This posting presents the first in a series of 7 articles, covering the “7 Keys To Accelerated Defense Training”. Don’t miss any of these practical discussions, sure to offer insights and concepts that will enhance your training.
The 7 Keys:
1. Psyche
2. Reflex Triggers
3. Natural Movements
4. Tension Management
5. Sensitivity and Freedom
6. Emotions (simulated)
7. Realistic Drills
Key #1: Psyche
In this work, let’s define “psyche” as the health of a person's thoughts regarding their own ability.
You strike an enemy with the body (fist, etc.), but the greatest conflict of battle is fought in the mind, and the harshest war is waged in the heart. A warrior’s most powerful weapon is his mind. However, if a balanced psyche is lacking, the mind can be the greatest foe as well. Many people train their body and neglect the mind. If you don’t have a survival mindset, no technique will save you.
Such a mindset is not one of paranoia or violence. The true warrior hopes for peace and responds to invasion and tyranny with crushing strength and swift power. Never let anyone take away that which is essential to your spirit. The warrior within can overcome enemies without, as long as he is free.
Accept the reality that when you must fight, you must win. The only aim in a combat situation is to destroy the enemy. Do not fight as a mere test, but develop an attitude of balance and a skill for justified defense. When attacked, you mustn’t think of what you may lose, impending pain, etc. Get mean and have primal intent to survive, fighting through the attacker. If you are attacked and you are consumed with emotions and thoughts of your family, career, life, or anything not directly focused on defeating the enemy, you have reduced your chances of survival.
At the highest level, we learn to fight so that we might not have to. You may develop extraordinary skill, but always live in a way that serves your heart. I personally hate to fight. I don’t like hurting people. It makes me feel bad. But when attacked, my psyche is clear of the clutter of daily life, and my response is immediate and devastating. When a violent criminal targets a person, that person has a very brief window of opportunity in which to remove the threat. You have to decide ahead of time what you are willing to do in order to protect yourself. Make sure you can live with the consequences of your actions.
Besides the matter of drawing a line regarding use of force, a person must know their limitations. The problem is that too many people set limitations that are far too conservative. Normal people have much more ability for self-defense than is commonly thought. This is especially true in training. I’ve seen students possessing great technical skill break down under a mild dose of psychological pressure. I think it is best described as people feeling sorry for themselves. As soon as a little unexpected discomfort is experienced, strong people will reach an internal limit. This can be life-threatening in a street encounter with an aggressive attacker. Find ways, in training, to push those limits out further. Don’t feel sorry for yourself.
The brain must assess and engage the body's reaction to any circumstance, and a violent attack introduces stresses and fears that can interrupt the normal operation of the neuromuscular response. Tension can build to such a level that natural reactions are hampered. You must have faith in yourself! You must trust your reactions enough to let your body respond. Your psyche must be settled if you are to survive.
The Applied Fighter training system utilizes natural reactions and reflexes as the starting point for hand-to-hand tactics. Everyone, even people with absolutely no defense training, have reflexes. You will move when attacked. Personally I don’t see a lot of benefit in spending years to reprogram muscle memory. Better to use realistic training to evoke emotional responses to analyze a student’s natural reaction to a violent attack. That way, you can work from that point to develop devastating counters that will be totally reliable in real life.
The result will be a balanced psyche and a confidence in one’s ability to defeat those who would cause bodily damage.
Stay safe,
Instructor Moore
