This topic has been the source of many heated debates over many years. Some self-defense experts say NO, others say YES. My view is that it DEPENDS on many things. Sure, a muscular guy weighing 240 lbs will always have a physical advantage over a 115 lb lady or man. A guy with long arms and/or legs will always have a reach advantage over a person with short arms and legs. But it is actually much more complicated that that. There are many factors that influence the outcome of a violent altercation.
The T-P-M Factor
Criminals always control the Time, Place and Method (TPM) of an attack. They own it. You will not get an email alerting you that they plan to attack. There will be no announcement where they will attack and you have absolutely no idea how they will attack. This gives them a serious advantage over their victims. Even if the victim is the big 240 lb muscular guy I mentioned earlier, if the attacker controls the TPM and the victim did not anticipate the attack and if he is not able to mentally flip the switch to fight, his strength and size will be of no value. Let’s make it even more complicated. Imagine the same attacker has a weapon like a gun or knife. Now the attacker has an even greater advantage.
Victim vs Predator Mindset
Violent Attackers are like lions in the wild. They actively seek prey. They strategize so that they have the best chance of overpowering their victims. They always think that they will win a physical altercation. Unless the person being attacked has the same attitude, no weapon or self-defense training or physical size advantage will save that individual. Violent attackers are prepared to do unspeakable things to accomplish their goals. They have absolutely no feelings for their victims. They do not care that their victims are nice people, have a family and just want to live a nice life. To them it is all about the intent to hurt in order to get what they want. In order to be mentally prepared for a violent confrontation, you need to have a predator mindset when it is needed. You have to be a good citizen but when the time comes, you have to be prepared to do what is needed to stop the threat. If you are not mentally prepared to use extreme violence to stop a violent attack, physical size will not help you one single bit.
The Battlefield
Violent criminal attackers control the TPM as mentioned earlier. This means that they also pick the place where an attack will happen. They pick the place so that it suits their objectives. They want to make it as difficult as possible for their victims to effectively fight back. Here are some common areas where it is really difficult to fight back, no matter how physically big and strong you are:
Inside vehicles
On motorcycles / bicycles
In your bed
Crowded areas like night clubs
Areas with lots of furniture
Stairways
Slippery floors
Battle Wounds
A victims may be willing to fight but in the process suffer a serious injury. The big muscular may slip on a wet floor, trip over furniture or suffer a wound from a weapon. Slipping and falling may lead to fracturing a limb, thereby lessening his ability to fight. He could get hit in the throat or eye. Suddenly his priority changes from fighting, to getting oxygen into his lungs or being able to see. A stab wound or gunshot wound may cause him to be come physically weak due to bleeding out. Unless he is able to stop the threat before he is affected by his injuries, he is now a lot more vulnerable.
The “secret move” that will stop all attackers
Many self-defense instructors proclaim that they have a “secret move” that will stop any attacker, no matter his size. These magic techniques ranges all the way from poking the eyes to hitting the groin. The truth is that there is no technique in existence that is guaranteed to stop any attacker. There are just too many factors at play. The attacker may be on drugs, there may be multiple attackers, the place where the attack happens may be unsuitable to use the technique or you may be seriously injured and unable to do your technique.
