What is combat and how does it apply to YOU?
When you think of combat what do you envision? Do you see two armies battling it out in the trenches of war or soldiers engaged in a gunfight during battle? You might be asking yourself "what does combat have to do with me and my self-defense?" Well, stick with me, and I will explain why combat is applicable to YOU and how accepting the reality that you could find yourself in combat can be the difference between life and death.
The definition of combat as a verb is to fight or contend against; oppose vigorously. As a noun it means a fight, struggle, or controversy, as between two persons, teams, or ideas. So, by reading the definition of combat, you can see that combat is not only for armies at war, but that combat can be applicable to anyone when placed into the right circumstances. In our case, combat is something that is forced upon us and it is not something that we are actively seeking out. To the contrary, our students are taught to avoid combat whenever safely and reasonably possible. However, there may be a time in your life when you are forced to "fight or contend against" another person. It is for that reason that we "prepare to prevail" as our motto goes. We learn mental, physical and tactical skills to prevail and then we practice them repetitively until they are imprinted in our minds and bodies and can be performed subconsciously under stress.
I ask you to consider events that have occurred around our country, the state you live in, the county you live in and the cities you visit. Can you envision a situation in which combat, as defined above, could happen to you? If you are honest with yourself, you will see that combat could some day be forced upon you at some time in your life. It is up to YOU to accept that reality and prepare in every possible way. The battle is almost always won by the person who was prepared the most AND who has developed the MINDSET of never quitting no matter how difficult the circumstances become. I challenge you to work every day to improve yourself mentally and physically. Never take the easy way and ALWAYS resist the urge to stop short of greatness. Sometimes taking that extra step, reading that extra line, staying up a little later, or performing that extra repetition is all it will take to succeed BIG and to be prepared for the worst.
The biggest obstacle to success for most people is the unwillingness to accept the truth. That could mean that you refuse to see the weaknesses in your physical abilities or the lack of knowledge that you currently have in a specific area. Learn to assess yourself honestly and to accept constructive criticism. Refuse to be blinded by ego and pride! Overcome the mental obstacles that are holding you back though self-assessment and taking constructive criticism so that you can push to new levels and gain new capabilities. Accept the truths of life, don't hide your head in the sand, and face the facts head on so that you will be prepared when the time comes and combat comes knocking at your door.
I realize that this article was a very cerebral or mental one and that there wasn't any concrete skills provided or discussed. However, the mental side of things cannot and MUST NOT be overlooked or avoided. If you truly hope to be able to protect yourself or others when the time comes, you must be prepared mentally and physically. Stay safe everyone and God bless.
- Joseph Green
