The Color Codes of Mental Consciousness

The late Jeff Cooper, a retired USMC lieutenant colonel, and the founder of the American Pistol Institute at his school, Gunsite, in Arizona, is generally accepted as being the man who laid down the first really practical method of pistol shooting, better known today as the Modern Technique of the pistol.

He also formulated a simple system based on color codes that we use today. There are four levels of consciousness (mental awareness), which are given below, together with their corresponding color codes, White, Yellow, Orange, and Red. Condition White

This is a state of total unawareness. The only time you should be in Condition White is when you are asleep, in a hypnotic trance, under some form of general anesthesia, or, in extreme cases, when you are dead!

Being in Condition White can be something as simple as this: you've stopped at a red light. You decide to change the station on the radio, or take a call on your cell phone. While you are doing this, you become vaguely aware of a noise behind you, and you look up and see that the light has turned green and the noise you hear is car horns behind you indicating their displeasure. Unfortunately, too many people today seem to spend their whole lives in Condition White.

As a sidebar, it has to be pointed out that cell phones are notorious for putting people into a cocoon of total unawareness. While you are engaged in conversation on your phone, you are concentrating on this, and not on what's happening around you.

In addition, how many of the phone calls you make or receive are really necessary? Emergency calls apart, most of the conversations one overhears seem to be totally pointless.

In this state, you are fully aware of, and taking an interest in your surroundings. You should be looking ahead and to your sides (and occasionally behind), as you move around, keeping your eyes open for potential trouble. In Condition Yellow, you shouldn't ever be taken by surprise: you'll have spotted a possible problem situation long before it reaches you.

When you are walking down a street, always walk in the center of the sidewalk. By doing this, you give yourself a chance to spot any possible danger lurking in a doorway or an alley. Use store windows or parked vehicles as reflectors, to see what's behind you. Don't act as if you are paranoid about all this; a casual glance over your shoulder from time to time will soon reveal if someone is watching or following you.

Don't walk around with your shoulders hunched, cowering as if you're expecting to be attacked. Walk confidently, with your shoulders back as if you owned the street. If you look like a target, it's likely that you'll become a target, because street criminals are just like predatory animals - they can sense your fear!

When you are driving, instead of keeping an eye on the vehicle immediately in front; look further ahead; four or five vehicles in front of you is about right. Use your mirrors; that way, you'll soon see if a vehicle is deliberately following you. Condition Yellow is a level of mental consciousness that's easy to reach and maintain; it takes no real effort, just a little practice.

The domestic cat is always in Condition Yellow; and most people know that it's almost impossible to catch a cat unawares. You should emulate our furry feline friend.

This is a state of heightened awareness. You've spotted a potentially threatening situation. This could be something as simple as a child's ball bouncing out into the street down which you are driving.

Will a child come dashing out into the road, chasing the ball? You instinctively take your foot off the gas pedal and cover the brake, ready to make an emergency stop. As you get nearer, you see the child, waiting at the side of the road with a parent to cross the road to retrieve the ball. All's well, and you continue your journey, at the same time changing your mental awareness level back down to Condition Yellow.

Let's say you are walking from a restaurant to the parking lot. As you approach your car, you spot a couple of young men, wearing gang colors. You'll have to pass them to reach your car. You now have a choice to make. Are the two men acting in a threatening manner?

Of course, you always have the option of going back where you came from and waiting until the men have gone, which is usually the best answer. However, you decide that, because you are legally armed and reasonably well trained, you'll approach them.

Keeping your hand within easy reach of your gun, you walk towards the two guys. You make no threatening moves towards them, but you know that if they made any move towards you, you could respond immediately.

As you approach more closely, you nod at the two. They walk away. You get into your car and drive off, tuning down your mental awareness level from Orange to Yellow.

Why is this important? By acknowledging their presence, you have done two things. You've let them know that you've seen them, and that you cannot be taken by surprise. You have also planted the idea in their subconscious minds, that you could, if they did try and attack you, give the police a description of them.

Incidentally, don't make eye contact with them for too long. To many street thugs, this is seen as a sign of aggression, just like with dogs, and it could trigger an attack.

On the other hand, let's say that the two guys approach you, produce weapons, and demand your money. This is when you move from Condition Orange, where you have perceived a possible threat, to Condition Red.

Since the events of September 11, 2001, and the war against terror, we have seen the states of readiness in this country use a similar system, the highest achieved so far being Condition Orange - being prepared for an attack.

You go into Condition Red only when a possible threat turns into an actual threat. You now have to make a choice: fight or flight. This is the time when all the hours spent training come into use. If you decide that flight offers the better choice of two evils: run away as fast as you can. There's no shame in this at all. To paraphrase an old adage: "He who runs away, lives to run another day"!

In all seriousness, using the 'Nike Defense': running away, is often the winning option. The bad guy is taken completely unawares: he simply expects you to meekly hand over your wallet. By running, you've taken the initiative, and he'll have to react to your action.

Street criminals are not into hard work, so it's highly unlikely that he'll run after you - this would take some effort on his part. It could also draw unwelcome attention to him. Instead, he'll decide to look for an easier victim.

Will he hit you if he shoots? Once again, this is highly unlikely. People who commit armed street robbery generally don't spend hours at the shooting range honing their skills.

On the other hand, if you do decide to fight, this is where all your training will come into play. Most people who have not made the effort to train themselves in the use of handguns go straight from Condition White; total unawareness, into Condition Red in a crisis, or life-threatening situation, missing the intervening conditions altogether. That is why they often come out second best.

You should constantly practice being in Condition Yellow all the time; it could save your life.