YOU CAN, BUT WILL YOU?

 By Phillip Starr

In our practice of martial arts, we learn time-tested methods of defending ourselves against various forms of personal attack. The same thing is true for those who participate in self-defense courses, although the training isn't nearly as complete or rigorous. Yet, we hear of people who have undergone such training failing to adequately protect themselves. They certainly have the means to do it. What's missing?

It's often the will to do what must be done.

The grim realities of an actual conflict are a world away from practice. Your gut knots up, you may even feel nauseated, you break into a cold sweat, and wonder, “Is this stuff really going to work? What if I try to hit him and it just makes him mad...?” Although you've practiced with many partners in training, you realize that you don't KNOW if this is going to work! This is the REAL thing; you're facing a very real assailant who means to do you harm, not a practice partner...

All the training in the world is of no avail if you lack the wherewithall to do what must be done. And how can you develop that? Unfortunately, I know of no training routines for it. All I can say is that training must be very rigorous, as realistic as possible and reasonable, and regular. You must concentrate on learning to focus your mind and your yi (intention) 100% on a given task, blotting out any other extraneous thoughts or worries. This can't be achieved if your training is intermittent; training MUST be regular. When you practice your basic techniques and forms, it's crucial that you visualize a real, dangerous assailant and try to get the “feel” of it.