What is evasion in the context of defensive tactics?

• A. Verbal commands to deter the attacker
• B. Running away to escape
• C. Shifting your body or side stepping to avoid the attack
• D. Using a barrier to block the strike

Answer: (C)

Evasion means moving your body to avoid an incoming attack. By shifting your stance, angling your hips, and sidestepping, you change the attacker’s line of attack so the strike travels past you. This keeps you balanced and ready to respond or disengage, all while avoiding impact. It’s about getting out of the path of the strike through precise footwork and body positioning, not absorbing contact.

Verbal commands are de-escalation—they aim to deter, but they don’t physically alter the attack path. Running away can be part of disengagement or escape, but evasion specifically refers to the live movement that avoids the strike. Using a barrier to block is intercepting the attack, which stops contact rather than avoiding it through movement.