The White Tiger Rules of Self-Defense

OK, I admit I didn't suddenly make up some iron-clad rules of self-defense. But in using one of Bruce Lee's idioms, (I'm paraphrasing here) "keep what works and leave out what doesn't," and also being a man that thrives on simplicity, I came up with 2 simple rules I teach. Here they are in order of importance:

1. Avoid conflict by whatever means possible. The best fight is the one that's not fought, and you live to fight another day (hopefully not though).

2. If conflict is unavoidable, end the conflict quickly and decisively, and with appropriate force. Unlike what's shown on TV, the longer any fight goes, the more exponentially dangerous it gets. "Appropriate force" is similar to The Golden Rule ("treat others as you want to be treated"), except in reverse. For example, you don't react to an overly flirtatious guy who really means no harm by raking his eyes out and possibly blinding him for life. In today's lawsuit-happy society, the "appropriate force" portion is highly important.