Being a warrior requires a certain mindset. In many ways we are required to think outside of the box if we are called upon to defend ourselves or others. In our modern world it is not natural to defend ourselves as we are expected to call for the police. The idea is there and we believe we can do it. But when reality strikes we aren’t watching tv or playing a video game. Reality is in our face. The butterflies attack, the adrenaline, the fear. Our hands shake. This could be it. One wrong move and we are done for. The challenge at this point for most of us who have combat training is to defeat our own minds. The doubt and the fear. Unless we have been in situations like this before we are entering the unknown. Combat attitude is essential to survive….
The Mindset:
Probably the most important element in self-defense is the confidence to stand up to your opponent. It’s not, ‘I’m going to kill you attitude’, but more of a ‘I’m going to do whatever I need to do to survive attitude’. There is a difference. I’m not a killer and neither are you. But, we are willing to do whatever it takes to survive.
Story time….
Back in the day, after my instructor and I parted ways, I was still running a small training group at the local park. On this particular day it was just my buddy Doug and I. Now, this was a park we had been training at for over six years so we knew the place pretty well. We knew the regulars, the kids, the police who patrolled the park.
On this particular day, Doug and I were just playing around, scenario training. Now there was this kid sitting at a picnic table. With his head down like he was sleeping. We really didn’t think much of it. We, well, we were always aware of the comings and goings of our park, so we noticed there was this group of ‘young men’. They came walking through and randomly jumped on and started attacking the kid at the picnic table. I was always the quiet one so Doug in his booming voice yelled ‘hey, knock it off’. The attackers were a bit surprised at us speaking up and turned on us. The kid at the table ran away. So, there was Doug and I standing off against a group of about 6 young men/adults. Essentially we told them to go away but all we really did was stand there in natural posture with ‘combat attitude’ waiting to see what they would do. It was enough for them to go away. We went back to training after looking for the ‘kid’ as it was obvious he needed some help. He was gone though. So after about 30 minutes or so, the ‘gang’ or whatever they were came back. They had chains and bats. We took up our natural postures yet again applying combat attitude. We waited. Did not engage in a war of words. We just waited. They backed off and left, never to be seen at our park again.
Combat attitude and combat gaze were essential for standing our ground and self-defense. Two against six and they had the chains and bats. We had the confidence to stand our ground, we showed no fear. This attitude is essential for surviving an encounter. Showing fear would have been detrimental.
Now I always advise to run if possible. Why endanger yours or other lives if you can just walk or run away? This is a classic ninja warrior attitude. Survive for another day. We stealth, we don’t do open combat. But…at times you will have to stand your ground. It was our park, our place. If these guys had won it would have been a nightmare for anyone visiting that park.
So…
Training concepts –
Combat Attitude: it’s that feeling of being centered, balance, confidence, that you will deal with whatever comes your way. It is not an aggressive stance. In fact ‘natural posture’ is literally standing with your feet shoulder width apart, arms relaxed at your sides. You wait for your opponent to make the first move and you respond defensively.
Combat Gaze or stare: this one takes a bit of practice although it is simple. You are staring at your opponent with a calm gaze. Do not look at the eyes. Instead, focus on the tip of your opponent’s nose. Your gaze is slightly out of focus so you can see his feet, arms, hand, and body. Your awareness extends beyond just seeing. Eventually you will sense the movement before it begins.
Take Action:
Practice both of these concepts in the dojo with a training partner. Your goal is to go beyond just seeing. You want to feel and sense the attack. Do not anticipate, which is easy to do in the dojo as usually you know what the opponent is sending your way. Clear your mind and just accept the attack then react. Confidence is key even if you are shaking like a little birdy inside. If a bigger, badder, bully senses your fear…they will prey on it and use it to their advantage.
Situational Awareness Exercise:
So this one has made the rounds and I’ve seen many write about it, so nothing new for some of you. This is ‘core training’ for situational awareness so it bears repeating and practicing.
Walk into a room, do a quick scan with your eyes. After a minute or two, close your eyes and in your “minds eye” take note of what you saw. Or another version is to walk out of the room and write down the things that stood out. If you have a training partner then you can discuss what you both saw and compare notes. An advanced step would be for your training partner to ‘rearrange things’
Simple right?
The goal here is to become more observant. At first, you will only notice or remember a few things that will stick out. With practice you will begin to see more detail and with more clarity. Being able to recall the little things is key, just ask any police investigator at a crime scene or a spec ops soldier who has to size up a situation within seconds.
Have fun with this! Turn it into a game, involve your family or friends. Quiz each other on what they notice while in the restaurant or bar.
New gear I’m playing with: You need a strong tactical belt. I’m currently playing with the JUKMO Tactical Belt. A belt such as this can be used as a weapon since it is quick release or a tourniquet. GET IT
I am currently reading:The 4-Hour Body by Timothy Ferriss – I’m a huge fan of Tim Ferriss and his approach to hacking life. The books subtitle says it all: “An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat Loss, Incredible Sex and Becoming Superhuman”. Do yourself a favor and READ IT.
That’s it for this week! Keep on crafting your art. Remember, being a warrior is a personal thing as each of us is unique. Pick and choose what makes you who you are, discard the rest as not everything is for everyone. – Collin
Here are a couple training resources that I recommend:
Combat shooting program – Discover the simplest and most effective shooting system out there! It is so good that you will narrow your grouping of rounds from the size of a basketball to the width of a NICKEL in less than 20 minutes! Developed by an active-duty special operations soldier, this shooter system has been tested and refined so that it’s even more effective, more accurate, and easier to learn. Once you master this simple shooting system you will actually find it hard to miss your target even if you tried… no matter how much chaos storms around you! LEARN MORE
Hack the Flow – The flow state is the optimal performance state of mind, which is also known as the zone. Achieve a superhuman level of performance, fitness enthusiasts will unleash untapped potential, and even if you’re just training to manage your health, well this simple technique will give you the ability to overcome the obstacles in your way to a more healthy vibrant life. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
