What Pre-Incident Indicators Actually Look Like in Real Life

Most dangerous situations do not begin with violence.
They begin with testing.
Moments that feel small. Off. Socially uncomfortable. Easy to ignore.

These are called pre-incident indicators — signals that danger is forming before anything physical ever happens.

Most adults miss them because they look ordinary. They sound polite. They appear harmless. But learning to notice them early is one of the most powerful forms of self-defense — because it allows you to make decisions before you ever need to fight.

What Are Pre-Incident Indicators?

Pre-incident indicators are behaviors, patterns, or shifts in interaction that signal someone may have harmful intent or is evaluating whether you’re a possible target.

They often happen in:

• Parking lots

• Elevators

• Stairwells

• Gas stations

• Sidewalks

• Outside stores

• Approaching cars

• Closed spaces

They are not dramatic.
They are subtle — and that’s why they’re missed.

Indicators Usually Start With Testing

Predators almost never begin with force.
They begin with a test — a small action to collect information.

Common real-life tests include:

• Ignoring “no” or a boundary
  (“You sure you’re fine? Let me help you.”)

• Creating unwanted proximity
  Someone steps closer even when you didn’t invite it.

• Questions that force social obligation
  (“Where do you live?” “How long are you here alone?”)

• Unsolicited help used as leverage
  (“Let me load that into your trunk. I already helped you.”)

• A stranger appearing where there is no reason to be
  lingering in a parking lot, stairwell, or near your car

• A compliment that is followed by monitoring your reaction
  to see if you smile, engage, or shrink

The test itself is not the danger.
How you respond to it — and whether you notice it — is the information.

Why Most Adults Miss These Signals

People miss indicators because they are trained to prioritize:

• Politeness

• Not appearing rude

• Not assuming the worst

• Avoiding social discomfort

• Hoping they’re “wrong” rather than acting early

But predators rely on that hesitation.
Because hesitation is compliance.

A predator does not need force if they can gain access through silence.

Some Indicators Happen Inside Your Body — Not Outside

Not every signal is external.
Sometimes the biggest warning is internal.

Examples include:

• A sudden urge to take the long way around your car

• Feeling watched without seeing anyone

• A spike of discomfort that makes no logical sense

• Your body speeding up before your brain understands why

You don’t need a reason to act on these signals.
Your nervous system often detects patterns faster than your logic.

What Krav Maga Does With This Knowledge

At California Defense Academy in Murrieta, adults do not just learn physical techniques. They learn detection.

Training includes:

• Reading body language

• Identifying proximity shifts

• Trusting intuition early

• Using voice and boundaries before danger forms

• Leaving without guilt — even if nothing “proves” you should

Because the strongest form of self-defense is avoiding the situation entirely.

Recognizing Early = More Options Later

The earlier you notice danger forming, the more choices you have:

Leave.
Say no.
Move.
Switch direction.
Create space.
Prepare.
Call someone.
Get loud.
Act — before someone else does.

Pre-incident indicators do not protect you by being dramatic.
They protect you by being early.

A Final Thought

You don’t need to justify discomfort.
You don’t need evidence.
You don’t owe strangers politeness at the cost of your safety.

If something feels off — that alone is enough to move.

Your body notices before your mind understands.
Listening to that is not paranoia.
It is strategy.

California Defense Academy – Murrieta, CA
Krav Maga | Self-Defense | Martial Arts | Personal Protection
Serving Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Canyon Lake