Plan for Peace; Train for War

Gary Glemboski
Sep 20
3 min read

Nobody really wants to fight. Sure, there are folks who spar—karate, boxing, Muay Thai. Others roll on the mats in judo, jiu-jitsu, or MMA. That’s all good training—but it’s not fighting. Even some of us old guys from the “blood and guts” era of karate made it through mostly intact. Mostly. I can’t help but think of Bobby Bare’s song The Winner—and all the broken noses, dislocated fingers and toes, cracked ribs, sprains, and bruises too many to count. Still, I’d do it all again.

But here’s the truth: most people aren’t going to train like we did. They don’t have the time. They don’t have the drive. A lot just don’t care. When I started, self-defense wasn’t my motivator anyway. It was competition—both no-contact and full-contact—that pushed me. Later, my reasons shifted.

I joined the Marine Corps four years before the Vietnam War ended. Our training wasn’t about sport—it was about survival in battle. At Parris Island and later Camp Lejeune, our instructors drilled us with the lessons they’d learned firsthand. Later, when I trained with the 11th Special Forces in the late ’70s, more veterans passed along their hard-won experience. There was no mistaking it—we were training for war.

Here in the U.S., only about half of one percent of the population serves in the armed forces. And last I checked, there are roughly a million sworn, full-time police officers in the country. With over 300 million people, that works out to maybe 40–60 officers per 10,000 citizens in major cities—far fewer in rural areas. That leaves a whole lot of people unprotected, a whole lot of the time. And with stretched response times, it’s clear: in a crisis, we’re often on our own.

So what does that mean? It means you’d better get comfortable with discomfort. Learn some essential skills. Seek out training. This isn’t just for “preppers.” As Miyamoto Musashi said, “It is better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.” And remember: “You can’t truly call yourself peaceful unless you’re capable of great violence. If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful—you’re harmless.”

Start by taking stock of your own skills. Where are the gaps? A good example is advanced first aid. I became an EMT right after joining the police force in 1979. In my 43 years as a cop, I used medical skills far more often than firearms skills—and I’ve kept sharpening those abilities for over four decades.

Personal protection isn’t just about fighting techniques or carrying tools. It’s about building a complete skill set that helps you avoid, deter, and respond to threats in everyday life. Here’s a framework to think about:

1. Situational Awareness

Your first line of defense is awareness. Reading your environment, spotting anomalies, and recognizing pre-attack indicators helps you avoid trouble before it starts. Jeff Cooper’s Color Code of Awareness—yellow (alert), orange (heightened), red (action)—is a useful guide.

2. Verbal De-escalation and Boundary Setting

Most conflicts can be talked down. Project calm confidence, stand with authority, and use clear, assertive commands: “Back up!” Posture and tone matter as much as words.

3. Defensive Mobility and Escape Skills

Know how to move. Running, breaking contact, using cover, and finding escape routes can save your life. Always be ready to “get off the X.”

4. Empty-Hand Defensive Skills

Basic strikes and defenses—palm heels, elbows, knees—give you a last resort if avoidance fails. Simple, gross-motor skills work best under stress.

5. Improvised and Everyday Defensive Tools

Learn to use what you have—flashlights, pens, bags. These skills don’t replace formal weapons training, but they give you options.

6. Defensive Driving and Travel Awareness

Daily life involves movement. Recognizing surveillance, avoiding choke points, and practicing defensive driving are lifesaving, especially if you travel often.

7. Legal and Ethical Knowledge

Know your local laws. Understand what you can carry, when you can use force, and how to justify it afterward.

8. Medical and First Aid Skills

Learn how to stop bleeding, pack wounds, and perform CPR. Programs like “Stop the Bleed” and TECC are excellent starting points.

9. Mental Rehearsal and Stress Management

Visualize scenarios. Train your body and mind to respond under adrenaline and chaos. Simple, reliable skills hold up best under stress.

10. Commitment and Mindset

In the end, mindset is everything. Hope is not a plan. Preparation must include the willingness to resist and commit when no other option remains. As both Musashi and Cooper stressed in their writings, survival often depends on decisiveness more than technique. When the moment comes, you must commit - fully.

BE SAFE • BE EFFECTIVE • BE READY

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