The Clash asked the question in 1982.
I ask it in nearly every class I teach.
Should I stay or should I go?
Because before a technique, before a physical response, and often before a situation becomes dangerous at all, there is a decision that shapes everything that follows:
Am I leaving, or do I need to stay?
It sounds simple. But in personal safety, knowing the answer can determine every decision that comes next.
Leaving Is Usually the Best Option
I’ve jokingly called myself the most conservative Krav Maga instructor in the world.
What I mean is that my priorities are simple:
Minimize risk. Minimize the amount of time you’re exposed to danger. Get home safely.
Most of the time, that means leaving.
If you can walk away safely, walk away.
If you can create distance, create it.
If there’s an exit, use it.
There’s no trophy for staying in a confrontation you could have avoided. Personal safety isn’t about proving what you can handle.
The exit may be the most valuable self-defense tool you have.
But Sometimes Leaving Isn’t Immediately Possible
Real life doesn’t always provide an easy exit.
Maybe you’re in an elevator.
Maybe you’re in a stairwell.
Maybe you’re somewhere unfamiliar and the only available exit is blocked.
Or maybe the situation isn’t just about you.
A friend is with you.
A family member needs help.
Someone you’re responsible for can’t move as quickly as you can.
Now the objective changes.
You may need to manage the situation long enough to create a safe opportunity for everyone to leave.
That’s very different from choosing to remain in an unnecessary confrontation.
And recognizing the difference is part of effective self-defense decision making.
Know the Objective Before Choosing the Response
One of the problems with teaching self-defense as a collection of techniques is that students can begin thinking every technique is a solution by itself.
It isn’t.
The appropriate response depends on what you’re trying to accomplish.
If your objective is to leave, your actions should help you leave.
Create space. Move toward safety. Draw attention. Get to other people. Find the exit.
A response that keeps you involved longer than necessary—even if it’s technically impressive—isn’t helping you accomplish the goal.
If leaving isn’t immediately possible, the objective may be different.
You may need to protect someone, maintain a safer position, call for help, or manage the immediate problem until an exit becomes available.
The circumstances determine the objective.
The objective guides the response.
That’s why good self-defense begins with thinking, not fighting.
Ask the Question Before You Need the Answer
The middle of a stressful situation is a terrible time to start figuring out your priorities.
Preparedness gives you a head start.
When you enter an unfamiliar building, notice the exits.
When you’re walking across campus at night, notice where other people are.
When you go somewhere with friends, think about how you’ll leave together.
When you’re in a crowded event, take a moment to understand the environment around you.
This doesn’t require paranoia or constantly expecting something bad to happen.
It’s situational awareness.
Most days, you’ll never need any of that information.
But noticing it costs almost nothing.
And on the rare occasion when something does go wrong, you’ve already given yourself options.
Good Self-Defense Starts With a Decision
Physical self-defense skills matter. We train them because sometimes they are necessary.
But physical action shouldn’t automatically be the first answer.
At Krav Maga Essentials, we want students to understand the bigger picture: recognize what’s happening, identify the objective, and choose the response that gives you the best opportunity to stay safe.
Sometimes that means staying long enough to solve an immediate problem.
Most of the time, it means going.
So ask yourself the question before a difficult situation ever asks it for you:
Should I stay or should I go?
Know your objective.
Know your exit.
And whenever you safely can, go.
The Krav Maga Essentials Team
