The next phase is physical training. If, after due consideration, you are going to fight, then you must be prepared to endure some level of punishment, and to exercise some level of exertion. Blind rock-climbers tend to fall into two basic categories: those who are petrified by their imaginations, and those who are less fearful due to the absence of visual-input ... and so it is with fighters. A feint or diversion won't work on a motivated blind boxer, but the mere thought of being hammered, without the ability to protect oneself, will terrify another. A regimen of physical training doesn't mean a fascist boot camp nor a yuppie aerobics spa, but rather optimum physical conditioning. Motility and agility are much more important than hardened callouses and bulging muscles, than retarded pulse and deprivation exhilaration. Likewise, pre-test pummeling as an alleged preparation for uncontrolled violence is simply a masochistic exercise ... only pugilists and infantrymen are repeatedly subjected to such abuse. Good physical fitness promotes self-confidence and encourages balanced temperament. Excessive calisthenic training is tedious and inefficient, thus counterproductive by abandonment. If physical training and optimal preparation are mortifying, then one either needs further rehabilitation for greater independence, or assignment to some form of protective guardianship in a cloistered environment.

With the onset of a disability, one's character and personality doesn't change, and instincts don't evaporate ... a blind man is still a man. Exercise and manual labor will help to dissipate some of the ordinary tensions and tedium associated with impairments ... even nursing homes have begun instituting dirt therapy in small garden plots for their residents with impressive results in diminished medication, increased alertness, and improved attitude. Many agencies and offices are recognizing the medical benefits and elevated morale when exercise time is scheduled into the daily routine. During rehabilitation, when frustrations threatened my equilibrium, I found weight-lifting and pounding a punching-bag to be a socially acceptable manner of expelling anger that would otherwise make me vulnerable. Not only does physical conditioning make anyone better able to cope with an unexpected circumstance, such as an accident or confrontation, the practice makes reactions smoother and more exact.

The fourth lesson is usually where most combat courses begin: techniques. There is a deterrent value in offensive posturing, in assuming the on guard posture at the instant of initial threat. This response involves considerable training and strict vigilance ... a procedure having reportedly saved at least one blind person from a vicious mugging^[2] ... and therefore is beyond our modest and limited defensive concern. Suffice it to say that combat isn't a game wherein one's opponent will tolerate ineffective ploys; and weapons aren't toys that may be indiscriminately waived at suspected or imaginary antagonists. Getting people to pay attention and retain necessary skills, without immediate danger or hysterical paranoia, is essential to survival. Too many victims seek remedial training after the fact ... it's human nature, but still erroneous. Furthermore, far too many people trust objects for their secure protection, instead of managing their own skills, which can't be mislaid or misused. There are few things as randomly and universally dangerous as an untrained person with a deadly weapon ... then factor panic into the scenario for an instant disaster! In other words, there is no quick and easy solution to personal safety or self-defense.

The most important part of technique is tactics. Remember, any doubts and questions were resolved at the earlier attitudinal phase, so we are now dealing with uncompromising problem solving methodologies. Because man is an ostensibly rational animal, it's natural to speculate about causes or reasons, but such knowledge is immaterial, if not counterproductive, when resolving an urgent threat ... and if there's time to negotiate conflict resolution modalities, then the impending crisis isn't urgent! The social genesis or criminal pathology of an assailant is like the etiology of international relations during an incursion ... perhaps quite interesting and informative, but not germane to remedying the immediate incident. The fact that some people victimize the weak to empower or encourage themselves is not relevant to one's survival of an exigency.

The basic tactical rules for combat are: decision, aggression, and speed. One must rapidly assess the situation, determine one's options, decide on a technique, and immediately dispatch that decision. Part of serious in-depth training involves the conscious recognition of altered conditions and various means of modification or accommodation. When one has determined that a violation, confrontation, or provocation exists, do NOT brag or threaten, argue or debate, complain or plead ... just execute an immediate and unhesitating dynamic defense! Act, act thoroughly, but act rightly.

After one's adrenalin is pumping and action is initiated, try to intimidate, confuse, disorient, or frighten the adversary. Avoid being predictable ... try to surprise or startle him. Make alot of noise, including ki shouts, when counterattacking; because stealth and echo-location now have reverse values. The rationale for this procedure is to benefit the blind defender as much as possible. If the court later gets involved, any preliminary aggressive act or talk can be construed or misconstrued as sufficient warrant for the attack; thus shifting some blame onto an innocent party. But more practically, the assailant's location and movements, which sounds are key indicators for blind defense, will be masked by premature speech or movement. Once the battle is joined, excessive noise (which, believe me, you will not hear anyway!) may alert professionals or attract assistance.

A bad day can be depressing and distracting, but inattention can invite a criminal to make it much worse. A fellow veteran, confronted in a remote passageway, relieved his frustration on two armed muggers who wouldn't believe that he had a headache and wasn't in the mood to be messed with, putting them both in the hospital, but he's the exception to the rule. Not only can posture and alertness clue an assailant to bide his time for easier prey, but one can signal subtle awareness and preliminary preparedness. As some plain-clothes detectives flap their coat at the first sign of danger to ensure their weapon is clear for drawing, so the average citizen may check his arsenal, real or implied. One cannot display any armaments without jeopardy or brandish a weapon with impunity, but direct and glaring eye-contact will warn away most people. An intense stare of more than five-seconds duration is itself a personal confrontation, and blindness is a real advantage in this blink contest. One must not only use all knowledge and ability, but must remain aware of any potential resources, including exits. The objective is not random seek and destroy predation, but rather arrive alive survival. Techniques are typically subdivided into armed or unarmed methods; both of which require extensive practice to gain competence and proficiency. Armed techniques are the conventional simple solution, and the litany of legal and illegal, lethal and humane or safe, manufactured and improvised weaponry is impressively vast. One's attitude about limited risk is a major consideration in using a weapon. Although the lore is replete with tales of multiple-wound survival, and even persistent resistance, my experience is that no wound or injury is so small or slight that it will not kill or maim someone, instead of only hampering them. Given recent judicial interpretations, a blind person employing a firearm or knife or spray or stun-probe or bludgeon in a self-defense plea has as much (or as little) chance of successful exoneration as a sighted person. To prevent being easily disarmed, and thus a victim of one's own weapon, a blind person will have to modify the usual weapon out front posture or weapon leading practice. Weapon ownership poses two crucial problems: intent and availability. In the opinion of the court, mere possession of a self-defense weapon shows hostile intent; and to carry it concealed without a permit is a further violation. Anyone who displays his arsenal, or uses it to threaten or intimidate another, is both a fool and a coward; and deserves censure. A weapon should be unsuspected, brandished ONLY after all else has failed, and then, as a last resort, used precisely and expertly. The problem with most weapons is that they are inconvenient, and therefore unavailable when finally needed. Paranoids will cache them everywhere, just in case, but the rest of us will just have to improvise.

Improvisation is an art in itself, which some have made into a lifestyle. Improvised self-defense can span the gamut from carbonated drink sprays and prickly shrub bouquets to rolled-magazine batons and jewelry fist ornaments. A belt or credit card will buttress and intensify a strike; a shoe or purse will reinforce a block and insulate a punch better than an exposed hand, which is easily damaged. The long-cane, in its various rigid and folded forms, is an excellent weapon^[3] masquerading as a mobility device. I know an athletic braille teacher who carries a custom-made stainless-steel cane for its increased rigidity and weight, and for its concomitant protection. Security stations have lately begun inspecting my Hoover long-cane to ensure its relative innocence, but it's still better protection than the average traveler's camera or briefcase ... the Brits don't carry those umbrellas just for unexpected rain! In its long rigid form, it can slash, stab, beat, pry, brace, block, or trip as directed. In close confrontation, the tip can impale a foot, the butt can punch into the face or throat, and the handle can act as a fist-load. It can imitate a fencing foil at full-extension, or it can be choked-up to simulate an affixed-bayonet that pivots at each end. The folded cane resembles a baton or linked rods, and can be manipulated similar to stick-fighting. The tension-cord within the folding cane can even serve as a garrote, booby-trap, noose or loop, and secure tether. The cane's advantages as a weapon are that it is almost always available, and doesn't demonstrate hostile predisposition.

Even though a guide-dog will probably help to protect^[4] its owner, its intelligent disposition is far too valuable to risk in a security matter; so one should avoid desensitizing the animal by either using the folded cane attached to the dog's harness, or detach the harness-handle as a baton. Shouting the specious "Kill!" command to your pacific guide-dog may do more than confuse the poor beast, it will distract your foe and may even frighten him, allowing you to begin your defense.

Unarmed fighting is among the most challenging and demanding disciplines ever devised ... ask any competition wrestler. Most combat schools have established routines, which make them somewhat vulnerable to other systems ... hence the intramural sport concept within each system where each only engages with its own. Unfortunately, street combat doesn't abide by any rules, and few people have the skill to master both a martial art and confront every armed or unarmed contingency. Actually, very few people will study martial arts more than casually, but most of us can use a few of their techniques to restore dignity or defend integrity. Learn the locations of nerve junctions to halt or unhand any unwanted attention ... steady nexus pressure or a sharp strike will numb muscular response, interdict involuntary reflexes, and dissuade heedless pursuit. Wrist-locks and arm-bars are also good low-intensity persuaders without permanent damage. Without the ability to aim a strike, a blind martial artist will have to adopt zone or sweep movements preliminary to closer work. Try to avoid inflicting more damage to self than the opponent by improper strikes ... use the side-of-the-foot instead of the toes, the heel-of-the-hand instead of the knuckles, the forearm or elbow instead of the fist, and deliver them in combinations. Finger-locks leading to breakage, twists or bends leading to dislocations, head-locks and strangle-holds leading to surrender are equivalent to kicks and punches in escalating intensity; but still not irreparable ... and still within magnanimous sane reaction levels. Perspective is important in a calculating society; so don't over-react with over-kill due to accumulated fear and unrequited frustration.

You should also realize that a cute little judo trick won't stop an irresponsible drunk or irrational druggie ... many capricious offenders will attempt to overwhelm or dominate moderate resistance, and a situation can get very ugly very quickly when the warning signals don't get through to the control center. The laws of physics prevail regardless of trained determination, such that a good large person will defeat a good small person every time, and most confrontations end up on the ground as a muddled grapple. The glad-hander who wants to push you in an unwanted direction can be disengaged by shifting your attached arm forward, reaching across your chest to nerve-pinch his now exposed wrist^[5] until he lets go ... at which time, depending on circumstances, you may release him, or you may retain his wrist and elbow-strike backwards with the newly freed arm, and then turn into him to teach him some manners! Pinching the radial nerve even works with a prosthesis, as a friend of mine, a blinded bilateral amputee from the war, ably demonstrated in a bar when someone attempted to pick his pocket ... the dip surely regretted his choice of mark, because my friend had earlier cranked-up the tension on his claws so he could crush those old fashioned steel beer cans!

Some folks will say almost anything to a blind person, under the supposition that if someone can't see what's obviously before them, then they must be stupid ... which is almost as common as the presumption that any blind or severely handicapped person must also be deaf. It may be both impolitic and antisocial for the blind man to take offense at their ignorance, and either tweak his nose or ear, or depress his trigeminal nerves; so he'll think next time before speaking. One must always use judgement in calibrating^[6] a response. As a strong and confident blind traveler, I am constantly being man-handled by kind and concerned people who are trying to help me in their fashion. But because every disabled person, at one time or another, needs help of some kind from others, an abrupt or intolerant reaction from me would be an inappropriate repayment for their good samaritanism. We must always try not to misjudge the innocent, and to be careful of the good ... they are an endangered species.

This modest proposal is essentially theoretical and conjectural. Skilled techniques require individual physical instruction and personal practice to be effective. Ethical scrutiny and mental discipline, like all character building, requires introspection. The condition of legal liability exists for anyone who disrupts the community or harms the citizenry. Sanctions and privileges are always qualified or contingent. This modest proposal suggests that civil liberties grant us both the right of access and the right of exclusion, the right to choose without penalty or compulsion, regardless of our condition. Discretion may be the better part of valor, but for some of us, blindness restricts our options and opportunities. Anyone else can foresee an avoidable confrontation or run away from a sudden fight, with only a minor loss of dignity; but I usually won't discover the analogical ambush or metaphorical minefield until I am already involved. Like the implacable convictions of insensate bigots, stationary and inanimate objects have tripped me up and put me down far too often for me to risk blind flight away from an alleged harm or suspected hazard. So, despite imprudent injury and forbidding forensics, I immodestly propose to stand and fight, in defense of my integrity and liberty, to the best of my ability. It may not be pretty, but it is my ultimate choice.