Three Main Factors Of Personal Combat...

[SteyrAUG]

Well after 25 years of instruction, study and practice of martial arts and combat methods I thought I'd offer some insight into some core truths (but this is not to suggest I am the first or only person to make these observations) about personal combat.

Essentially these are the three main factors in order of priority:

1. Combative Mindset - This is the most important thing to have and is usually the key difference between victory and defeat. Asian martial arts instructors call it 'fighting spirit' but unfortunately westerners most often associate the word 'spirit' with a religious context and completely misunderstand what they are saying. In correct context fighting or martial 'spirit' should be taken in more or less the same context as school 'spirit' but in relation to a much more serious topic.

It is many things. It is aggressiveness, courage, bravery and a willingness to fight. It is desire to win, confidence in yourself and your ability to win. It is the mental approach to combat and being able to shift to a alpha state when you engage in combat. It is the ability to adapt and improvise during combat.

And it is many more things than just that. It is all the related factors such as Zanshin, Mushin and a dozen other esoteric concepts. But essentially it comes down to a willingness (if not a desire) to fight and win. This combative mindset is primarily the result of experience and it is the most dangerous thing about most successful fighters.

To use an analogy, a uneducated gang banger with a crappy Lorcin and a 'willingness' to kill you is every bit as lethal as your most skilled Delta operator. Sadly that 'combative mindset' is all some lesser humans need to prevail in combat and that is why most martial artist attempt to attach a system of ethics and conduct to their instruction.

2. Strength - This should be obvious but it isn't to all. The problem is martial arts 'allow' a weaker man to prevail over a stronger man by virtue of technique and spirit. This is true but it will not always be the case. In reality a big, dumb guy can still clean your clock with one really hard punch. More importantly a weaker man will always improve his superior technique by adding strength. This does not necessarily always mean 'muscle strength' but more a greater capacity for power of application.

Often a technically skilled fighter will take refuge in technique alone and shun physical power. This may partially be in due to his disdain of 'muscle heads' who can't fight but think muscle mass alone makes one formidable in combat. Both mindsets are limiting. In addition for capacity to deliver forceful strikes 'strength' and a strong body allow one to endure combat on a greater level. It has been suggested that the only difference between special forces and the standard military is the ability to carry 100 lbs. of extra gear. Obviously this is simplistic and not quite true but it is still a core truth. One of the things that separates special forces from the regular military is the ability to do the same thing, longer and harder. That is simply, strength.

3. Technique - A few martial artists (especially those with fewer than 4 years) will be dismayed by the suggestion that 'technique' is the least important factor. But the bottom line is no matter how correct your technique may be, if you do not possess sufficient strength to apply it or a combative mindset that let's you actually use the technique in real conflict then technique is useless.

But conversely technique is the road to strength and a combative mindset. This is why a black belt still does 1,000s of basic strikes daily and why special forces drill the fundamentals of combat constantly. Both the black belt and the special forces member learned the technique properly years ago. It is hardly going to improve noticably at this point no matter how many more hours are dedicated to training. But you are no longer 'learning' the technique. You are using the technique to acquire 'strength' and a 'combative mindset.' It is the continuous drilling that improves power in the movement and gives the practioneer absolute faith in his technique and overall ability which results in a combative mindset.

A beginner and expert may know the same movement (technique) but it is their capacity (strength) to apply that technique and the ability to use it in real world combat (combative mindset) that separates the two.

And this is why their is no 'superior' style or method when comparing genuine martial disciplines. Regardless of style and method, combative mindset and strength of technique will always be the deciding factors.

[Ewok85]

Attitude alone (a good one) can keep you out of trouble and help if trouble does find you

Nice writeup

[Bun-Bun]

Hm. I'm used to my top three for self defense. IMO, the best things to have on your side in a fight are:

1. Odds of 20 to 1 in your favor.
2. Failing that, a good running start.
3. Failing that, a good plan to acquire #2 or as much of #1 as possible.



Seriously, while I think you're right, I'm wondering why you don't think strategy belongs in your top 3. This is all a matter of opinion, so I'm just curious.

[Cliff Hargrave]

Seriously, while I think you're right, I'm wondering why you don't think strategy belongs in your top 3. This is all a matter of opinion, so I'm just curious.

Stategy belongs in the technique section.

[SteyrAUG]

Stategy belongs in the technique section.

Would also be part of the combative mindset.

[Cliff Hargrave]

That is the important part of this triangle, the three tend to overlap to some some degree.

[D Owens]

Great read!

[rubberband]

what about awareness... sensitivity to the weakness of your opponent... perhaps it is part of the predatory mindset... and of course it is expressed in technique... but awareness of where strength is lacking can be a strength all its own...

great thread...

take care, steve

[Jeff Burger]

I have poste this before.
I refer to it as Lam's Equation

10 skills = 1 strength
10 strenghts = 1 will

I think that fits your idea.

I do agree mindset is #1 but its also fairly hard to surely train.
Technique is easy ... learn it practice it.
Strength is easy to ... workout weights, body weight...
Other than giving them the information on the short comings of ALL training and training as best we can I dont see a solid way to build the mindset.
We can give the info, make examples, scenario training...bla bla bla it will still fall short.

Too many martial artist are to passive. To much blocking, 1,2 or 3 shots at a time. Often the techniques are throw half heartidly hoping for some magic from their training.
I tell my students in general you should be think 2/3 offense an 1/3 defense and thats is still probably giving defense to much.
Society tells us to be nice, and we should be. But that doesnt mean being ignorant of the realities of violence and how to deal with them.

Something else I have written before but woul like to share again.....
I was doing a women's self defense class when a woman said " I dont know why Im here I coulnt defen myself against a man".
I said "what if he is trying to kill or rape you?" she said " rea the paper women get raped an killed everyday".
Knowing she has two daughters I said " what if someone os trying to rape or kill one of your daughters". Her face change to a vicious look an she said " Id f***ing kill them".
Suddenly she has no question of her ability to fight.

When I look into the whys of this I see this.....
Unconditional love.
We all have things we dont like about ourselves and may feel undeserving or even deserving of misfortune.
But for her children she has unconitional love, her own life was less important than theirs in her mind.

Today I try to tap into that. I try to give people the idea "dont let an attacker take you away from your family".
This can be a civilian a LEO, military...

Having confidence you can hurt an attacker if need be...
I had a teacher who loved Muhamed Ali and he liked the phrase "sting like a bee".
He would say "the bee is a good warrior. He may be small but he has big will.
You see big strong men dance around like sissies when a little bitty bee is around them. I KNOW I can hurt more than a little bee".

Also be aware of that mental readiness and willingness making you paranoid.
I use to walk around ready to go all the time. If I had left the house without a weapon it was seldom but on my mind.
Growing up I had alot of fights and always felt a need to be ready.
Then one day I had a realization that what served me then was not serving me now and I just didnt want to be like that any more.
That may sound pretty simple but that set the stage for a big turning point in my life.

I had a teacher who traine alot with mindset (at least in comparison to us).
We also did I alot of contact reflex at that school.
One night his fiance thought it would be funny to jump him in the parking lot on the way to his car ( stupid I know but I think we have all had friends or family play this way).
He ended up punching her in the face with a key loaded fist.

So just becareful you dont let this stuff get out of control.
We train to protect and improve our life.

Jeff

[Matumbo]

Here's a question. Where does fear fit into SteyrAUG's theory? It definitely relates to #1, but how? Is it something to be done a away with, because it clouds your mind and causes you to freeze up? Or does it actually have some value, in that it can contribute to this "fighting spirit" that you speak of?

Steve Fulton

[stella fuentes]

i think a little fear is a good thing. keeps you on your toes and alert. so i would rather not do away with all of it.
very enlightening read.

[rubberband]

fear is not something that can be trained... you can train to use fear as a trigger for the correct mindset... but it is not an attribute that can be developed... I suppose I am saying that fear falls into the mindset catagory in my opinion...

take care, steve

[Jeff Burger]

Fear can be a tool for use or a problem to deal with.

Read The Gift of Fear .

As with other aspects of your training never think your finished.
Never think that you are above freezing.

I think most people came to martial arts for self defense ...so from fear.
So if only for the fact it brought you to martial arts it is a blessing.

Jeff

[SteyrAUG]

Bump for the new guy

[corsarius]

Damn! I got in late on this topic, and everyone's said pretty much everything that was on my mind.

Having said that, I know what it's like to suddenly doubt your own ability in martial arts. I was unfortunate enough to be robbed an knife point twice in a period of 2 weeks while working at a service-station, and some people kept asking "if you know all this kung fu, why didn't you...." etc. The thing is, I knew I'd done the right thing at an intellectual level (hand over the cash etc), but there is always some small element of insecurity which asks if you were up to the challenge etc.

The fact is, you should turn the whole thing around and look at the situation favourably:

1. You learned from your mistakes - in future you'll more likely follow your instincts, and think ahead.
2. You lived to tell the tale - without too much injury except to your pride.
3. You've gained valuable insights into the realities of conflict.

Use this event as a springboard to improve your training and yourself - take note of what people on the boards have been saying. Aim to develop the combative mindset - your instruction at martial arts classes will by necessity focus to a great degree on techniques, but in your own time you can train anywhere without doing anything but thinking about scenarios. Definitely play the "what if" game in your head - what if I was confronted by situation X - how would I react. Let reality be your guide in these situations - not fantasy: consider it a kind of martial-arts war-gaming: mental chess in preparation for the real thing.

Improve your strength and technique too! It can never hurt. I think an earlier comment was very valid in that there is no superior "style" or "system". Your techniques are just a toolkit for you to deploy - know how to use the tools, sure, but in the end it's the person that's using them, not the tools themselves, that do the job.

Just my 2 cents.

[Paul B]

Just a quick question for people. Does anyone else train in a "simulated" environment specifically for these types of attacks,and dealing with the adrenaline and "fear" that comes with it?


For example:

1.Low light
2.Confined space
3.Multiples at full speed
4.Armed in above conditions

Just curious. And I know that it's "different" on the street,as it were,but isn't that the point? i.e. The reason we practice and internalize technique is to form not only an immediate set of reactions,but to recognize and deal with said enviroments immediately and appropriately. Thoughts?

Best Regards,

Paul Bladen

[SteyrAUG]

Just a quick question for people. Does anyone else train in a "simulated" environment specifically for these types of attacks,and dealing with the adrenaline and "fear" that comes with it?


For example:

1.Low light
2.Confined space
3.Multiples at full speed
4.Armed in above conditions

Just curious. And I know that it's "different" on the street,as it were,but isn't that the point? i.e. The reason we practice and internalize technique is to form not only an immediate set of reactions,but to recognize and deal with said enviroments immediately and appropriately. Thoughts?

Best Regards,

Paul Bladen

They do if they are smart.

My first wake up call was when I was about 2 years into Judo. Our teacher instructed us to report to Saturday evening class in our "street clothes." We 'thought' we had it figured out and predicted practice in jeans, tshirts and sneakers. Wrong.

Everyone out to the parking lot. Randori on the pavement. Special attention was paid to breakfalls that night I assure you. You also watched your knees, elbows and knuckles as you tried to maneuver for leverage. Add the fact that we were also wearing jeans and tshirts and we looked like class A white belt amatuers.

But it did wake us up to the fact that this is what it would be like. We all had a bit of minor road rash and I took some gravel debris home with me as well as some mild impact trauma but I also knew what to expect if I ever went at it on the street.

Also had a few teachers who would take the training out of the dojo on many occassions. One that is strong in my mind was the one who took us to a park and by means of random selection would assign 3 students to jump a single student. You figure out pretty fast that 3 guys are a lot harder than it is in the movies. You usually lost pretty bad. If you were lucky you were able to break free which means you would have a chance to run in the real world.

[Chrono]

10 skills = 1 strength
10 strenghts = 1 will

Does 10 wills equal anything?

[Jeff Burger]

"Does 10 wills equal anything?"

IMO will is the most important piece. That doesnt mean to neglect strength of skill training.

Think of how improtant will is in strength and skill training.

Jeff

[renegade]

I only have one disagreement with your statement Steyr, and that's when the strength based fighter is in his elderly years, phyisical strength isn't going to serve him any longer. If by strength you mean fitness or endurance, then I don't have any disagreement with that. But relying on physical strength to power your fighting IMO is a young man's game only. An 80+ year old man doesn't have that kind of muscle strength anymore and will end up better served at his age by having trained in technique based MA's during his lifetime than the other guy will. I only have a few years experience, far below your level, but after watching my former sensei train with other senseis his experience level from different MA's that employed a great deal of muscle power, and seeing them say "holy s***!" when he knocks them back along with the 2 guys he told to stand behind them to support him with a strike powered by body movement rather than muscle, it sure opened my eyes. Don't get me wrong, I know the others could achieve the same result with muscle powered strikes, but at 60? 70? 80+? then what?