SDT takes a particular view on a number of matters related to defensive tactics training specifically and street self defence in general. These views or 'philosophy' impact on the structure, content and methods of training in SDT.

1. Violence is the Last Option: An aggressive response to a confrontation should a last choice unless circumstances force it. This is not a contest and it certainly should not be allowed to become a contest of egos. This applies particularly to males who can easily feel their 'maleness' is on the line. The consequences are potentially serious even should you 'win' the encounter (no one really wins a street confrontation you only survive it). Entanglement with the police, hospitals, courts, adverse impact on work and home life and the possibly of revenge attacks may await anyone who uses violence. Use it because you feel you have no other choice and then you are better placed to deal with any adverse consequences that may come your way. Fight because you have to not because you want to.

2. Personal Accountability: Have the courage to make decisions that you believe are in your best interests and then take responsibility for the whatever consequences (good and bad) that may follow from that decision. Don't hand responsibility for decisions you should be making over to someone else and don't blame others for the consequences of decisions you have made. In the self defence context this means don't be goaded into violence by pressure from others - you're the one that will bear the consequences. And that 'others' pressure doesn't have to be other people, it may be your ego or your emotions.

3. Don't have 'Attitude': Some systems encourage students to develop an aggressive 'tough guy' attitude, to be feared. This particularly appeals to the young and immature, those who are often full of fear themselves and have a poor self image. They confuse being feared with being respected and the two are worlds apart. Besides the world doesn't need more would be World War II commandos or Navy SEALS. Having 'attitude' is simply a magnet for trouble. True confidence is not cockiness. True confidence manifests itself in being humble and unassuming on the outside while being strong and resolute on the inside.

4. Mistakes are a Learning Opportunity: The difference between optimists and pessimists and more particularly between those who achieve and those who don't is how they view the same situation. A mistake is the difference between actual outcome and desired outcome. If what you got is not what you wanted then change what you did. You have just learned something and now are better placed before the mistake. But only make the same mistake once.

5. Strive to be Your Best not "The Best": We are all different and we all have a different potential. To make being "the best" your aim means you have taken on board the measure of worth that others have defined. If truly being your best and being the best coincide then fine. But don't succumb to how others define status and worth at the expense of your own values. That shows weakness.

6. Don't Judge Worth by Fighting Ability: This is a specific and common example of trying to be "the best". Taken literally this means that everyone bar one person has little or no worth as by definition only one person can be the best. Does this mean the rest of us are destined to lead unhappy and unfulfilling lives? Is the queue outside the gates of Heaven ordered according to fighting ability on Earth? Get real. This is a residue of our animal ancestry where status in the monkey troupe and later in the caveman tribe was determined by physical size and the ability to physically dominate the other males. This is what we have evolved from, not what we are evolving into. So think Homo Sapien not Neanderthal.

7. Don't Judge Ability by Appearance: It is sad to see so many otherwise mature males making fools of themselves in the pages of our martial arts magazines with eyes bulging and teeth snarling doing something dastardly to a hapless assistant. Such is the nature of the human threat display, which is not that different to those of apes and primates during mating season. Threat displays or posturing have many varied and subtle forms in human confrontations. They are a significant component of what we have to deal with in defensive tactics. We must learn to see through them for what they really are - just appearance.

8. Determination is Everything: The capacity to succeed at any endeavor is a function of many attributes. But many a gifted person has failed to achieve through a lack of determination. In the pursuit of any goal the two hardest things in life often are the ability to get going and the ability to keep going in the face of hardship and difficulties. As the saying goes:


	It's not the size of the dog in the fight, It's the size of the fight in the dog that counts.
	but maybe..... It's not the size of the dog in the fight.. It's the size of the fight in the cat!!?