Three Main Factors Of Personal Combat...

[SteyrAUG]

Well after 30 years of instruction, study and practice of martial arts and combat methods I thought I'd offer some insight into some core truths (but this is not to suggest I am the first or only person to make these observations) about personal combat.

Essentially these are the three main factors in order of priority:

1. Combative Mindset - This is the most important thing to have and is usually the key difference between victory and defeat. Asian martial arts instructors call it 'fighting spirit' but unfortunately westerners most often associate the word 'spirit' with a religious context and completely misunderstand what they are saying. In correct context fighting or martial 'spirit' should be taken in more or less the same context as school 'spirit' but in relation to a much more serious topic.

It is many things. It is aggressiveness, courage, bravery and a willingness to fight. It is desire to win, confidence in yourself and your ability to win. It is the mental approach to combat and being able to shift to a alpha state when you engage in combat. It is the ability to adapt and improvise during combat.

And it is many more things than just that. It is all the related factors such as Zanshin, Mushin and a dozen other esoteric concepts. But essentially it comes down to a willingness (if not a desire) to fight and win. This combative mindset is primarily the result of experience and it is the most dangerous thing about most successful fighters.

To use an analogy, a uneducated gang banger with a crappy Lorcin and a 'willingness' to kill you is every bit as lethal as your most skilled Delta operator. Sadly that 'combative mindset' is all some lesser humans need to prevail in combat and that is why most martial artist attempt to attach a system of ethics and conduct to their instruction.

2. Strength - This should be obvious but it isn't to all. The problem is martial arts 'allow' a weaker man to prevail over a stronger man by virtue of technique and spirit. This is true but it will not always be the case. In reality a big, dumb guy can still clean your clock with one really hard punch. More importantly a weaker man will always improve his superior technique by adding strength. This does not necessarily always mean 'muscle strength' but more a greater capacity for power of application.

Often a technically skilled fighter will take refuge in technique alone and shun physical power. This may partially be in due to his disdain of 'muscle heads' who can't fight but think muscle mass alone makes one formidable in combat. Both mindsets are limiting. In addition for capacity to deliver forceful strikes 'strength' and a strong body allow one to endure combat on a greater level. It has been suggested that the only difference between special forces and the standard military is the ability to carry 100 lbs. of extra gear. Obviously this is simplistic and not quite true but it is still a core truth. One of the things that separates special forces from the regular military is the ability to do the same thing, longer and harder. That is simply, strength.

3. Technique - A few martial artists (especially those with fewer than 4 years) will be dismayed by the suggestion that 'technique' is the least important factor. But the bottom line is no matter how correct your technique may be, if you do not possess sufficient strength to apply it or a combative mindset that let's you actually use the technique in real conflict then technique is useless.

But conversely technique is the road to strength and a combative mindset. This is why a black belt still does 1,000s of basic strikes daily and why special forces drill the fundamentals of combat constantly. Both the black belt and the special forces member learned the technique properly years ago. It is hardly going to improve noticably at this point no matter how many more hours are dedicated to training. But you are no longer 'learning' the technique. You are using the technique to acquire 'strength' and a 'combative mindset.' It is the continuous drilling that improves power in the movement and gives the practioneer absolute faith in his technique and overall ability which results in a combative mindset.

A beginner and expert may know the same movement (technique) but it is their capacity (strength) to apply that technique and the ability to use it in real world combat (combative mindset) that separates the two.

And this is why their is no 'superior' style or method when comparing genuine martial disciplines. Regardless of style and method, combative mindset and strength of technique will always be the deciding factors.

[NCPatrolAR]

I would replace strength with attributes (strength, agility, endurance, etc)

[BLACK LION]

I would replace strength with attributes (strength, agility, endurance, etc)

OP, thank you for sharing.
Rant from my lane to follow, please excuse....


I cannot argue the "combative mindset"... You are correct in stating that there is so much more to it than the willingness to fight, bravery, courage etc... What I did not see mentioned is "focus" and "perception". Awareness is a product of perception.
Mindset would also include an understanding and affinity for anatomy and its physiology...an understanding of physics as well.... Targeting also falls into mindset...
I do think some people may confuse a "fighting spirit" with some sort of moral code but I feel the ROE must be clear from the start before getting the green light and going hot.
In my training my ROE is simple... be as unfair as possible on my mission to shut off their brain by interupting the CNS or deny the brains use of the body by utilizing the spinal reflex associated with injuring the anatomical structure, exterior senses and its internal. organs.
Everything starts in the mind. Principles and dynamics bring them to fruition....

Strength and technique are good but they cannot encompass everything on their own. As NC touched on above.

There is always someone stronger and faster than you and that is what makes pain subjective...sure all animals understand it but one cannot begin to fathom the variances in pain tolerance from animal to animal...where one may keel over dead from a mild hammer to the temporal lobe another may look at you and luagh before pommeling you to a pulp.... Understanding simple anatomy and physics can turn even a 90lb person into a human wrecking ball even if they have never lifted a weight in thier life... All animals are created equal in injury and that is what makes it objective... a ruptured eardrum sucks across the board wether you are an average joe or the martial arts master of the world... you have been injured and your spine dictates what you do and what you dont do...not your brain nor your strength nor your speed. If you line up a whole room of strong men and all have them put thier hand in front of a table saw once the saw contacts the hand every one would present the same spinal reflex... pull the ****ing hand away or it gets whacked off... the brain has no say in the matter and for a very good reason. If it were up to ones own cognisance, none of us would have any fingers.

If you dont mind, my list would resemble something like;

Combative mindset

Combative principles

Combative dynamics


I choose principle over technique becuase all techniques are based on principle...you can have 1000 techniques that all have the same principles in common. Under stress or "body alarm" one does not have access to an archive of techniques...besides that, one may find an app for a techniques but an unwilling adversary.... Techniques are often predicated an opponents movement whereas principles allow adaptation, improvisation and some what of a freestyle ability to create a "technique" for that specific encounter.

Dynamics are the ability to execute the combative mindset and principles in the most effective and efficient manner.

[SteyrAUG]

I would replace strength with attributes (strength, agility, endurance, etc)

Agility, endurance and many other things are attributes of strength. I didn't mean simply "muscles."

[SteyrAUG]

You are correct in stating that there is so much more to it than the willingness to fight, bravery, courage etc... What I did not see mentioned is "focus" and "perception". Awareness is a product of perception.

Accepted. Try and understand I tried not to write a novel.

[Chameleox]

Accepted. Try and understand I tried not to write a novel.

No, but I think you got it right. In my experience as well, combat mindset has frequently been the deal sealer or deal breaker for many fights. I like to think of mindset, ability and skill as part of a tripod; if one side is lacking a little, the tripod may still stand, but will be lopsided. Lacking too much, and it will eventually topple.

As an aside, watch surveillance videos of actual street fights, and see how the would be assailants often tuck and run when met with any legitimate resistance.

[rifleman2000]

Mental tougheness is the key to any physical strength/endurance.

[BLACK LION]

Accepted. Try and understand I tried not to write a novel.

Solid copy.

One would seemingly need to write a series of novels in order to express his martial spirit and experience. Its difficult not to.

I appreciate you sharing.

[Failure2Stop]

The concept of interpersonal violence is overcomplicated by many.
I think that it's actually pretty simple.

1- Prepare for the fight
2- Fight to win

Everything about skill, technique, mindset, etcetera, falls within. Any attempt to cover every bit of minutiae will fail, and frankly is unnecessary. Most people seem to benefit more from action than rhetoric.

But that's just my opinion.

[rat31465]

I had an instructor tell me once that the three A's were vital to personal safety/combat.

Awareness-to your surroundings, where are the exits and places to take a stand?
Attention-to those in your immediate proximity close enough and with the ability to do you harm.
Attitude-if I find myself involved in a confrontation/fight...I am going to win at all cost.

This has always stuck in my head especially if I find myself in a less than ideal location.

After thinking a little more on it...I think I would another A for Ability. Whether your carying a firearm, a knife or a sharpened stick...you better have the know how and ability to use it properly as well.