"Keep your distance Chewy, but don't look like you're trying to keep your distance..." - Han Solo

Controlling distance in a self-defense or life-threatening situation is critical. Studies in human performance and applied psychology have demonstrated repeatedly how “action” beats “reaction”.  Whenever we are confronted with an action, we first must perceive that action before we can go through the process and react to it.  This process is called the OODA loop.  It is the  “operating cycle” of the human brain. The first step in the OODA loop is to OBSERVE the action.  This is followed by ORIENTING ourselves toward the action, drawing on previous training and experiences to evaluate the situation.  Then we must DECIDE on the best course of action based on the circumstances and ACT on it.  We return to the first step in the loop to OBSERVE how our action may or may not have made a difference, and go thru the loop again.  This process is often done very quickly, but it still takes time.

Maintaining distance from potential threats allows you to have more time to go through the OODA loop.  It also forces any prospective attacker to commit to coming after you.  It always surprises me how close people will let potential threats get, even when they recognize the person as a possible mugger / robber.  Having directly witnessed several occasions in which people were almost mugged, I could see the look of fear on the potential victims faces as the person approached.  Yet, it was as though they were afraid to say something.  I think this is a case of political correctness that has gone way too far, in which people more worried about being wrong and offending, rather than protecting their own lives.  I don’t care what color skin a person has, if they’re coming at me looking like someone intent on causing me harm, I am going to keep my distance, and react accordingly.

I have observed this same phenomenon on many occasions while training police recruits.  While they are told to control the distance, and keep a "reactionary gap", this not fully grasped until they are in a scenario.  Soon the recruits understand it is not good to let the “bad guy” get too close to them, but it is usually only after being physically assaulted by the "bad guy".  They quickly learn how fast things happen, and how long it takes them to react to the actions of the "bad guy".

Another common reason potential threats get too close is because people are not maintaining situational awareness.  The potential threat is noticed only when it is already up close and personal.  By then, if this person decides to do harm, it is already too late to have the time to react.  Keep your head up and not buried in your smartphone!

So you are probably asking yourself, "What distance is appropriate?"  The answer is like many things in life, “It depends”.  The best option is to create as much as much distance as possible between you and any potential threat.  Keep barriers between yourself and the potential threat, whether it be physical or environmental.  If these are not options, stay outside of an individual's lunge area, so they will physically have to commit to any attack.

Finally, consider the Han Solo quote above, "... don't look like you are trying to keep your distance."  This is akin to showing that you are afraid.  Recognize that fear is natural and it is healthy to have a certain amount of fear.  It keeps us alive in many cases, by preventing us from doing really stupid things.  However, we must operate through the fear, and not show that we are afraid.  Many times, a show of fear actually invites an attack, because it gives the attacker a sense of overconfidence that you will be easy prey.

In conclusion...Controlling your distance from any potential threat will increase your ability to survive.  The farther away the threat is from you, the more time you have to act / react and the more options you have.  Keep this in mind as you go through your day.  It may save your life.