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Why is it that so many people report that, even after learning self-defense, they doubt that they'll actually be able to use what they learn? Many things will challenge you as you progress through your martial arts study and training but, when it comes to learning self-defense, you must make sure that you're not running into this common problem.In the world of the martial arts, there seems to be no shortage of "tricky" moves. We can be so captivated and impressed by a master's or self-defense experts ability to tie his opponent in knots but, even for students training for mastery, there is still a common and overriding doubt that says, "I don't know if I'll be able to do this stuff when I need to."
It's important to remember, and I'm talking to students and teachers alike here, that the dojo or class environment is VERY different from a real-world self-defense situation. Besides the fact that...
...you're training partner is NOT really trying to hurt, beat, or kill you...
...you're not operating under the same fight, flight, or freeze mechanism that will be firing when you're really being attacked on the street.
Any combat veteran will tell you that, when under the shock-and-awe response that occurs when that center of your brain (called the amigdala) perceives a threat and sends a signal to your hypothalamus, which in-turn dumps the chemicals adrenaline and epinephrine (among other things) into your blood stream, your body works in a very different way than it does when your stress-free and chatting with your friends.
What this means is that, in a life-threatening self-defense situation, your body and brain are not going to be able to do half of the things that are being taught in most martial art schools and self-defense programs. And the primary reason for this is due to the fact that, under pressure, you lose all fine motor skills - including brain functions - and reduced to relying on gross motor functions.
You're going to have enough trouble making sense out of the chaos that is a fight or brutal attack, without having to remember some tricky maneuver that X, Y, Z style swears by. And most people, if only subconsciously, know this.
You know tongue-tied or confused you get when under pressure. You know how easy it is to forget where you put your keys or to remember this or that when you're being rushed or in a hurry. And, no one's even trying to kill you!
No, if you're really training for effective self-defense, you have to learn how to KISS in training. I don't mean pressing your lips against any part of your attacker's body either. That's not the kind of kissing I'm talking about.
What I'm talking about is the acronym, K.I.S.S., which means...
"Keep I Simple Stupid."
Not exactly politically correct, I know. But, it is fitting.
Because in a real life-and-death encounter, you've got to keep your defense short, simple, and effective. And then you've got to get out of there - fast!
Remember that, you're attacker is probably going to be bigger, faster, stronger, or more experienced at attacking than you are at defending. So, you have to learn things that are quick and easy to do, and they work against bigger, stronger people.
You have to KISS.
When you're training, you have to keep your focus on the goal - self-defense - not going the full two or ten minutes in a some sport contest. You have to KISS.
You have to remember that, in a self-defense situation, you have to end things in 2 to 10 SECONDS and, just like plumbing, the more complicated the pipes, the easier it is to stop things up. You have to KISS.
The point here is that, if you're training in the martial arts or a self-defense program to be able to protect yourself in a full-out, ballistic encounter against a crazed attacker throwing what he wants, and in a way that's designed to overwhelm, confuse, and leave you for dead, you can't afford using things just because they...
look cool
haven't changed for centuries
some tough guy used them a long time ago
work in the dojo...
Or any other common but equally pointless reason. You must keep things simple and do what works.
After all, your attacker's not going to help you win. And, he's certainly not going to be impressed by that "way-cool" technique you tried to do on him.
In fact, if he sees martial arty looking maneuvers, he's more likely to turn up the heat, and really give you something to worry about!
Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. A senior teacher in the Japanese warrior art of Ninjutsu, and a former federal police officer, undercover agent, private investigator, and bodyguard, he specializes in teaching the ancient ways of self-protection and personal development lessons in a way that is easily understood and put to use by modern Western students and corporate clients. Through his powerful programs, you will learn proven, time-tested lessons designed to help you create the life you've always dreamed of living, and the skills necessary for protecting that life from anything that might threaten it.
