How should you position your hands during a protective shuffle?

During a protective shuffle, positioning your hands about a foot in front of you is critical for several reasons. This position helps create a barrier that can deflect potential threats while still allowing for the necessary mobility to shuffle away from danger. Keeping your hands further out in front provides better range for defending yourself, as they are not too close to the body, which could limit your reaction time and ability to maneuver.

Additionally, this hand position helps maintain balance and readiness, allowing for effective footwork and the ability to respond to any sudden changes in the situation. Balancing safety and mobility is essential in protective techniques, and having your hands extended in front strikes a good balance between defense and movement.

Other positions, such as having hands close to the body, might hinder your ability to protect yourself adequately, while raising your hands above your head would not facilitate the necessary defensive actions required in this context. Extending hands towards the person also risks making you appear aggressive, which could escalate a potentially volatile situation rather than de-escalating it. Therefore, positioning your hands about a foot in front is an effective strategy for maintaining personal safety during a protective shuffle.