How many times have you practiced a certain skill but were unable to grasp it? The harder you tried, the harder it was to perform this skill, until finally you just didn't care anymore-and then BAM! You performed the aforementioned skill flawlessly and with ease? Once you stopped thinking about it and turned off the mind chatter the skill became much simpler.
The thought process is where the most damage is done, especially when self-defense skills are concerned.
In my experience I have found that the overwhelming majority of self-defense, personal security, etc.
courses fall short because they tend to make too many presuppositions, which is without a doubt BAD.
For example, the techniques taught for the most part tend to be very attack-specific, which presupposes that an attacker will approach you in a certain way, with a certain technique, coming at you from a certain angle.
Another assumption made is the environment in which you will be attacked.
Anyone who doubts this statement need only drop by any "self-defense" course being taught at a local martial arts school.
I'll bet you 10 dollars you'll most likely see people barefoot, wearing pajama-like uniforms practicing intricate multiple-move techniques against very specific attacks in a clean, spacious studio with wide open spaces in which to practice.
Does that sound realistic to you? Me neither- but more on that later.
Perhaps the most dangerous assumption made (unbeknownst to them) by many students of martial arts is to presuppose that the attacker has a similar value system as them.
This is due to the fact that teaching students restraint in their techniques while in a psychologically and emotionally stable environment has no element of reality, and as such, the idea that whoever is attacking you has different values to begin with because, well, they're attacking you for no reason is simply not a valid issue.
Proper training, in order for it to be effective, must address certain points.
For example, one must be made aware of legalities and be conditioned to react when necessary.
Techniques such as verbal diffusion of a particular threat, rationalization, and the concept of de-valuing yourself in the eyes of your attacker should be taught and implemented into scenario response training.
Remember, in a self-defense situation, Murphy's Law will undoubtedly come into play, so the less mind-clutter you have going on the better off you will be, be it techniques or your mind racing through the "what-if?" file cabinet.
Proper training can help minimize this aspect as well, so that when faced with a situation, you will be able to respond in a simple, direct and efficient manner and thereby remove yourself from the threat as quickly and with as little effort as possible.
In the words of reality self-defense pioneer Tony Blauer, "If you're facing one opponent and you doubt yourself, you're outnumbered.
" Wise words, indeed.