ASSESS: The First Step in Self-Defence By Sensei Liam Musiak

The first word in our A.A.E.E.L. Self-Defence Code is the most powerful: ASSESS. It means taking a split-second to scan your surroundings—looking for objects, exits, entrances, people, and everything that could affect your safety. If you do this perfectly, 99% of the time you’ll avoid the situation entirely. And that, ultimately, is what real self-defence is about: not fighting at all.

Awareness is your greatest weapon. A quick scan of a room, a glance over your shoulder, noticing that one person acting strangely or that back exit you didn’t see before—these little moments can give you the edge to walk away before danger begins.

Far too many people wait until they’re already in a bad situation to react. But a well-trained martial artist lives in a state of calm alertness. We don’t just train to survive attacks—we train to avoid them completely.

That’s why at Voracious Karate, we teach our students to assess before anything else. Because the smartest black belt is the one who never had to throw a punch. Start with your eyes open, your mind calm, and your awareness sharp—and you’ll win the fight before it ever starts.