ESCAPE: The Real End Goal of Self-Defence By Sensei Liam Musiak

The fourth word in the A.A.E.E.L. Self-Defence Code is ESCAPE—and it’s arguably the most important of them all. In fact, every stage of the code—assess, action, ethical, and legal—is centred around escaping safely. Avoid the threat? Escape. Defend yourself with force? Escape. Deal with the aftermath? Escape.

Once the immediate danger has passed, do not hang around. The person you just defended yourself from may have friends nearby. They could be armed. You might be surrounded without realising. The goal isn’t to win a fight—it’s to survive and get home safe. That means getting away fast and smart.

Too many people make the mistake of standing over the attacker, checking if they’re okay, or letting their ego take over. Don’t. You’re not a hero in a film—you’re a human being trying to stay alive. Once you’ve created an opportunity to escape, take it.

At Voracious Karate, we don’t train to win street fights. We train to avoid them and, if necessary, end them quickly so we can get out. Escape isn’t cowardice. It’s the ultimate goal of self-defence—and the smartest move you’ll ever make.