When you get slapped

[Dana Sheets]

Thanks to reinforcement on TV and from Films - women are often hit with open-handed slaps. Have you ever been slapped? If you did get slapped what would you do?

Rick Wilson posted this on Van's forum:

A test was set up where an officer was to simulate a traffic stop. They were to walk up to the car and take information etc. They told the officer to go over and set up for the video lighting.

When the officer stepped up to the car, totally unsuspecting that anything would happen, they were shot with blanks.

A surprising number of officers fell to the ground clutching themselves and remained on the ground. When questioned they believed they had been shot and when you are shot you fall down.

Talk about mind set!

So what is your mindset if you get slapped? Will you turn away and cover your cheek? Will you fall down? Will you cry? I'm not talking about what will happen - I'm talking about what your mindset is.

Slapping is a very, very personal/emotional way to get hit - though I can't explain all the reasons - it simply is and I think most of us would agree. But have you rehearsed in your head what you'll do?

Dana

[Norm Abrahamson]

Dana,
A slap is meant as an insult more than a serious attack. The attacker is telling the victim that they are inconsequential and can easily be dominated. I only remember being slapped once, and that was 20+ years ago when I was in college. I hit the slapper with a straight right, but it was automatic. I don't remember thinking about it all. It was a reaction, I think because of the insult, not the physical damage which was minimal.

Sincerely,
Norm Abrahamson

[RachelL]

I have never been slapped for real, never gave anyone reason to do such a thing. I can say that I have never had to slap anyone for any reason other than in training. We have however in self defense training practiced using a slap across the face at half speed as a distracting devise to set up a kick, punch or release to escape and move to a safe location. In training slapping is a lot safer than raking the fingers across the eyes which is what we tell the woman in SD class they can do instead of slapping.
As was mentioned being slapped is in some instances considered an insult, if one is to slap their attacker they better be prepared to take the tiger by the tail. An insult via assault defense or not will lead to further confrontation.

[Ted Dinwiddie]

Funny thing about a slap, if done with proper technique, you can knock somebody senseless.

Very relaxed hand, meat at the base of the thumb contacts side of jaw just below corner of the mouth, fingers whip in against upper neck, below ear, behind jaw. Night night.

Maybe even palm to side of head (temple)...

The fingers across the cheek will just p*ss him off and probably inspire the aforementioned and much more damaging reaction.

[Stryke]

I`m not sure were I read it, but the theory was a slap often instantly returns you to a child mindset , dont know if I agree but theres definately something about a slap that shocks more than say a punch .

was just trying to remeber if Ive been slapped more times buy surprise than punched ... er well thats a whole different story and possibly the wrong forum

[Guest]

I think the slap is about domination.

The abusive mate slapping around the spouse.

The bitch slapping of a punk in prison.

These acts are about domination, establishing the pecking order. I think the slap is more of a mental attack not a physical attack in many cases.

Laird

[RA Miller]

Stryke:

From this, maybe?

"#2) FACE CONTACT
In our culture, adults do not touch other adult's faces. When it happens, it is a sign of great intimacy. Adults may, however, touch children’s heads and that makes it very powerful. Touching another adult’s face is a show of extreme dominance, showing that the toucher considers the recipient a child. Just tousling hair can cause extreme feelings of humiliation.

This has evolved in the prisons into a systematic attack- the “Bitch slap”. A slap to the face, properly executed, can be physically devastating. With or without proper technique it can be psychologically debilitating, shocking the victim into a child mentality, paralyzed and submissive.

This taboo is so strong that many people freeze when they strike another person in the face even in sparring. You may also."

The full article can be found at:

http://www.cyberkwoon.com/html/article.php?sid=237

Rory

[Guest]

A swat in the ear is a nasty thing to do to someone too. Might even damage their ear drum.

[david]

an attacker chose to use a slap... Develop your mindset what you would do if someone physically attacks be it with a slap, a fist, a foot or a weapon. Keep it simple. Don't complicate it for yourself. You want to (re)act. Period. The assault was initiated by the other. Will you respond? That's all there is to it.

david

[Dana Sheets]

Women, when shocked, often cry. So it's likely that once slapped a woman is going to have to defend herself through tears.

Can you visualize it now?

***crack***
The quick snap of flesh against your cheek. You see white, your head is knocked to the side, your balance is thrown off for a second, you have tears in your eyes. Just when you've realized what's just happened you've also realized that he's still coming towards you. His hand is raised again.

So - what are you doing?

[jorvik]

Women see things differently to men..and they are faced with different situations/problems.........in a self defence scenario.
In a male/female situation were a MAN SLAPS A WOMEN....Well I agree that's a dominance thing. It is really an escalation from a verbal situation and any women faced with that kind of behaviour should treat it as an attack and respond accordingly.I would think the next thing to come would be a rape or a severe beating. ( not that I've ever been there myself)......but!! ..any form of physical contact is really not nice ...people do not need to strike each other.

[2Green]

Movement is movement, attack is attack.

If someone is going to swing their hand into my face, they had better have a whole lot more than a slap to justify the ensuing trauma.
To THEM.

That is, if it ever lands; which in all liklihood, it won't. WAY too big of a windup compared to almost any other strike.
When I wind up that way it's shuto-time, and you aren't getting up from that if a slap is what you thought was coming.

I cannot in my wildest dreams imagine a MA with over 6 months of training missing an incoming slap from Joe/Jane public.
From my teacher, sure!
Otherwise, if you got slapped you'd better step up the TaiChi, yoga and Pilates. Maybe someday you'll learn.
Don't forget the Evian.
NM

[Van Canna]

[Van Canna]

How about from the legal viewpoint? How far are you allowed to go in a response action to a psychological, emotional demeaning attack, along with the physical?

What if you, enraged beyond compare, side kick him in the throat and really screw him up?

Will judge and jury understand?

How about getting spat on like this :

[CANDANeh]

How about getting spat on like this :

Self control required.
Spitting is IMHO a last act of someone forced to submit, they feel demeaned so they try to get you to join them in feeling. See a lot of it with individuals facing same faith as those in picture. The "child" is cornered and forced to submit, wipe it off and walk away.