Escalate or De-Escalate with Eye Contact

This may sound like overly dramatic hyperbole, but I will stand by this statement 100%...Often times eye contact can make the difference between life or death. 

Growing up in Honolulu, the eye contact thing was a big fight starter.  "No, give me stink eye", "what you looking at, you like beef (fight)", "what, I owe you money".  Those were just a few starters that I grew up seeing.  It starts with a certain look from guy #1; that look is perceived to have a negative put-down and threat by guy #2.

Sometimes a pro sport fight can be won or lost at the ceremonial stare-down, and that can be true in a real-life street defense situation as well.  A look can show fear or anger in fact, sometimes a look alone predicts a violent attack.  

The eye contact you project can save you from a violent offender by making him realize he is messing with the wrong guy.  Your eye contact can make you a victim or a victor. 

3 Tips on effective eye contact

• Your eye contact should project confidence, not arrogance. 
• Look them in the eye, but don't stare
• Smile and nod

Having effective eye contact is a very important tool to have in your self-defense or sport-fighting toolbox.