Riding ATVs And The Color Codes Of Awareness

Riding ATVs in the back country requires that the rider is alert to the surroundings and the trail ahead. Because of the diverse terrain we encounter when ATV trail riding we have to be able to react quickly to trail obstacles. An effective way to help with this is developing a mindset used by soldiers, special agents, and law-enforcement personnel.

This mindset heightens your awareness and allows you to see potential obstacles ahead of time — providing a window of opportunity to prepare for or prevent a potential accident. This is a self defense mechanism called the color codes of awareness.

Self Defense: The Color Codes of Awareness

Author: Imran ali

According to experts, self defense is based upon 90% awareness and the remaining 10% is the physical training.

The Color Code System was developed by Colonel Jeff Cooper. The purpose of these color codes is to help recognize, evaluate, and avoid potential threats. The following are the colors in ascending order of awareness of danger: white, yellow, orange, and red.

Code White:

• You feel secure, whether or not you are actually safe.
• Awareness is switched off.
• You are oblivious of your environment, its inhabitants, and their procedures of attack.
• All attackers look for victims in this state.

Code Yellow

• You are cautious and should spend most of the time in this state.
• Awareness is switched on.
• This is known as a state of threat awareness and relaxed alertness.
• You have a 360-degree marginal awareness of such environmental danger spots as secluded doorways, entries, and alleys, as well as such psychological triggers as adrenal dump and attacker tricks. Be aware of people, vehicles, behind large objects, dark areas, etc.

Code Orange

• You are in danger and aware of a potential threat.
• It is a state of threat evaluation.
• There is a specific alert which means a possible target has been identified. A particular situation that has drawn your attention and could present a major problem. Someone may be giving oral indicators such as direct threats or using suspicious language. Focus on the potential attacker.
• Check to see if there is an avenue of escape, or any potential weapons are available, and if others around you are friend or foe.
• Decision is made to take action.

Code Red

• You are in conflict.
• This is a state of threat avoidance.
• Fight or flight. Flee, defend, or attack. You have evaluated the situation, and if there is a threat, you prepare to fight or run.
• Never stand or fight if there is a possibility of fleeing.
• Carry out decision to act made in Code Orange. You don’t have to think; no indecision on the course of action; you are prepared.
• If use of physical self defense techniques is necessary, use the level of force appropriate to the threat.

Conclusion

To practice these codes then start right now, be in Code Yellow. Throughout the day, identify probable areas of danger and switch to Code Orange as necessary. If not threat exists then switch back to Code Yellow, awareness should be made a habit by doing this exercise regularly, as it is the most important self defense skill.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-defense-articles/self-defense-the-color-codes-of-awareness-1497836.html

About the Author

Grandmaster George Alexander Maughan offering online self defence videos, classes and courses for everyone, around the world. Check out http://www.defencecourse.com/.

Image by ATVCourse.com

When riding the trails on your ATV you should be in condition Yellow, you have a 360-degree marginal awareness of such danger spots as blind curves, other ATVs, animals, rocks, logs, branches and other trail debris. When encountering any danger spots you now have a point of focus and you immediately switch to condition Orange and possibly on to condition Red if the situation warrants.

Because trail conditions change and are sometimes unfamiliar and occupied by others, the need to pay attention is huge. By being mentally prepared most accidents can be avoided. The Color Codes Of Awareness will help in developing a mindset that will react appropriately to changes in your environmental surroundings.