WHAT THEY DON'T DO

 by Phillip Starr

Not long ago, a former student asked me about what made a given martial art or style really effective. I replied that the traditional arts and various styles of them work very well in so far as what they were designed for and that although the student-teacher relationship is important, the main factor in a given art being genuinely effective depends primarily on the one thing that most students (and many instructors, themselves) DON'T do...practice regularly outside of class!

Participating in class twice or even three times a week just isn't enough to really hone your martial skills and prepare you physically, mentally, and emotionally for real self-defense. In class, your teacher probably runs through some basics, reviews what you learned in the last class, and may go on to present you with new material. It isn't enough...your techniques must be drilled so that they become second nature, even when you are under considerable physical or emotional stress.

In an actual conflict, you'll have to “think” about what to do (if you can think at all under the emotional stress) and that's going to slow you down or cause you to hesitate. In a real self-defense situation, the slightest hesitation can result in your being transformed into a common breakfast food...toast!

And what do I mean by “emotional stress?” Well, when you realize that what's happening is real, you have a response something like, “OMG! THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING!” Its almost surreal; things like this always happen to other people but not to you! You heart begins to go on full-tilt rock 'n roll and you experience FEAR. But if your daily training has been strong, you'll push through that veil and do what you must...what you've trained yourself to do. On the other hand, if your daily training has been spotty, weak, or non-existant, you may well succumb to your aggressor.

Don't let anyone try to convince you that they don't experience a jolt of fear when they are suddenly assaulted. Anyone who makes that claim is either lying or in need of some serious mental therapy.

Style or art makes little difference. It's your training outside of class that will be the determining factor in combat.