Principles of Breakaway

Throughout this manual, we have concentrated on recognising situations early and making decisions that may prevent them from becoming physical.

Sometimes, however, somebody may grab, hold or physically attack you.

A breakaway technique is a physical skill used to help you disengage from that contact so you can create distance and move to safety.

The purpose is not to fight.

The purpose is to escape.

Physical intervention changes the risk

Once a situation becomes physical, the risk of injury can increase for everyone involved.

This is why physical techniques should not be viewed in isolation.

Everything we have covered earlier in this manual still matters:

• situational awareness

• recognising changes in behaviour

• dynamic risk assessment

• positioning

• maintaining distance

• communication

• boundaries

• disengagement

If you can avoid physical contact safely, that will usually give you more options.

The breakaway approach

Keep the overall aim simple:

Avoid → Disengage → Create Distance → Escape → Get Help

Avoid

Recognise developing risks and avoid unnecessary physical confrontation where possible.

Disengage

If somebody grabs or holds you, use an appropriate breakaway skill to release yourself where necessary.

Create Distance

Once you are free, move away.

Do not remain within reach unnecessarily.

Escape

Use the opportunity you have created to move towards safety.

Get Help

Once safe, seek appropriate help.

Depending on the circumstances, this could include friends, colleagues, security, your employer or the emergency services.

Breakaway is not restraint

There is an important difference between breaking away from somebody and restraining them.

The aim of breakaway is to free yourself from unwanted physical contact.

The aim is not to hold the other person, take them to the ground or prevent them from moving.

Once you have created an opportunity to escape, use it.

Keep it simple

Physical techniques need to work when somebody may be frightened, under pressure and experiencing the effects of adrenaline.

Complicated movements can be difficult to remember in a stressful situation.

Breakaway skills should therefore focus on simple principles that help you:

release → move → create distance → escape

The techniques covered in your training should be practised safely and regularly enough that you understand their purpose and limitations.

Reading about a physical technique is not a substitute for practical instruction and supervised practice.

Keep reassessing

Breaking free does not necessarily mean the situation is over.

Once you have disengaged, immediately reassess.

Where is the person now?

Can I move away?

Where is my safest route?

Are other people nearby?

Do I need help?

Do not become so focused on the technique that you forget the reason you used it.

Your objective is safety.

Use only what is necessary

As we covered in the previous lessons, any force you use must be appropriate to the circumstances.

The purpose of a breakaway technique is to deal with the immediate physical problem and create an opportunity to escape.

Once you are free and able to move away safely, continuing to use physical force may no longer be necessary.

Do not turn a successful escape into a confrontation.

There is no guaranteed technique

No physical technique can guarantee that you will escape from every situation.

People differ in size, strength and ability, and real situations can be unpredictable.

The environment may also affect what you can do.

This is another reason why breakaway techniques should be viewed as one part of personal safety, rather than the whole answer.

The earlier skills in this manual remain important.

After an incident

Once you are somewhere safe, consider what needs to happen next.

Depending on what has happened, you may need to:

• contact the police

• get medical help

• tell your employer

• report the incident

• contact somebody you trust

• preserve information or evidence that may be important later

If you have been injured, seek appropriate medical attention.

An incident can also affect people emotionally as well as physically. It is reasonable to seek support afterwards if you need it.

Remember the purpose

Breakaway is not about proving that you can fight.

It is not about winning.

It is about creating an opportunity to get yourself away from danger.

Remember:

Avoid → Disengage → Create Distance → Escape → Get Help

And even when a situation has become physical, keep using the framework that has guided us throughout this manual:

NOTICE → THINK → ACT

Notice what is happening.

Think about your options.

Act to get yourself to safety.