When the 1st stage of Blitz Defence is enough

Nearly all of us know how easy it is to freeze up in the heat of a confrontation or when adrenaline and fear are running high.

Earlier this year one of Melbourne’s WT beginner students (1st student Level) was unexpectedly confronted during an episode of apparent road rage. To his credit, Milosh was able to call upon an internal voice of calm and reason. Thanks to his Wing Tsun Training, he was able to replay the voice that he had been using in class over his first few months of training… “I don’t want any trouble”
This first stage of Blitz defense, using body positioning, hands raised in WT fence position and verbal communication, to de escalate and diffuse the situation proved to be enough.

Milosh tells his story:
Corner of Punt Road & Toorak Road, South Yarra    
28th February 2008:
I was driving home from work, about 5 minutes from home, - waiting at the lights for the green arrow so I could turn right. A Ute pulled up beside me (he was going straight, waiting for the green light), and I heard shouting coming from the vehicle. I felt the jolt of danger. I looked to my left and saw a man staring right at me cursing and swearing his head off. ‘Who the f... do you think you are you c....?’ This guy was big, angry, and mean. His eyeballs were wide open and bloodshot. He wasn’t talking – he was yelling. I figured he was on drugs or simply on rage.
I could feel the danger. The feelings inside my body were not pleasant, I could feel the fear trying to take over and get inside my head to shut down my thinking.

I couldn’t catch the thoughts that were coming for a moment – it was happening so damn fast! This panic/fear lasted about 2 seconds (felt like 2 minutes!). Then the voice in my head said ‘I need to control this situation’. ‘Calm down, calm down, take control’  I told him ‘I’ve got no problem, leave me alone’  He kept swearing and yelling, I wasn’t even listening to what he was saying anymore – I was just listening to my own voice telling him that I didn’t want any trouble. I couldn’t turn right because the tram was in the way – and he was holding up traffic behind him in his lane, so when he began to get out of his car, there was no choice. Well there was – stay inside my car, lock my doors and hope he doesn’t smash my windows and then attack me or step out. I stepped out. My knees weren’t shaking, I was definitely feeling the element of danger/fear – but it wasn’t eating me up inside.

He was bigger than I thought. I told myself – ‘if he gets too close, take him out’ – I kept repeating this to myself. I put my hands up in Blitz Defense position as soon as I got out of my car. I told him ‘Mate, I’ve got no problem with you, leave me alone’. I kept repeating this and things like ‘Just get back in your car, I’ve got no problem’. He saw my Blitz Defense position and didn’t come any closer – he just kept ranting and yelling for another minute or so.

He kept sticking his chest out and waving his arms around, but he didn’t advance much closer. I think this is because he saw that my hands were between him and me and that he would have to come through them to get to me. If I wasn’t in Blitz Defense position and instead had my hands at my sides – my face would have been wide open for a nice smashing. In Blitz Defense position, even though he was obviously physically stronger, I still knew I had a shot. I could win.

His body language at the time revealed that he was frustrated – his hands were moving rapidly from side to side while he spoke. He looked me straight in the eye – staring. He wanted to fight for sure. His chest was inflated.
I kept repeating that I didn’t want any trouble. After the 10th time of me telling him he said  “you’re a f......g piece of S, ill find you c...” and got back in his car and drove off.

This all happened so quickly. Without Wing Tsun Blitz Defense training, my mind would have done what it has always done in these kinds of situations; froze. Getting back in my car I felt good. My body wasn’t shaking; it was under my control. I got a really powerful self-reflection when I got home as well. It wasn’t one of coward – or weakling – or sissy. It was one of being a brave warrior. 
By Milosh Veltkovic

The message here is that, while we diligently practice our role playing during blitz defense training, sometimes unaware of the sub-conscious programming that goes on for us; Milosh’s story helps keep us mindful that everything we practice can become second nature and we should never underestimate our capacity to remain in control during a confrontation. For Milosh, this was a situation that, without his Wing Tsun Training might well have ended very differently…. The fact that this situation did not escalate and no one was hurt was a good outcome for all.
Well-done Milosh!