Have you ever wondered what the most common street attack is? Many times, self defense students ask about the most common punch or the most common grab. But let’s say for a moment that a haymaker is the most common punch. Just because you know how to defend against a haymaker doesn’t mean you can stop it. Why is that?

Not all haymakers are created equal. Neither are all bear hugs, kicks, chokes, or weapon attacks. And that inequality has nothing to do with how well an attacker can punch, or how strong they are.

So what the heck am I talking about then?

The two most common types of street attacks

When talking about the most common street attacks, we group them into two categories: alpha/ego, and predatory. It’s important your self defense training covers both.

What is an alpha/ego attack? Think about your typical barroom brawl. Somebody looked at somebody, bumped somebody… the list goes on. Alpha/ego attacks typically occur in the moment. However, there are subtle cues that tell you one is about to happen.

Understand how the four phases of self defense (awareness, avoidance, deescalation, and defense) apply to both common types of attacks.

Predatory attacks, on the other hand, are exactly what they sound like. They involve stalking a chosen target and getting close enough to launch an ambush without setting off your alarm bells.

But if a punch is on its way to your head, does it matter which type of attack is taking place?

Actually, yes it does.

Why is knowing the two common street attack types important?

It’s important to know the difference between the two common attack types for a couple of reasons.

First of all, the best self defense is not fighting, but preventing the fight. This is where de-escalation tactics come into play. But while an alpha/ego type attack can usually be de-escalated either verbally or by leaving the area, the same doesn’t hold true for a predatory type attack. We’ll discuss that more in a moment.

The second reason has to do with use of force. Most alpa/ego type attacks are the fist fight type. That means they aren’t usually life threatening. Using excessive force can land you in a heap of trouble. Predatory attacks are more likely to put your life in danger, so using a higher level force is not only more acceptable, it’s often called for.

Do you know who is most likely to face each type of attack?