The feint is a ruse or deception used to force the threat into a false reaction. It's an old tactic, and used in man against man combat or thousands against thousands. But, like all tactics you have to understand its application and it must be practiced. In most situations you will need to do something to force the threat to react to you. This buys you time to do the things necessary to win the confrontation, whether through avoidance/escape, physically stopping the threat or a combination of both. Verbal commands are one way to achieve this, especially when coupled with movement, which should be an immediate response. Taking away the threat's physical balance is a good technique. The feint - a tactical "red-herring" – is an excellent way to buy time. A good feint throws the threat off balance. You appear to be moving to the right, but then move left. The feint deceives the threat into thinking you're doing one thing, but then you do something different. The feint consists of a false move, immediately followed by your real move. The element of surprise is mandatory. The feint must be unexpected, and it has to be realistic. Because it's sudden and realistic the threat takes the bait. This reaction provides you with time. You execute your real move, buying more time. This time is used to create distance, move to cover and draw your weapon if necessary. Your reaction to the threat's action allows you to win. The feint requires commitment. Once committed, you cannot hesitate. If you hesitate, allowing the timing of the threat to catch up, you risk losing control. Once you have control you do give it up until the fight is over. You keep pushing, constantly forcing the threat to continually react, never giving them the chance to recover. The feint can cause upset the threat's physical balance. Again, you feint moving right, then move left. As the threat attempts to recover from the feint they lose physical balance. The feint also throws them mentally off balance. They decide what to do based on the feint, but your real action forces them to re-asses, and now they are questioning everything. A good feint will disrupt the threat's physical and mental balance. Now you have total control. Like all tactics the feint must be practiced. The feint usually involves body parts. You reposition the feet, shift body weight or both. Watching video of confrontations can supply you with examples. Remember, it has to look real. This is an easy skill to practice with partners to get the movement working properly. When you ask people does action beat the reaction the common response is, "Yes." This is true, but only on a very simplistic level. Fighting is more like a chess game. White always moves first, but this doesn't mean they will win. The proper reaction – a feint - can allow you to defeat the threat's action. Study on this well. — Tiger McKee Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, located in northern Alabama. He is the author of "The Book of Two Guns" - http://shootrite.org/book/book.html writes for several firearms/tactical publications, and is featured on GunTalk's DVD, "Fighting With The 1911 - http://shootrite.org/dvd/dvd.html McKee's new book, AR-15 Skills and Drills, is available off Shootrite's website: http://shootrite.org/AR15SkillsBook/AR15SkillsBook.html http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shootrite-Firearms-Academy/156608611038230?ref=ts