’t back down when physically attacked and will defend the weak and the cause of justice when the occasion demands it. The assertive person sets certain boundaries that when crossed, as in the case of a physical attack like a push, signal him or her to respond physically to protect the self and the defenseless.

In other words, the martial artist prepares for the aggressive person who instigates physical aggression and takes advantage of the weak and defenseless. Man left to his natural tendencies develops aggressiveness. These tendencies can be encouraged or discouraged by the environment. A person who is raised in a home where aggression is modeled, or in a situation where primary needs are only met by aggressively taking them for oneself, most likely will become aggressive. Puberty, especially in males, is the time in the developmental stage when aggression becomes more intense. The higher levels of the hormone testosterone were meant to build this aggression, since a certain amount of aggression is needed to provide for and protect loved ones.

In today’s society, unfortunately, many males are never coached through puberty and the physical changes it brings. In essence, we have cities full of males who still act emotionally and mentally like pubescent teenagers because no one mentored and trained them through adolescence in ways to control their natural aggressive tendencies. Instead of an assertive and self-controlled adult, we produce an immature and aggressive person.

Why do aggressive people resort to the push as an attack? (Note that the push is an attack. It is a threat to the victim’s safety and grounds for physical response.) Ultimately, the push is intended to place the attacker in a superior position. If the confrontation has grown through the initial level of posturing, the intention is to establish a “superior social position.” By social position we mean the pecking order of who is higher on the social ladder. This is the most common reason for a push, to show the attacker’s peers that he is better than the victim.

In the case of the unwarranted and unexpected attack of the mugger or rapist, the intention is to establish a “superior physical position” as discussed above. Of course there may be an element of this superior physical position even with the former attacker. Regardless of the attacker’s intention, every martial artist should be concerned with maintaining a superior physical position in order to defend himself or herself. This is why the Hakuda philosophy and techniques can be most effective in any situation.

Hakuda, “striking without impurity”, derived within a philosophy of Buddhist priests who strived for purity of thought and deed. Although pacifists, they believed that in some instances it was acceptable to strike, in other striking without the impurity of evil intentions. The method used in the examples below are techniques used in the ancient art of Hakuda.

The reader should note that this is merely an introduction to these concepts and that the visual images alone cannot be effective in building the dexterity and application necessary to proper training. To become adept at these techniques requires time and expert instruction.

Two foundations of Hakuda Buddhist philosophy are assumed in our discussion of these techniques: [1] The object of self-defense is to escape. The point of self-defense, or go-shin, “talk-protection”, is to defend the body (or life) and not property. The point is not to gain victory, but protect yourself. There may be many people a practitioner cannot defeat but that they can defend themselves against and secure escape. [2] Simultaneous movements are the key to superior technique and application. No untrained and even few trained attackers are capable of simultaneously using hands and feet in separate offensive and defensive techniques. The well-trained martial artist will be able to separate the right and left sides of his body as well as the top (hands) and bottom (legs), using each quadrant as a distinct weapon during self-defense. Therefore, while virtually all attackers fight with a 1-2 count, the experienced Hakuda practitioner will be able to accomplish three or four techniques within the time span of his attacker’s 1-2 count, not because he is necessarily quicker but because he can defend and counter attack simultaneously.