The Fantasy Opponent: Deconstructing Reactionary Pedagogy in US Self-Defense Culture
The self-defense movement in the United States has always been predominantly reactionary, arising alongside increasing urbanization and suburbanization, and driven by fears of the urban "Other." It has deep historical ties to the eugenics movement, reflecting anxieties that white populations were becoming physically weak. Much of its pedagogy derives directly from US military and police manuals, eugenicist fitness "experts," and contemporary martial arts such as Krav Maga—developed within contexts of colonial violence and military occupation.
While the self-defense movement has links to feminism, these connections largely reflect white feminist concerns—primarily the empowerment and protection of white women. Even radical self-defense collectives trace their lineage back to this reactionary framework. They frequently adopt a suburban "prepper" mentality focused on hypothetical invasions or external threats, stoking anxieties about foreign dangers. Significantly, their training rarely addresses resisting US state violence and is seldom applied in such contexts. Instead, the resulting harm often extends laterally within communities or inwardly toward the self.
This raises critical questions: Who exactly is this fantasy opponent embedded in self-defense training? Who constitutes the implicit "Other" within its pedagogy? Why isn't this training consistently employed against its stated adversaries? The pervasive use of hypothetical scenarios and "what-ifs" makes these trainings virtually indistinguishable from typical suburban martial arts or self-defense programs aimed at homeowners preoccupied with surveillance apps like Nextdoor or Citizen.
Although some groups invoke radical legacies such as the Black Panthers, inspiration often remains superficial. Many drill instructors, technique cops, and correction officers, who style themselves as facilitators, openly acknowledge that their techniques, knowledge, and philosophies originate from reactionary or fascist sources. They even encourage training under such instructors, endorsing reactionary and fascist philosophies as martial art legitimacy, and perpetuating the dangerous assumption that bodily techniques and pedagogy are politically neutral—and fascists as neutral experts. Underlying this assumption of fascist "expertise" is a troubling belief in body fascism, eugenics, and an implicit disdain for perceived weakness.
Using the fascist's teaching tools, "expertise," principles, and pedagogy while slapping a dead radical's name on it doesn't change the pedagogy, nor does it honor them.
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