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"Ponder and deliberate before you make a move. He will conquer who has learned the artifice of deviation. Such is the art of maneuvering." -Sun Tzu

The goal of self-defense is to prevent the attacker from harming you. Sometimes this involves fighting, but it also may involve escaping and hiding. A good hiding place will:

• Allow you to move quickly or counterattack.

• Provide protection against a weapon the attacker may have, such as a firearm.

• Allow you to observe the attacker.

Cover

Cover is anything that provides protection from an attacker's weapons. The cover required depends upon the weapons the attacker has available, and whether he or she has a light source, such as a flashlight. Remember that cover that protects against thrown rocks may not be sufficient to stop a bullet. Cover should be thick enough to stop expected incoming projectiles and large enough to protect the entire body. Examples of cover include:

• Natural cover, such as rocks, logs, rubble, etc., is best because it is hard to detect in darkness.

• Good cover also includes buildings, structures, concrete, etc. Propane or other fuel tanks do not make good cover.

• Cinder blocks that are used as foundations for houses or walls are not impenetrable cover. Although they are made of a dense material, they are brittle and may shatter upon impact from small arms fire, causing injury by secondary fragmentation.

• Wood, such as trees, logs, power poles, etc., is a relatively dense material and offers good cover but bullets have a tendency to fragment when they penetrate wood. Live trees have a greater resistance to bullet penetration than dead wood. Wood that has been treated with creosote, such as telephone poles and railroad ties, offers better protection from projectiles than untreated wood.

Concealment

Concealment is anything that hides you from view. Six factors affect the effectiveness of concealment:

• Shape. From any distance, your outline will give you away. Change you shape to match that of your surroundings.

• Shadow. Stay in the shadows and do not allow your own shadow to be seen.

• Texture. Beware of smooth, shiny surfaces such as watches, weapon barrel, glasses, etc. Most smooth surfaces will reflect light.

• Color. Blend in with your surroundings. Bright colors attract unwanted attention.

• Position. When choosing your position, make it appear as though nothing is out of the ordinary

• Movement. Motion naturally attracts the eye, so keep still.

Cover may protect but not conceal, for example, bulletproof glass offers cover but not concealment. Concealment may not offer cover, for example, hiding behind a dense shrub offers concealment but little cover.

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