269 - Mailbox: Repetitions and the will to survive

Comments on #267 - "Evoked memories"

Reader comment from “Evoked memories” :

" …it must be hard to stay calm enough to remember the training and to try to work out whether the opposition may be carrying".

Never fight anyone out of choice and if you have to, always assume the worst aspects of humanity from them.

The saying goes that “a.s.s.u.m.e. makes an Ass out of U and Me”.

Maybe so but with some exceptions, here’s one…

Always assume they are carrying.

ALWAYS.

Everything should be adapted to allow for this fact.

We practice calmness and relaxation constantly in training but calm or not, it will be the repetitions from training and your will to survive that carry you through.

But wait, shouldn’t that be “Will to win” rather than just survive?

Winning is avoiding the situation in the first place - now that choices are removed against your will, you are left with doing what it takes to survive as unscathed as possible.

This is not sports or a martial hobby activity, you can “win” a fight but still face lifelong consequences in terms of physical and mental health, legal issues, threat of revenge, the list goes on…

Systematically and methodically drilling basics, go forward a bit and then back to basics again is the way and why we do it.

Training that keeps you always looking at new stuff to stop boredom and loosing customers is putting money before efficacy and will have a strong chance of letting you down in crisis.

Some don't like this and drift away – which I'm fine with.

Everyone's idea of what is basic will vary – each to there own circumstances and ability.

As soon as you're feeling unsure of training direction – return to basics.

This is the difference between those who train for hobby and those that train for dependable skills for a decided way of life.

Thanks @Underwolfe for raising these important points.

J