bushidomartialarts said:
is there an direct inverse proportion between training safety and effective application?
No doubt whatsoever. With headgear, gloves and ankle pads and a minimum "fairplay" ruleset, we're happy to have sparring partners really put themselves behind their strikes - after all what's the worst that can happen?
All [and it's an
unqualified all] defensive techniques have merit. There's a potential place for every single one in a real fight. There's little doubt that most of us on this board have some level of technical proficiency in one or more systems or arts. This is a fact not in dispute and I think we can claim to have pressure tested [
hate that term] these techniques per se quite successfully and more than adequately. And while some SD techniques may be more beneficial to us than others when it all kicks off, I believe certain factors represent
a greater unknown than the techniques themselves.
For me, the important difference between practise sparring and a fight for keeps is in attitude, fear and mindset or intent and while we can practise all we like in the dojo or ring, or during a less formal session in the back yard with a pal, or even by downing a mouthy youth in the street, we simply cannot adequately replicate our own responses in a down-and-dirty real scrap within these contrived situations. And I think that's the key point - NOT the validity of our techniques.
So the question is: Is there a way around this? Is there a way to train a real-live-fighting mindset that doesn't involve a potential drubbing?
In short no, because if there's any element of "safeness" present whatsoever, the situation ceases to be a polished mirror for the real thing.
My personal theory [proven for me only!!] has come to fruition by reworking some of those life-and-death situations we've all been in: from fights themselves to auto accidents to getting one's head caught between railings as a kid [might not seem life and death with hindsight but relatively speaking it sure was!] to being stuck in a capsized kayak to breaking a major bone etc, etc. These leave a physiological blueprint upon us -and that's just my personal anecdotal experience and not scientific fact btw. But I believe it's possible to contemplate those reactions and consciously adapt and control them. From then this mindset can be capitilized upon by trying out -for example- some "dangerous" sporting activities - take your pick from the dozens out there. As I say, this is a personal theory which I have found to produce consistent gains.
Notwithstanding that, get out there and put yourself about. It can be done. And it goes without saying that I'm advocating nothing here, just talking...
The fact is, it's not necessarily the techniques that need looking at, I believe it's our own subconscious thru mental thru physiological responses that need focus and honing.
Respects!
