Bars, nightclubs, and other high capacity venues serving alcohol are anecdotally notorious for their high tendencies for fights and physical violence. Alcohol, crowded spaces, aggressive movements, inflated egos, and sexual assertiveness create a combustible mix that usually explodes in the form of a physical brawl or two at some point during a busy night. What is commonly known, has now been put into scientific research. In her article featured on MSNBC website, Fight club: Most bar brawls begin on the dance floor, Cari Nierenberg highlights a research study that attempts to map out the areas of bars and nightclubs most prone to incidents of physical altercations. In addition to being an interesting, casual read, the article also raises elements that are critical in self defense; awareness and avoidance.
In Hot Spots for Aggression in Drinking Venues, Kathryn Graham, PhD, a senior scientist at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada, creates a virtual map of violent altercations at high capacity venues serving alcohol. Researchers made more than 1,300 visits to 118 bars and clubs in Toronto over a two-year period. They went to bars on Fridays and Saturdays between midnight and 3 a.m. that could hold more than 300 people. According to Graham’s research, the most common location for aggressive behavior was the dance floor (20.0% of incidents) or near the dance floor (11.5%), followed by near the serving bar (15.7%), at tables (13.1%), aisles, hallways and other areas of movement (6.2%), entrances (4.5%) and the pool playing area (4.1%). The high statistical prevalence of aggression on the dance floor does not mean you have to avoid the dance floor if the DJ is spinning music that calls to your inner vibe, or that you should only visit the pool tables. The numbers are useful, however, for better environmental awareness of a nightclub venue, and increasing your ability to avoid getting into physical violence before they start.
Awareness of environment and behavior is just as important in self defense training as the physical elements of self defense training. Knowing which settings and environmental characteristics are favorable for attacks and violent confrontations can help you decrease the likelihood of even having to use your martial arts, Krav Maga, or fighting skills. Kathryn Graham’s study is specific to high capacity places serving alcohol, and environmental factors will differ based on the setting. Additionally, awareness of behavior in others can also help decrease your chances of violent assault. Many aggressive perpetrators will exhibit physical characteristics indicating that they are intent on finding a fight. Arms spread wide from the body, puffed-out chest, attempts to make prolonged, direct eye contact, and flushed skin color are just some of the signs of aggressive intentions. On the streets, there are also behavioral patterns that perpetrators will exhibit in their ritual to commit violence.
Being aware of and recognizing the behavioral cues of violent ritual in any environment can help keep you safe without having to fight. It is important that self defense and martial arts training for personal protection incorporate awareness and avoidance into the program. Luminous Warrior’s Warrior Self Defense fully incorporates the importance of awareness along with its emphasis on practical, devastating physical tactics through various personal protection modalities. No matter which training center or martial arts program you choose, mental components such as awareness and avoidance should be fully addressed in authentic self defense training (Warrior’s Intent: Combat or Sport).
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