Proper mindset for combat

[kfss4life]

How many instructors are working with their student's on being mentally prepaired for a fight situation?
Practicing and actual combat are so differant,if they are not prepaired for the intensity or adrenaline rush
they may not be ready for a fight situation.Let's discuss a few way's on how to training the mind,for a
combat situation.

Bill F.

[Dave Lorenson]

Bill,

You pose an excellent question.  How do we train the mind for combat?  I would like to start out by saying that I don't even begin to know all the answers, I'm still trying to understand the questions.

A very few things I know for sure...

Every class that I'm involved in teaches combat.
1.  We learn a lesson
2.  We work the lesson to understand the manipulation of it
3.  We work the lesson with contact to understand it better
4.  We discuss practical application of the lesson
5.  We apply the lesson under duress - this means an aggressive attack
6.  Then, not every class, but periodically, we apply the lessons from multiple aggressive attackers.
7.  Occasionally, we get out the pads for very specific training drills which are designed to assist students with psychological and physical aggression
8.  We discuss real stories of real encounters that we have been involved in and break down the various elements involved
9.  We inspire confidence in the system by practical experience.  It is obvious to someone working the art as I was taught in my lineage and as all of Master Cory's fighters were taught, that this system works - it works with power, it works with efficiency, and it works with effectiveness.  Much of the psychological aspects of combat can be met well with an utmost confidence in the system and an inner confidence that one's own cause is just.
10.  When a freeze up happens during aggressive attack in class, we work through it by applying principles that grow out of the forms and lessons.  The concept that doing something is better than nothing is often repeated, then added to it is the concept that doing something with intent is much better than that.  We work towards a goal with everything we have, rather than a haphazard attempt to "get through a lesson."  When this end goal mindset is deeply rooted, even when one is aware of tremendous challenges, it is often the key to overcoming.
I would like to follow this up with a phrase that Grandmaster Woo often repeated, because I think it is often misunderstood:  "Let your mind use your body."  On the surface, this message is clear, that when we train, we train to get our body to physically respond to our intent - actually working through the application of lessons - acquiring targets as we intend, with the power we intend and with the flow that we intend by utterly controlling our opponent(s).  Yet, I believe his statement goes much deeper than this...I truly believe that beyond the surface understanding, the mind is your MOST POWERFUL WEAPON - when it is exercised to understand each situation for what it truly is and respond in kind - this is letting the weapon flow through the avenue of your physical body.

Submitted Respectfully,

David Lorenson

[kfss4life]

Very well put Dave,I agree with everything you said.The mind is our weapon,the hands,feet,elbows,fingers,teeth & every thing else
we use are  tools of the trade.My students are young in the art.But we also discuss how to work in practice to prepare the mind
for the stress of combat and try to make it as real as possible.You have to be like a tiger comming out of a box.

Bill F.

[ccory]

Well said Dave. I don't think there is much to add to that. We do teach the psychology of controlling the situation. This goes a long way toward defusing a possible combat situation. They psychology of a fighter is very important and taught in San Soo.

Chuck

[Dave]

Good post Dave.  I'll add a couple of things.  One thing that was taught to me and I whole heartedly endorse with younger belts that I work with and with other students is your mindset when you walk in the door of your studio. What I mean is this:  We are all friends and family in San Soo. We care about each other, hang out outside of class and would do anything for each other. but as soon as we walk in the door to work out, there should be no cutting up, giggling, chewing gum ect. or being silly in any way at all. To me, this teaches the proper mindset when it comes to fighting. Think about it for a minute. If you practice goofing off and being silly while you work out in class, then you are not taking your fighting or your practice seriously. On the contrary, if you walk into class with a serious attitude, very neutral and take your training serious, then I believe that will translate better to a more prepared mental attitude when you have to protect yourself on the street. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a sense of humor, but there has to be a line drawn somewhere on the mat.  Anybody that knows me knows that I am no stiff. I enjoy a sense of humor. But those same folks also know that I take my training very seriously and I expect the same thing with my workout partners whom I trust my body with to beat on and throw around. You can tell these folks because their techniques are solid, they don't have much to say while they work out....and they usually have a mean face while they do their techniques on someone.  I do sometimes and it 's because I usually think about really doing it on someone. There is commitment there.  But there must be control first.

Another thing I like to do is to practice this mindset on a daily basis outside of class.  My teachers always enforced this with me as I was coming up.  They told me to size people up every chance I got. No, I don't mean stare at them and mean mug them. I mean just be aware of them, their movements, their eyes, their habits. Every now and again just watch them and create a scenario in your head like, " what if they walked over to me and grabbed me or swung at me. How would I deal with that in this particular environment and location. Always be aware of everyone around you and what they are doing.

I usually always try to sit in the back of the restaurant facing the door if I can while I eat out.   Don't have too much to drink in social settings. Wear proper footwear or attire while your out (you never know).

If your standing in line waiting to check out and someone is behind you. Just turn slightly in an unthreatening manner and use your peripheral vision to keep the person behind you in your sites. And don't ever let anybody just stand behind you all up on you. Don't be afraid to turn around and ask them politely and firmly if they mind not standing so close.

You could come up with your own using your imagination. It's fun too. It builds confidence in yourself and makes you feel more prepared to handle the world. And none of this requires actual fighting.

Mindset, Mindset, Mindset

Dave

[usnken]

Jerry Peterson had an interesting approach to teaching the offensive mindset. I haven’t been to the SCARS site in a while, but they used to sell a little booklet called “The Streetfighter’s Mindset.”  As I recall, the basic premise of this booklet was to get yourself ready mentally (before a fight) so that you can quickly ask yourself two rapid-fire questions mentally prior to initiating an attack (when danger is obviously imminent). Here are the two questions that I remember:

1.   Am I willing to fight?   Well, are you?!? This question encompasses whether or not you want to fight right here, right now. You might be in a restaurant and someone is getting in your face. Is it proper to do physical battle in a restaurant? What if there are children present? Do you really want to fight in front of them? Do you really want to risk getting kicked out of the restaurant? Since you are in public, it is likely you might go to jail as well. So, if your answer to this question is ‘no,’ then talk the situation down, call the cops or simply leave. If your answer is ‘yes’….then ask yourself question number 2. 
 
2.   Am I willing to hurt this person? Well? Do you want to hurt this person? Seriously? Have they done something bad enough to warrant physical harm? Or, are you simply losing your temper? Do you want to hurt them, or do you have to hurt them? You could damage them, injure them for life. They might get taken away to the hospital. You might go to prison. Can you control yourself enough to not hurt them too badly? Do they deserve it? Do you want their family to see it? Your family? If the answer to this question is ‘no,’ then talk the situation down, call the cops or simply leave. If your answer is ‘yes’ (after taking all other factors into consideration) then you need to attack.

If you get your priorities in order now and decide what lines you will and won’t allow people to cross then, when the time comes you will be able to ask yourself these questions quickly and if you answer ‘yes’ to both, you have ultimately given yourself permission to hurt someone….and then you have engaged your attack/offensive/streetfighters mindset.
 
That is how I remember it anyway, so there might be more to it, but I am not sure—it’s been a while since I read that stuff.

[ccory]

I would make a slight change to Jerry's concepts. if the answer to number 2 is no then number one is also no. If you are not prepared to hurt the otehr guy, then you need to leave because the answer to number one can be forced upon you. Don't you think so?

Good post Ken

Chuck

[ThomPayson]

Interesting topic and some very interesting responses. I have always kept it as simple as possible. I try to assess the situation with the letters AOJ. If this person who is confronting me has the Ability to cause harm, the opportunity and if I feel I am jeopardy then it is on. I keep it that simple.

A guy yelling from across the room that dosen't have a gun may have the ability because I don't know what his intentions or skill level are, but does he have the opportunity from there to harm me and am I in Jeopardy. This was the same criteria I learned at the academy when it came to use of deadly force. The proper mindset comes way before the actual event. It comes through training and then the ability to get through what ever emotional response you may have, and then react. If I am not in jeopardy then I have no problem walking away. The following is a short but true story. I was driving on the 101 freeway in the San Fernando Valley and I cut a guy off by mistake. He followed me off the freeway and into a medical building. I was standing at the elevator when he grabbed my by the shirt. Just like in the movies. There were several people there that saw him attack me. I did a simple leverage which brought him to his knees, I then apologized for cutting him off and told him I would be more careful driving. I let him go and he left. When he grabbed me with both hands, I realized it was he that was in Jeopardy not me. Chuck taught us that sometimes if you let someone go with their pride you won't have to hurt them. Oh it was that Saturday I received my Green Belt. Years later when I got my third degree black belt I started to really understand what it would really take to open the can really hurt someone. My mindset is clear no AOJ no fight.

[ccory]

Thom great post. I like the AOJ, I would like to use it.

Chuck

[ThomPayson]

Chuck it would be an honor if you used it. I got it from Sacramento Sheriff's Academy advanced officer survival classes. One other interesting thing they showed us was just how effective a knife fighter could be from a distance of over 15 feet away, and if you thought you weren't in jeopardy, well guess again. A man like you could close the gap and deliver a killing blow before we could draw our weapon. It was a real eye opener.

[Jeffrey P.]

I am not sure if I am the only one who searches the faces on pictures.  I have not been to down to Nashville for three years now and the class 98% of the people of whom I have met are still there.  Also new faces I will yet meet in the future.  The folks in Tennessee are true to their training and it is evident that others are following in the foot steps.  That is so "Awesome"!

[ccory]

Right Thom. I have seen the video. The mistake they all make is moving back in a straight line. This makes you an easy target. Remember he has a reach on you with the knife so move circular away from the had with the knife. This way you can close the distance and still for him to strike he would have to sacrifice his balance and strike across his body at you making him very vulenerable.

Accordingly never move straight back in a hand to had fight either.

Chuck

[ThomPayson]

Thanks Chuck, I remember that from your knife class. You know the most compelling lesson I have taught in my women's self defense seminars over the past 28 years, was the one you taught me in the knife class. When you make your opponent part of you, by bringing his arm into your body and thus making him a part of your body. That was one of the most simplistic yet effective techniques. It showed how powerful physics can be in San Soo.

Chuck, have you every thought about how many people's lives your lessons have touched? You have taught many teachers and we continue to share with others. It is a great legacy and one I am grateful for. Thanks.

[Dave Lorenson]

  Thom, you're absolutely right!  Even though I never trained under Master Chuck Cory, some of his lessons reached me.  Another great reason to utilize this message board.

With Respect,

David Lorenson

[Nicholas]

I agree, Chuck is the real deal. I knew it when I meet him in Northridge. Not too many masters have that ability of "Presence". And he continues to make a difference. Special.