I don't focus so much on speed as I do on directly controlling the opponent's decision process, these days. Action may be faster than reaction, this is true, but there is only so far you can go by trying to be 'the fastest draw in the West'.
Chris McKinley wrote:Ultimately, in situations where physical force cannot be avoided, providing an assymetrical and overwhelming response does not increase the total amount of violence necessary, it actually minimizes it...
...doing the least amount of harm doesn't mean responding at the lowest level of intensity possible. In reality, it often means responding in such a way that the attack is neutralized and any further attack is prevented by overwhelming the attacker as early as possible in the confrontation before the situation has a chance to escalate.
Generally wise. Mind, based on my own training, our response is framed a touch differently, but I expect you can appreciate the thought behind it..
As far as my own teaching is concerned, my 'force levels' go:
1: Escape. Mobility is good, we are very mobile and learn to move on some annoying terrain such as ice.
2: Deter attacker with defensive, distance-gaining techniques while attempting to pin blame on the attacker by staging responses in order to claim victim status in any witnesses present, then escape. So I have them train a full body whipping palm strike using coiling energy and a body lunge that looks like a total "girlie" slap. I actually have them practice shrieking in helpless terror while throwing this. Another favorite is my combo of screaming "Don't hit me!" (with terrified shriek and hands coming up in a cowering sort of shake; lisping is optional depending on who is likely to be in the area); then a low line heel stomp kick to the abdomen, groin, or knee which ends in a stance transition into "falling on the floor" (in one of our floor stances); rolling away, and coming up in position to sprint away.
3: Shock and awe with overwhelming force, steamroller over and through an attacker to reach an open space, then escape. This is where we get things like throwing a takedown that chains into doing an elbow cartwheel off of their sternum on our way to the exit.
4: Shatter the attacker's knee or deliver lethal force so that they can no longer attempt pursuit, then escape.